Jan 11, 2014 3 min read

Canonsburg Lake is included in the waterways at which the popular Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s mentored youth fishing days will be held this year.

The program was launched in 2013 with 3,700 adults taking over 5,000 children fishing for free last year.

The commission will hold two mentored youth fishing days this season, one in the eastern portion of the state on March 22, with the second in the west, including Canonsburg Lake, April 5.

Other nearby participating waterways include North Park Lake in Allegheny County, Dunlap Creek Lake in Fayette County and Mammoth Lake and Twin Lakes No. 1 Reservoir in Westmoreland County.

Last year, the youth anglers reported catching and releasing just over 4,400 trout and harvesting 1,183.

To participate, adult anglers – 16 and older – must possess a valid fishing license and trout stamp and be accompanied by a youth. Youth anglers must obtain a free permit starting Feb. 1 at www.gonefishingpa.com or at any of the state’s licensing agents.

For more information about the program, visit gonefishingpa.com.

• Former Washington County Wildlife Conservation Officer Doty McDowell was busy over the past couple of months tracking down multiple suspects in the illegal shooting of a 700-pound bull elk near Benezette in October.

The animal was shot around 3 a.m. Oct. 15 and had disabling wounds. It was euthanized.

The shooters, who were identified to McDowell through public tips, face charges of illegally shooting the animal, which carries a sentence of up to three years in prison and $15,000 in fines. They also could be forced to pay a $5,000 fee to replace a trophy-class elk and possible poaching chargers because the animal was shot after dark.

• A landowner in the suburban Lancaster area got a surprise last week when he spotted a 150-pound Russian wild boar in his back yard.

The non-native boar, which had tusks, was rooting in the man’s yard. It hung around long enough for Joshua Thompson to shoot it and report the kill to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The commission says there have been no further sightings of Russian boars in the area, but the commission urges licensed hunters to shoot them on sight.

The boars, which can reach 600 pounds, can be very aggressive and are a danger to ground nesting birds and people.

They can also do a lot of crop damage.

The hog had a round orange tag with the number 14 on one of its ears and was likely escaped from someone raising the exotic animals for hunting purposes.

Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.