Newly designed body-gripping traps measuring 10 by 12 inches and broadheads measuring 314 inches now available on the market were approved by the Pennsylvania Game Commission board of game commissioners, making them legal to use.

With the changes, the maximum size for lawfully set body-gripping traps will be 10 inches tall by 12 inches wide.At present, no body-gripping traps larger than 10 inches by 10 inches can be set, and the change will take effect with the start of the 2014-15 hunting and trapping seasons.PGC staff had called the change "nominal," and said there will be no negative impact on wildlife, but before adopting the change, the commissioners made one amendment to the proposal.Initially the proposal included language that 10- by 12-inch body-gripping traps have a single, offset trigger.In removing the language related to an offset trigger it was noted that offset triggers can compromise beaver trapping success because the traps often fail to catch smaller beavers as effectively.PGC staff also reported that expanding the length of permitted broadheads from 3 to 314 inches will not have a negative effect on wildlife. This change will accommodate certain handmade and commercially available products.**********Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife conservation officer for Pike and Monroe counties Mark Kropa reports a man from New York and a man from New Jersey recently pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges for shooting a bear out of season in separate incidents.They were each fined more than $2,500 and will likely lose their hunting privileges for several years.Kropa also reports three individuals were recently cited at the State Game Lands183 shooting range for shooting at spinning metal targets.A complaint was received of the individuals acting in an unsafe manner at the range, and they each face fines of $25 as a result of him observing the men shooting at the targets from 15 yards at the 25-yard range.Monroe County WCO Bryan Mowrer reports a Carbon County man and another from Wisconsin were found guilty for the unlawful taking of a black bear and hunting through the use of bait on the opening day of archery bear season.He said the Wisconsin man claimed he flew in the day before and both men scouted the area for an hour, set up stands and hunted the next morning.Mowrer discovered corn, honey and other attractants spread on trees within 40 yards of the tree stands. Both men were given maximum penalties and will lose their Pennsylvania hunting privileges for three years.**********Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features FearNot Game Calls founder and president Troy Starr.**********A 30-target, 3-D hunting course is open daily from dawn to dusk, except Sundays from 1-4 p.m. for trap, at Bear's Head Archery, located off Exit 134, I-81, Delano. For information call the club at 570-467-0331.**********This year's Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby, which is being held with the cooperation of Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited Stocking Association, begins today and tagged fish can be redeemed for two months, ending Saturday, June 14. Registration will be accepted today from 7 a.m. to noon across from All American Jeep, Tamaqua.**********Earth Day, Saturday, April 26, at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, will present a program by Baywings Falconry featuring five live raptors from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with controlled-flight demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.Falconers from Baywings are trained educators who will be on hand throughout the day to chat with visitors and share information about each species, the special adaptations of raptors and the methods involved in training their birds."Educators at Baywings Falconry are great because they use their birds to captivate visitors and that leaves a ready audience who wants to learn more," Hawk Mountain director of education Erin Brown said."It's a great strategy to share our conservation mission, to build interest in raptors, and it's a guaranteed fun way for visitors to celebrate Earth Day."For information call Hawk Mountain Sanctuary at (610) 756-6961 or access the website at

www.hawkmountain.org.**********Registration is underway for Schuylkill County Youth Field Day, Saturday, May 17, beginning 8 a.m., at Friedensburg Fish and Game. Youth between the ages of 10-15, regardless of their residence and who must be accompanied by an adult, can participate in the event that will introduce or refine a variety of outdoor skills.Sponsored by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association and Schuylkill Conservation District with the cooperation of various state and local conservation agencies, the day-long event is free and open to both boys and girls.Qualified instructors will teach activities such as fishing, canoeing, trap shooting, archery, muzzleloader shooting, air rifle, forestry and trapping with participation in any event being voluntary.Lunch and refreshments are provided to participants and their adult chaperons, and this year's each child will receive a baseball-style cap courtesy of Cabela's Hamburg.For required preregistration and information contact "Porcupine Pat" McKinney at 570-622-4124, ext. 113, or by email:

porcupinepat@yahoo.com.**********Pre-registration is open for the "Family Fun Fishing Event," Sunday, May 4, through Monday, Sept. 1, at Sweet Arrow Lake, Pine Grove. Tagged fish may be redeemed through Monday, Sept. 1.For entry forms access Sweet Arrow Lake County Park website at

www.sweetarrowlakepark.com or call Craig Morgan at 570-739-2627. Registration the opening day may be done at the clubhouse.