Sportsmen are reminded by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission that while sunny days and fall foliage tempt may give the impression of mild weather, it is important for fall boaters to wear a life jacket.

"According to Pennsylvania's boating accident reports, almost 80 percent of all boating fatalities happen to boaters not wearing a life jacket," PFBC Boating and Watercraft Safety manager Ryan Walt said. "During the cold weather months boaters are especially at risk due to the water temperature and the risk of sudden cold water immersion."Sudden cold water immersion is one of the main reasons people drown during the cold weather months. When a person is unexpectedly plunged into cold water below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the body's first response is usually an involuntary gasp, which is something no one can control and ruins the ability to swim because the person hyperventilates, and there is a wealth of new research on cold water survival which states that wearing a life jacket significantly increases a person's chance of survival."Without a lifejacket, a victim may inhale while under water and drown without coming back to the surface. This can only be prevented by wearing a life jacket at all times while on the water.Life jackets are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles to fit every person and recreational opportunity. Inflatable life jackets fit easily over fall jackets and do not interfere with casting or reeling a fishing rod or using a shotgun when waterfowl hunting.For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, visit the PFBC website at

www.fishandboat.com.**********A public comment meeting to review the 2010 Francis E. Walter Dam recreation plan and solicit feedback for the 2011 plan will be held by the U.S. Army Corps Engineers Philadelphia District, Monday, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express in White Haven.**********A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, Nov. 4, beginning at 6 p.m., at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail

jafone@comcast.net.**********Two limited archery/muzzleloader hunts for antlerless deer have been scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15, and Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the controlled access areas of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Kleinfeltersville.In order to participate, hunters must be properly licensed and be eligible to take an antlerless deer in Wildlife Management Unit 5B on the day they hunt. Hunting will be by 100 permits issued by random drawing for each hunting day. Applications must be on a standard postcard and contain the hunter's name, complete mailing address, general license back tag number, muzzleloader and/ or archery stamp number and antlerless deer license number for WMU 5B if applicable.Only one application per hunter may be submitted, by Monday, Nov. 8, and mailed to Pennsylvania Game Commission MCWMA; Box 110; Kleinfeltersville 17039. A public drawing will be held at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 10 a.m.**********Bill Hilts Jr., will discuss fishing on the Niagara River as today's guest of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience The Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM; Sunday, from 9:30-10 a.m., on WMGH, 105.5-FM; and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the "Experience The Outdoors" link.**********Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets, Thursday, Nov. 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at West Penn Archery, South Tamaqua. For information, call Kevin Titus at 570-668-5903.**********Columbia County Open Buddy Bass Tournament will be held, Sunday, Nov. 7, from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Williamsport Linden Access Area on the Susquehanna River. For information, call tournament director Mike Monico at 570-752-3223.**********First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader arm of Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, will hold muzzleloader shoots on the following dates: Sunday, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club is located on Gun Club Road, off Route 248, Bowmanstown. For information, call Roger Fisher at 610-377-2812.**********Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited meets Tuesday, Nov. 23, beginning at 7 p.m., at Yorkville Fire Company, South 20th and West Norwegian Sts., Pottsville. For information, call Randy Emerich at 570-622-1252 or access on the Web at

www.schuylkilltu.org.