Generally, March is a slow month in the outdoors as we fall in between the end of hunting seasons and the start of spring fishing seasons.

This year is a little different as both the PA Game Commission and the PA Fish and Boat Commission have some new activities in their outdoor activity.

The PF&BC will start out with an early Mentored Youth Fishing Season for kids 15 and under on March 25. The kids will need a mentored youth permit, which is free, or a voluntary youth license that costs $2.97 and helps both the fishing program and allows the youths to have their own license to start. They also must be accompanied by an adult-licensed angler to complete the process. Kids can fish any approved trout waters and keep a two-trout limit after the 8 a.m. start up time, and remember only kids can fish!

Wind Turbine project

There is also some discussion on proposals on our Lake Erie waters for a Wind Turbine project. House Bill 254 (the Lake Erie Wind Energy Development Act) is being proposed as a clean energy plan for turbines located offshore from Erie. The Presque Isle Audubon Society and Lake Erie Foundation have some reservations about the proposals.

Lake Erie is a major song bird migration route and birds are prone to be killed or injured by the turbines offshore. The Red-Breasted Merganser is of particular concern in the wind turbine plan. Other issues surround the fear of oil leaks for water quality and fishing as well as lights on the turbines attracting migrating birds. This will be followed closely by the conservation groups.