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The Huntington Mills United Sportsmen Camp 271 will host its 16th annual Coyote Hunt from midnight Friday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 21, and is offering a $1,000 grand prize to the winner of the contest. Cost to register is $25 with the option of a $2 smallest coyote pool. All applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Each coyote turned in will win $50 with the biggest coyote each day winning $100. In conclusion of the hunt, there will be the annual Sportsmen’s Breakfast, open to the public, at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21 at the clubhouse on 251 Waterton Road, Huntington Mills. For more information and to download the application visit www.huntingtonmillssportsmen.com or visit the Facebook page Huntington Mills United Sportsmen.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold its quarterly business meeting on January 22-23 at its Harrisburg headquarters, located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

As part of the Commission’s quarterly meeting, committees will meet beginning at 9:10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, and again at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Formal consideration of the agenda by the full Commission will begin at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

All committee meetings and the formal meeting are open to the public. A complete copy of the meeting schedule and the full agenda for the meeting can be found on the PFBC’s website.

The Eastern Penn Deaf Bass Anglers will hold an ice fishing derby this winter on Feb. 4 at Lackawanna State Park at the boat launch pavilion area. No ice date is Feb. 11. Prizes will be awarded for the top three pickerel, bass and panfish categories.

Registration fee for the derby is $15. Registration opens at 5:30 a.m., derby starts at 7 a.m. and weigh-in is at 2:15 p.m. Minimum size for pickerel is 18 inches and 15 inches for bass. An optional $5 pickerel lunker will be available. For more information call Christopher Jones at 570-991-6176, email [email protected] of visit www.iceshanty.com or www.icefishin247.com.

The Nanticoke Conservation Club will hold its 21st annual Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Frances Slocum State Park. The derby is open to the public and runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Weigh-in is from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Failure to be at weigh-in by 1 p.m. will result in disqualification. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Patrick Solano Environmental Education Center. Cost is $10 for adults (16 and older), $5 for juniors (ages 10 to 15) and children 9 and younger are free. Food and refreshments will be available and raffles and a 50/50 drawing will be held at the education center. Top raffle prize is a Vexilar fish finder. For more information visit www.nanticokeconservationclub.com.

The NEPA Lyme Disease Support Group will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at Misericordia University, Insalaco Hall, Room 218.

The meeting will be an open discussion/sharing opportunity for attendees. An opportunity to discuss, share and learn from others’ experience and to discuss plans for future topics and events to promote awareness about Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses and the NEPA Support Group. PA Lyme Resource information will be available as well as our new lending library. The meeting is open to everyone. For more information email [email protected].

The Western Pocono Chapter of Trout Unlimited will present Mike Horne, Refuge Manager

for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the northeast district. The program will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the White Haven Library and Community Center on 121 Towanda Street in White Haven. Mike will provide a slide program on Cherry Valley Creek, one of the finest wild trout streams in the Poconos. The stream is located in one of the newest U.S. wildlife refuges, Cherry Valley Wildlife Refuge. Cherry Valley Creek flows through the refuge that was formerly a golf course near Stroudsburg. The USFWS is currently working to restore streamside habitat along Cherry Valley Creek that already contains large numbers of wild brown trout. The Brodheads TU Chapter is assisting the USFWS to improve this unique Pocono limestone stream. Mike will also provide information on the five wildlife refuges he manages in the northeast U.S. For more information, call 570-454-4862. The event is free to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The Fly Fishing and Wing Shooting Expo will be held at Split Rock Resort, Lake Harmony, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24 and 25.

Billed as the largest combined fly fishing and shooting sports show in the northeast, the event will include fly fishing and sporting dog training demonstrations, along with venders, lodge owners and the all new Youth Discovery Zone with teens putting on demonstrations in fly tying and casting. The teens will give hands on instruction with young people visiting the show. Visit and learn from the experts and celebrate Pennsylvania’s rich tradition of fishing and hunting. There will be a Sportsman’s Banquet on Saturday night along with displays from many of the non-profit sportsman and conservation organizations from the area. Admission is $15 with discounts for veterans and youth 12 and under are free. For more information visit www.flyfishingwingshootingexpo.com or call 215-317-0259.

Nescopeck State Park will hold the following programs in January and February (for more information call the park office at 570-403-2006):

Thursday, Jan. 18 – Bald Eagle Watch for Seniors; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration required.

Saturday, Jan. 20 – Birds and Beans; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 27 – Introduction to Snowshoeing Opportunities; 9 a.m. Registration required.

Saturday, Jan. 20 and 27 – Nature Discovery Classroom; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 3 – WinterFest 2018; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Thursday, Feb. 8 – Hide ‘n’ Seekers Program for Preschoolers – Birds; 10 a.m. Registration required.

Saturday, Feb. 10 – Snowshoe Hike; 1 p.m. Registration required.

Saturday, Feb. 17 – Birds & Beans; 9 to 11 a.m. No registration necessary.

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Introduction to Snowshoeing; 9 a.m. Registration required.

Nescopeck State Park will hold its Snowshoe Loaner Program from Jan. 6 through the end of February. Snowshoes will be available to borrow free-of-charge on: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Equipment must be returned by 3 p.m. on the day borrowed, and there must be at least six inches of snow on the ground. A valid driver’s license is required by at least one person in the group and equipment must be used in the park. Staff will be available to give brief instruction upon request. Call the park office (570-403-2006) for current snow conditions or visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/winter-report/index.htm.

Times Leader

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky