Young hunters ages 12 to 18 from throughout Pennsylvania are reminded all entries for the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Youth Essay Contest must be postmarked no later than October 31.

The theme for the contest is: "Why I'm the future of hunting!" The prize list features grand-prize winners in the junior (ages 12-15) and senior (ages 16-18) divisions taking expense-paid trips to Texas and Wyoming, respectively.

The junior division grand-prize recipient will attend Safari Club International's (SCI) Apprentice Hunter Camp at the YO Ranch in Texas. The senior division grand-prize winner will receive a scholarship to SCI's American Wilderness Leadership School in Jackson, Wyoming. Both prizes are being sponsored by the Pennsylvania Chapters of Safari Club International.

First prize in both the junior and senior divisions will be .50 caliber muzzleloader rifle from Knight.

Prizes for entries finishing in second through fourth place in both divisions will include: Magellan SporTrak GPS Unit for second place; a Sightron 3x9 rifle scope; and a Buck Knives limited-edition knife. All entries receive a Game Commission "Working Together for Wildlife" embroidered patch.

Essays must be printed or typed, double-spaced and contain no more than 300 words. Mail entries directly to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Hunter Education Youth Essay Contest, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

2005 Calendar: As Pennsylvanians plan for the holiday gift-giving season, the Pennsylvania Game Commission unveiled its 2005 calendar featuring a year's worth of dramatic wildlife photos taken by agency employees: Hal Korber, wildlife education specialist at the Harrisburg headquarters; Rob Criswell, Southcentral Region Land Management Supervisor in Huntingdon; Billie Cromwell, retired Food and Cover Crew foreman in Fulton County; Timothy C. Flanigan, Wildlife Conservation Officer in Bedford County; and John Wasserman, Wildlife Conservation Officer in Clinton County.

In the Kitchen: In cooperation with "Wild Harvest Videos," the Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering six outstanding videos designed to help hunters get the most from their wild game harvests. Produced by Jerry Chiappetta and featuring Certified Master Chef Milos Cihelka, these videos show step-by-step the best care for game animals from the field to the table.

Song Bird Identifier: To assist beginning bird watchers, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has added a bird song audio "identiflyer" to its list of merchandise. The device, which sells for $35.50, comes with two audio cards, an earphone for in-the-field use, a bird-watching guide booklet and three AAA batteries already inserted. The cards that come with the Identiflyer are the Yard Bird series.

Items can be purchased from the Pennsylvania Game Commission online by going to their Outdoor Shop webpage.

10/8/2004