DALMATIA — That audible groan coming collectively as one from my two great nephews after checking the Bloomsburg University football schedule meant one thing – the Huskies had a home game I would have to cover the day of the annual Kick Off Season Special for youth and women at Martz’s Gap View Hunting Preserve.
The Youth/Women’s Hunt Special is one of two Kick Off Season Specials third-generation owner Mike Martz holds every year, the other being Senior/Veterans Hunt Special. October 3 is this year’s Youth/Women’s Hunt Special and Oct. 10 is the Senior/Veterans Hunt Special.
Hunting parties with a youth age 18 or younger or woman hunter receive a 50 percent discount for birds Oct. 3. The same discount applies Oct. 10 for a party with a hunter age 65 or older or a U.S. military veteran.
“Both veteran and novice hunters enjoy these events because they have an area to themselves where they can hunt at their own pace,” Martz said. “It gives veteran hunters an early opportunity to get a jump on their season and save some money and the opportunity to give new hunters the experience of pheasant hunting in a safe, controlled situation”
Martz’s Gap View Hunting Preserve has more than 1,200 acres of prime hunting ground ranging from light brush, weed lots and cornfields, to open fields. The terrain is gently rolling with all types of cover and shooting situations, with the more open hunting conditions ideal for older hunters, those with health concerns, or youngsters being introduced into hunting who still need supervision.
Heavier cover is available for those who really wish to test and challenge themselves and their dogs. Martz’s Gap View has an ideal, all around hunting environment that has been professionally arranged.
Pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania begins with the special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age, Saturday, Oct. 10 and concludes Sunday, Oct. 18 – the second Sunday in the season. Hunters are limited by Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations to a daily bag limit of two birds and a possession limit of six birds after opening day.
Regular pheasant season opens Saturday, Oct. 24, and concludes Tuesday, Nov. 24, and the second phase opens Thursday, Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving Day – and concludes Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027. Both cocks and hens may be taken in all Wildlife Management Units in all pheasant seasons, but there is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.
Hunting begins Tuesday, Sept. 1, with the statewide seasons for both Canada goose and mourning doves. PGC executive director Steve Smith reminds hunters the agency has upgraded its online mapping center to enhance user experience for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
“For hunters, we’re entering the best time of the year,” Smith said. “The early season is upon us, marking the beginning of the new license year, a time when hunters across the state are making plans and preparing for all our exciting seasons ahead.
“On behalf of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, we wish all hunters a safe and successful year ahead. The upgraded mapping center offers a cleaner, more user-friendly interface; faster access to maps and information; live data from authoritative agency sources; improved search, navigation, and overall performance.
“This platform is available on the agency’s website and will continue to grow as new features and datasets become available. Most of us have become very reliant on our smartphones, especially when it comes to maps, so we wanted to ensure our enhanced mapping tool had better mobile functionality.”
Smith added this is a more streamlined tool with better search capabilities, updated symbols for map layers, and more. Updates will continue to be added throughout the fall.
Canada goose season runs through Saturday, Sept. 25 in both the Resident Population Zone and the Atlantic Population Zone, which has a daily limit of eight and a possession limit of 24.
As a reminder, Sunday hunting is prohibited for migratory game birds, including waterfowl, doves and woodcock, throughout the 2026-27 license year. Licensed junior and mentored youth hunters can hunt ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, Canada geese, and brant statewide during a special Youth Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, and all waterfowl hunting licensing requirements apply.
Hunting dogs are common partners in both dove and goose fields and are a valuable investment for many hunters. Hunters are reminded that in Pennsylvania, licensing dogs is required and can be helpful if a dog gets lost or separated while hunting, and go to www.pa.gov/doglicense for more information.
(Dietz is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association. Contact the writer: outdoors@republicanherald.com.)