The Pennsylvania Game Commission is once again asking for the public’s help finding turkey flocks for ongoing research. To that end Pennsylvanians are encouraged to report the location of any turkey flocks they see across the state. That information is being collected online at  https://pgcforms.pa.gov/TurkeySightingSurvey now through March 15.

Last year I reported seeing a flock of about two dozen turkeys right here two miles from my home in Pocopson Township, Chester County. I then visited the webpage where I provided the date of the sighting, the location, and the type of land (public, private or unknown) where the birds were seen. Incidentally, I’ve spotted that same flock numerous times over the past year, the last time a few weeks ago in the same fields where I reported seeing them last year.

Game Commission crews will assess sites for the potential to trap turkeys. Just like the last six winters, the Game Commission will put leg bands on male turkeys statewide. Turkeys will not be moved; they’ll simply be leg-banded and released on site. Trapping turkeys during winter is part of the Game Commission’s ongoing population monitoring.

Hunters who harvest these banded turkeys, or people who find one dead, are asked to report the band number, either by calling toll-free or reporting it online.

“By reporting banded turkeys, hunters provide us with important information on harvest rates for our population model,” said Reina Tyl, the Game Commission’s wild turkey biologist. “In return, the hunter gets to learn when and approximately where the turkey was banded. If the turkey was banded the first winter after it hatched, we can also provide the hunter with an exact age of theturkey they harvested.”

While no turkeys will be fitted with transmitters this winter, as the research projects that were tracking turkeys to get an in-depth look into their survival, productivity and movement are coming to an end, males will continue to be banded in the winter to monitor harvest rates.

Finding birds to trap is key to accomplishing the work. That’s where the public comes in. Fortunately, Pennsylvanians have a history of helping in this way. Tyl said participation in the Winter Turkey Sighting Survey has been extremely useful for locating trappable flocks over the past four winters.

“The public has been so helpful. Some landowners who reported flocks on their property have also helped with monitoring flock activity and have participated in trapping,” Tyl said. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration this winter.”

**** TIME TO RENEW THAT FISHING LICENSE. When that ball dropped in Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve so did the value of your 2025 Pennsylvania fishing license. Unlike your Pennsylvania hunting license that spans two years from July to July, the fishing license conforms to the calendar year, which means the 2025 model expired the same moment that January 1, 2026 arrived.

That’s why the folks at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are now reminding anglers and boaters that licenses, permits, and vouchers for the upcoming 2026 season are now available at  HuntFish.pa.gov  or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents. 2026 licenses, permits, and vouchers purchased now are valid through December 31, 2026.

Customers can choose from annual or multi-year licenses and permits with three, five, and 10-year options. All documents may be printed immediately upon purchase or saved digitally to a smart device which serves as proof of possession.

While in-person retail purchases remain popular, online purchases can save time and help you avoid long lines, especially right before the spring trout season, which begins statewide on Saturday, April 4, 2026. For added convenience, customers can choose an auto-renew option at the time of purchase.

In addition to licenses and popular add-ons such as the Trout Permit, Lake Erie Permit, and Trout/Lake Erie Combo, customers may choose to purchase vouchers that can be given as gifts and be redeemed by recipients.

Once again for the 2026 license year, customers can purchase a collectible fishing license button. This year’s button features the vibrant and colorful pattern of Pennsylvania’s beloved state fish, the Brook Trout. In 2026, a limited-edition production of 10,000 buttons will be produced, and customers will receive a randomly numbered button between 00001-10000. Please note that buttons are not issued at the time of purchase and will be mailed to the buyer.

***** LATE DEER SEASONS WINDING DOWN. Late season deer hunters wielding flintlocks or archery gear are running out of time to fill those buck and doe tags as the seasons finally wind down. The statewide season ends in a few days on Jan. 19, but here in Wildlife Management Units (WMU) 5C and 5D the season extends through Jan. 24.

**** Tom Tatum is the outdoors columnist for MediaNews Group. You can reach him at tatumt2@yahoo.com.