Morrisons Cove Herald - Putting cows on the front page since 1885.

I recently ran into a young fly-fisherman who had bought my book, "The Trout at the Walnut Tree," which appeared 30 years ago and was probably the worst-selling book in the history of fly-fishing....

Students of literature remember that Oedipus the King was a major figure in tragic Greek drama. Unwitting actions ruined his life. Oedipus had become king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx: "What be...

After 45 years of marriage, I have learned when my presence is not needed around the house. Such was the case one hot August evening when Donna was having a meeting at our house for one of the committ...

Although it seems odd to me, Pennsylvania's autumn hunting seasons open next Tuesday, Sept. 1. One of the hunting targets will be mourning doves, which may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise...

When I am fishing, I occasionally encounter unusual things that have nothing to do with my fly-fishing adventures. One of the weirdest outdoor encounters I have had recently was finding a little mole...

Summer is supposed to be the season of plenty in the wild. Young animals that have been born during the recent spring are growing and are becoming aware of the world around them. By now, whitetail faw...

I have a friend we'll call "John Doe" who owns a nice outdoor property. John keeps a few trout in a small pond there. However, by this spring the population was down to one large palomino (yes, I know...

To hunt turkeys the way I do, I must be in good physical condition. At 70 it has become increasingly difficult to remain in the type of condition I need to be in so that I can pursue wild turkeys...

By now, most hunters have purchased their licenses for the 2020-21 hunting year. Many have bought additional tags and stamps so that they can hunt with a bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader for deer. In...

The term "sartorial splendor" means "magnificent in the manner of dress." In relation to fishing, sartorial splendor could mean that an angler dresses himself so that he looks magnificent to other...

We are now in the period of summer when catching trout becomes a matter of degree. No, I am not talking about the degree of difficulty, though summer trout are much tougher to deal with than the...

"You're just an old fogey, Rich," the young fly-fisherman told me. "You need to get up to date on modern fly-fishing tactics." The young man's comment was made to me not too long ago when we were disc...

May is my favorite month. Redbud and dogwood come into full bloom against the pastel green of developing plants. Eventually ground phlox and dame's rocket make their lavender appearances as well. As...

With the coronavirus closing many things down, including age-level basketball at the Y, I find that I still have lots of things to do. So should most sportsmen. Enthusiastic trout fishermen have been...

A month ago, I wrote that the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (USP) was continuing to back the research of Dr. Frank Bastian and that Bastian's work needs financial support. When the PA Department o...

After my son, Bob, tagged his big opening-day 2019 spring gobbler, he wanted to know if I wanted to keep hunting. "Nope," I replied. "With this wind howling, I don't think that we'll hear another...

My son, Bob, is a better hunter than I am. This has become increasingly evident during the spring when he has managed to kill gobblers almost every spring for the past 10 years without having much...

When I got home this morning, April 7, from fishing on one of the specially regulated waters where trout fishing is open the year round, Donna greeted me by saying, "Do you know that trout season is...

This time every spring, trout fishermen start getting "antsy." With the traditional opener still nearly a month away, most wile away their time doing other things, including odious yard work....

Although Dr. Frank Bastian's research concerning Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has not been able to be replicated by other researchers, the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (USP) is continuing to...

An informational meeting concerning Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was held on Saturday, March 7, at the Freedom Township Fire Hall with approximately 150 sportsmen in attendance. State Rep. Jim Gregor...

Five years ago, my friend Brady killed a buck that ran down the wrong side of the mountain after being hit with a shot that should have dropped him in his tracks. It took the two of us more than six...

Spotlighting deer is a nice way to spend an early evening. You attach a spotlight's cord to the electrical socket that once held a cigarette lighter. Then you drive around rural roads and shine the...

I hope sportsmen reading this column have been preparing for Valentine's Day. Most of us should come up with a card for our wives. Many of us might visit a florist and bring home a bouquet of...

If you watch television, you know there are various groups that reward various types of performers with awards. You can watch the Emmys, the Grammys, the ESPYs, and other award shows. Individuals and...

With a lull between most autumn and spring sportsmen's hunting and fishing seasons, a way for sportsmen to fill the void is to visit one of the outdoor shows that are held during the winter. Probably...

As I've aged, Donna has become increasingly successful in duping me into accompanying her on shopping trips. Recently she dragged me off to a distant mall I'd never heard of. Donna had entered a...

Last autumn, I decided to make an overnight trip to northcentral Pennsylvania. When I drove there to fish in previous years, I normally came home that same night. However, I am not the night driver I...

It is nearing the end of another deer season. I have been hearing the same lament I have been hearing for many years. "There just aren't many deer on public land, Rich. I'm about ready to join all...

I do not know if deer season is the appropriate time to write a column about the disappearance of songbirds. However, even an unobservant sportsman like me has noticed that there are far fewer birds...

Saturday (Nov. 30) is the opening day of the rifle deer season. It's the first time rifle deer season has opened on a Saturday since I began hunting. During my years in the woods, deer season has...

If I were a bear hunter, I would have been just about totally confused about when and where I could've hunted prior to the regular bear season. The only thing I would've been sure of was that I'd have...

Not long ago, I wrote that the passage of a bill allowing Sunday hunting was unlikely. I am now eating crow about that column. On Oct. 30, SB 147 was passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representative...

Last fall, my son, Bob, and I did not get to hunt together during the autumn turkey season. Because of the heavy rain that occurred on the first day, I did not hunt. Bob, like our friend "Scout,"...

Last fall, my autumn turkey season did not begin until Monday afternoon of the first week – the only week in WMA 4A. It rained cats and dogs on Saturday and continued through Monday morning. As an...

This Saturday (Oct. 19) ushers in the statewide small game season for squirrels, rabbits, and ruffed grouse. The following Saturday, Oct. 26, is the opening day for pheasants. For those "in the...

When Pennsylvania's State Senate passed its version of a bill to allow hunting on Sundays, it appeared that limited Sunday hunting was going to be permitted in Pennsylvania. The bill allowed three...

Although a couple of less-popular fall hunting seasons have already begun, the major seasons are now only a week away. First up will be the autumn bow/crossbow season that is scheduled to begin on Oct...

I have been fly-fishing for more than 50 years. During these years, I have caught a fair number of beautiful trout and have seen a good many unusual things. One of the most unusual "buildings" I ever...

Late one evening I was slouched on the lazy-boy in my fly-tying room, reading one of the novels I have spent much of my time with since retiring. After all, television programming is so putrid that...

Back in mid-July, I listened to Dr. James Kroll's presentation about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It was a scholarly presentation, and more than 100 sportsmen showed up to hear it. However, there...

I do not spend a lot of time on the internet; but when I am online, I visit a couple of fly-fishing sites. One of these is paflyfish.com, where there is a forum that includes various sub-forums. On...

"Don't you dare write anything negative about our trip to Cape May this year, Rich," Donna, my wife, recently warned me. "You and some of your friends might think your complaints about Cape May and...

On Saturday, July 13, Dr. James Kroll presented a seminar about deer and chronic wasting disease to more than 100 sportsmen at the Hollidaysburg Middle School auditorium. Kroll is known as "Dr. Deer"...

Not long ago, I had just finished mowing my lawn for what seemed to be the millionth time this summer when I noticed my neighbor, Dr. Archie O. Logist, professor of phenomenology at the nearby Ganiste...

I have been fly-fishing for trout for a little more than 50 years. After I had graduated from high school, I thought I would try to become a serious trout fisherman. When I saw Ralph Haney and his...

The recent audit of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's financial policies has pointed out that the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (USP) has long been correct about the commission's manipulation of...

With heavy rains blowing out my favorite local streams for much of the spring, I've gotten little fly-fishing in. For a while, though, several spots on the BFO River remained fishable. One drizzly...