Outdoors galore

Even as hunters take advantage of various game seasons opening throughout the Upper Delaware River region, other outdoor recreationists are enjoying abundant opportunities to interact with nature.

We happened upon these whitewater kayaking enthusiasts during a hike at the Shohola Waterfowl Management Area (SWMA) in Pike County, PA. Waters swollen by recent rains provided the perfect chance to practice advanced skills in a magnificent natural setting. Just above the dam, fishermen plied the still waters.

In other parts of the SWMA, hunters combed the forests, while hikers plied paths where hunting is restricted.

This special landscape lost one of its biggest fans in October, when Wilmer Ray Peoples passed away. Peoples served the Northeast region as a Wildlife Conservation Officer in charge of land management with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, managing state game lands for 33 years. He was instrumental in the development of the SWMA and its Bald Eagle Recovery Project.

Thanks to Peoples’ work, today’s outdoor enthusiasts enjoy many forms of recreation there. The SWMA is located along Route Six in Shohola, PA.