Game Commission to Hold State Game Land Tours for Public

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's efforts to highlight its ongoing habitat improvement initiatives, the public is invited to take part in upcoming tours of several State Game Lands between Sept. 25 and Oct. 17.  All tours are free.

"State Game Land tours provide the opportunity for those who enjoy nature to come out and talk with our employees – the people who are directly responsible for managing and protecting these lands," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.  "With autumn nearly here, these tours will provide a chance to see some of the best scenery the Commonwealth has to offer.  These tours afford hunters and trappers and others who appreciate wildlife the opportunity to see how the Game Commission is spending hunting and furtaker license fees to acquire and to manage these lands for wildlife."

Roe noted that staff shortages and limited financial resources forced a reduction in the number of State Game Land tours this year.  

"Recognizing the benefit of the tours, the agency has maintained some tours," Roe said.  "It was a difficult decision to scale back on the number of tours we offer this year.  However, the agency's current financial situation required that we make tough choices."

In 1919, the Game Commission was granted authority to purchase lands for the protection, propagation and management of game and wildlife, and to provide areas for public hunting and trapping.  Since that time, the Game Commission has acquired more than 1.4 million acres in 65 of the state's 67 counties (Philadelphia and Delaware counties being the exceptions).  

With few exceptions, State Game Lands were purchased using revenues from hunting and furtaker license sales; State Game Lands timber, coal, oil, gas and mineral operation revenues; the state's share of a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, known as the Pittman-Robertson Program; from Working Together for Wildlife artwork and patch sales; and from the Pennsylvania Waterfowl Management stamp and print sales.

Information on the various tours is as follows:

Elk County: Saturday, Sept. 25, SGL 44, which covers more than 31,755 acres. At 1 p.m., the three-hour tour will start on Kyler Road at the large Game Commission sign for the Brandy Camp Kojancic Parcel. Attendees will use their own vehicle to travel SGL 44, and will view small game and pheasant stocking areas where habitat projects improved formerly surface-mined lands. The tour also will view some mine reclamation work and acid-mine abatement work being done by DEP on that parcel of land. The tour will then proceed across Route 219 to the Shawmut Road parcel of SGL 44 to view warm-season grass projects and brush pile projects work done over the past two years. High-clearance vehicle are preferred, but four-wheel drive is not needed. The tour will be conducted by Land Management Group Supervisor John Dzemyan and Wildlife Conservation Officer Dick Bodenhorn of the Game Commission.

McKean County: Sunday, Sept. 26, SGL 62, comprised of 1,526 acres.  The tour will begin at 1 p.m. at the Game Commission Food and Cover Buildings, one mile east of the Kinzua Bridge State park Entrance in McKean County. Attendees will walk and use their own vehicles to travel on this three-hour tour of SGL 62 to review small game habitat projects. The tour also will stop by timbering projects which are targeted at improving wildlife habitat in an area that was impacted by a tornado in 2003, which swept though portions of the SGL next to the Kinzua Bridge area. Four-wheel drive is not necessary, so regular vehicles will suffice. The tour will be conducted by Land Management Group Supervisor John Dzemyan of the Game Commission.

Bradford County:  Sunday, Oct. 3, from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. (rain or shine).  This will be a 28-mile, self-guided, circular driving tour through State Game Lands 12 and 36, and will take about two hours to complete. SGL 12 consists of nearly 24,480 acres in Bradford and Sullivan counties, and SGL 36 is comprised of 18,987 acres in Bradford County. The route will start at the SGL 12 parking lot on top of Wheelerville Mountain along Route 154 just south of Canton, Bradford County.  Roads are passable for most vehicles.  It will go along East to the Barkley cemetery area than down the hill to Laquin area turning west onto the railroad grade to Wheelerville. Once you reach Wheelerville you will come to a "T" in the road, which is SR 154, and marks the end of the tour. You could go north along SR 154 to Canton, or south along SR 154 to Shunk and points south in Sullivan County. Since the tour goes by Sunfish Pond County Park, a picnic lunch may be the order of the day! The local history of the mountain and the Game Commission's refuge system is intriguing. A tour guide packet that is full of information and old Game Commission photographs will be given to each vehicle at the start of the tour.  

Clarion County: Wednesday, Oct. 6, State Game Land 330, which encompasses 2,254 acres.  At 10 a.m., rain or shine, tour participants will meet at the parking area at the intersection of Mt. Zion Road and Limestone Flat Road northwest of Sligo off Route 58. This will be a driving tour with short walks at planned stops to view habitat management practices, projects and to learn about grassland birds. Although cars can be driven to most of the sites, four-wheel drive vehicles with high ground clearance are preferred for those stops inside the SGL on the gated, interior roadways.  This tour will take about three to four hours.

Bedford/Blair counties:  Sunday, Oct. 10, from noon to 3 p.m., State Game Land 26, which encompasses 12,062 acres in a four-county area. This popular tour highlights mountainous terrain and fall foliage.  The seven-mile, self-guided auto tour begins at the parking area on the northeast side of Route 869, between Pavia and Beaverdale, and concludes near the village of Blue Knob.  Youngsters will enjoy the opportunity to locate and identify mounted wildlife specimens placed in their natural habitat along the drive. Game Commission personnel will be on hand to answer questions relating to Game Commission programs and activities.  

Luzerne/Wyoming counties: Sunday, Oct. 10, State Game Land 57, which consists of nearly 44,650 acres.  Registration to be held from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the headquarters building complex on SGL 57, Ricketts Station, Forkston Township, Wyoming County.  Game Commission personnel will be on hand to explain various points of interest, including wildlife habitat improvement projects.  Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are strongly recommended for this 14-mile, self-guided driving tour.  Due to bridge being out, this year's tour route has been altered from previous years.  The tour will begin at the SGL 57 maintenance building and travels Southbrook, Shale Pit, Beech Lake, and Mountain Springs roads back to the building.  This self-guided tour will pass habitat improvement projects completed by the Food and Cover Crew, NWTF, QDMA, and DU.  Representatives from the Game Commission and these conservation organizations will be on hand to explain the projects and answer questions.  Directions:  Take Route 487 north at the intersection of Route 118 and proceed 7.5 miles and turn onto a dirt road near SGL sign on right.  Travel on dirt road one-tenth of a mile to a "Y" intersection and proceed left three-tenths of a mile to the headquarters complex.  Each vehicle will be provided a map and brief explanation of wildlife management programs being carried out on this magnificent tract of public hunting land.

Somerset County:  Sunday, Oct. 17, from noon until 3 p.m., State Game Land 111, consisting of about 10,520 acres. This will be a self-guided, one-way, 15-mile driving tour through SGL 111 that will begin at the Cranberry Glade Lake parking lot. Tour participants will be able to view habitat improvement projects and plantings on the SGLs, forestry practices, an active gas well site, and a chestnut tree orchard along the route of this mountainous SGL. Game Commission personnel will be on hand at various stops along the route to explain various aspects of the habitat and work being done on SGL 111. The tour traverses the picturesque Laurel Ridge with some magnificent views along the route of the surrounding countryside. Children will enjoy a stop on this tour where they can see and touch some of the furs, skulls and mounts of local wildlife that can be found in the area. Each tour participant will be provided a brochure with directions and information about various features along the tour route. A high-ground clearance vehicle is a must for this tour.  Directions to SGL 111 Cranberry Glade Lake parking lot:  From Somerset, take State Route 281 south 10 miles. Bear right onto State Route 653 and travel about 8.5 miles. Make a left turn on State Route 2017 (look for the sign to Cranberry Glade Lake).  Travel about two miles and make a left turn onto State Route 1062.  Follow SR 1062 for 2.4 miles and bear right onto gravel road. Cranberry Glade Lake parking lot will be on the right.

Berks/Schuylkill counties: Sunday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., State Game Land 110, which encompasses nearly 10,150 acres of historical, scenic and recreational property in a two-county area. The nine-mile trip will begin at the agency's parking lot on Mountain Road, midway between the Shartlesville Exit of Interstate 78 and Route 61; and will exit onto Route 183, north of Strausstown. Game Commission Officers will be on hand to answer questions relating to Game Commission programs and activities.  

Dauphin/Lebanon counties: Sunday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., State Game Land 211, which encompasses more than 44,400 acres in a three-county area.  The tour will start at the Ellendale gate in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, just northeast of Dauphin Borough. The 19-mile trip will be made along an abandoned railroad bed, and will end at Goldmine Road in Lebanon County. Game Commission personnel will be on hand to explain various points of interest, including wildlife habitat improvement projects.

Facts about the Pennsylvania Game Commission: During the 2008-09 fiscal year, state law required the Game Commission to spend a minimum of $5,312,612 on habitat improvement projects. Demonstrating its understanding and commitment to habitat improvement, the Game Commission spent a total of $6,169,952, which exceeded the legislative mandate by $857,340.

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission