Gamelands

[Raymo853]

Interesting story about how the PA State Game Commission is realizing it has money problems and is starting to look for alternative funding sources. I wonder what ramifications this will have on our access to the Gamelands in years to come.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_156251.html

[jhl99]

I doubt that anything would change, although the creation of 'designated routes' would probably be of low priority unless volunteers did the work.

I doubt that mountain bikers would be looked at as a source of revenue for the PA Game Commision.

Below is what I can recall about the issues, hopefully I have the facts correct:

Prior to the new limitations placed on mountian bikers in the Gamelands, the Game Commission had a series of open houses to explain and get feedback from hunter and non-hunter regarding the new regulations. At the open house, they Game Commission explained the Gameland funding came from both hunting license fees and from the Federal Gov. The Federal money comes via the Pittman-Robertson Act. ( I don't think the Tribune article mentioned that).

Anyways, the Pittman-Roberston act is what places the limitation on the activities done on Gamelands. If PA wants the Federal money, then Pittman-Roberston stipulates what activities can be done on the gamelands.

I think that for PA, Pittman-Roberson was a large portion of the Game Commission budget... hence the new regulations to ensure that the money would keep flowing from the Fed.