PA Gamelands

[Nash]

Can anyone tell me if the PA gamelands are still off limits to riders?

[Raymo853]

The PA Gamelands have never really been open to bicycles, horses or hikers. The gameland rules have always stated the lands are only for hunting purposes and all other uses are not allowed.

My plan has always been to claim I am scouting game if I am ever stopped by an official. I have a hunting license and scouting game is a legitimate hunting activity according the the Gameland rules.

The confusion came from a proposal to specificly mention bikes, hikers and horses as only being allowed on the roads accessible to cars and such. I am unsure what has become of this proposal. I am unsure if it has been approved, modified...


I used to think it was OK for bikes not to be allowed since the Gamelands are not supported by tax dollars but by hunting license fees. However I know remember it is false to think they are not a drag on PA and local taxes since the Gamelands are except from paying taxes!

[jhl99]

Last fall, the Game Commission had open houses throughout the state to collect feedback on the proposed gameland rule changes. (Attempt to limit the impact of 'non traditional users' on the gamelands.)

I attended the session in Ligonier (SW Region) One the points that was stressed is that Gamelands are supported by from both the sale of hunting licenses and Federal money. I don't think much, if any of the state's general revenue goes into the gamelands.

The taxpayer argument doesn't really hold that much value. We pay taxes that fund a lot of things the average taxpayer will never get to use...military equipment, buildings, laboratories, etc etc.

The key point is that in order collect the money from the Fed (I think it was like 1/3 of Game Commission budget) the Gamelands must abide by a strict set of requirements... As I recall, the Fed regulations were very focused on game and game habitat and not 'multiple use'. This is were the conflicts lie... Game commission needs $, multiple users want access... and in some places, the non-hunter users have abused the land. (The open house documented this). In my opinion (from last year) the Game Commission was doing its best to balance these things, within its given mission. It would be nice no know what, if anything has developed or radically changed.

The bike rider with a hunting license might have a loophole to ride through, so to speak.

Jeff