Deals to add 57 acres to Pennsylvania game lands

Harrisburg — Pennsylvania game commissioners at their recent quarterly meeting addressed four land deals: one purchase in Luzerne County, one exchange in Cambria County, one acquisition through interagency transfer in Luzerne County, and one boundary settlement in Elk County through a notational vote on June 11.

The total amount of land to be added to existing state game lands through these deals is 57 acres.

The land purchase in Luzerne County is in partnership with Natural Lands Trust and includes roughly 16.5 acres adjacent to State Game Land 91 off Route 115.

In Cambria County, the Game Commission will be receiving roughly 18.5 acres adjacent to State Game Land 79, in Blacklick Township, in exchange for roughly 3.8 acres that are now part of it. The exchange eliminates a significant encroachment and improves the manageability of this land.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation agreed to transfer exclusive jurisdiction and control of roughly 22 acres located in Hanover Township, Luzerne County to the Game Commission.

The property, known as the Witinski Bank Site, is an indenture to State Game Land 207 with both Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats showing a potential presence on the property.

PennDOT will be able to credit these acres against impacts to state game lands in the northeast region, resulting from future highway and road projects.

By notational vote on June 11, the Board of Commissioners approved the resolution to a boundary dispute on State Game Land 44 in Elk County. The total land involved in the dispute was roughly one-half acre.

Hunters and other users of the game lands system should be aware that none of these additions are yet final. Some are contingent upon third parties receiving funding through grants or other means. What’s more, the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the agreements is but one step in the land transfer process.

When that process is completed, and the properties are officially game lands, the Game Commission will post signs to that effect, stating that they’re now available for public use.