Pennsylvania Mixed Bag: Boat ramps closed at High Point Lake

Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission recently announced that the North and South Access boat launch ramps at High Point Lake, Somerset County, will be closed and remain closed until the completion of a major dam rehabilitation project planned at the lake.

The closure is needed due to inadequate water levels as a result of the ongoing drawdown at the lake. During the closure, parking areas will remain open and walk-in fishing will be permitted for anglers.

A public meeting was held Aug. 27 regarding the dam rehabilitation project at the Confluence Borough Office.

Forest Service Invites Public to Review Vault Toilet Project in ANF and Provide Comments

Warren, Pa. — The U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments on a proposal to decommission, repair and replace vault toilets at eight locations across the Allegheny National Forest.

Some vault toilets and walkways prioritized in this project will be updated to meet Architectural Barriers Act requirements, ensuring facilities are accessible for individuals with disabilities. Other structures will be permanently decommissioned based on deteriorated conditions and low usage. This project will enhance public health, safety, and access, improving visitors’ experience.

Email comments to comments-eastern-allegheny-bradford@usda.gov. Include the project name (Vault Toilet Decommissioning Repair and Replacement Project) in the subject line of the email. Also, include your name and physical mailing address in the body of the email, along with your comments.

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New Manager at Colonel Denning Park Complex

Harrisburg — The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently announced the appointment of Chelsea DePoe to serve as the manager for the Colonel Denning State Park Complex in Cumberland and Perry counties.

She oversees the 273-acre Colonel Denning State Park, noted for its beautiful woodlands and 3.5-acre lake. The complex also includes the 45-acre Big Spring and 104-acre Fowlers Hollow state parks.

A Benton, Pennsylvania native, DePoe earned her undergraduate degree in Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management from the University of Montana. Her time with DCNR began as a park ranger trainee at Ricketts Glen, prior to working at Delaware Canal as a ranger. She moved to the park manager trainee program to spend more time with her family and to be a leader.

Learn to Hunt Pheasants Program

Harrisburg —The Pennsylvania Game Commission, in partnership with Martz’s Gap View Hunting Preserve, will host a Learn to Hunt Pheasants program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.

This full-day, in-person program is open to participants of all ages who want to learn the fundamentals of pheasant hunting. Topics will include pheasant behavior, habitat preferences, where to hunt, choosing the right firearm, firearm safety, and preparing wild game for the table. Participants will also have the opportunity to practice shotgun skills during a live-fire session on a clay bird range.

Martz’s Gap View Hunting Preserve is at 610 Game Farm Road, Dalmatia. Reservations are required, and space is limited. For more information or to register, visit: www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc.

Hunters Set Venison Donation Record

Greenville, Pa. — Pennsylvania hunters once again proved their unmatched generosity by setting a record for venison donations through Hunters Sharing the Harvest. A staggering 283,789 pounds of venison was donated from 7,855 deer harvested statewide during the 2024–25 hunting seasons.

The year’s donation total equates to approximately 1.1 million servings of lean, nutritious venison delivered to food-insecure individuals and families throughout the commonwealth.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture remains a cornerstone partner, allocating state and federal hunger relief funds to help reimburse processors who convert donated deer into ground venison for local food banks.

DEP Plugs 2 Old Leaking Erie County Wells

Erie, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection began plugging two actively leaking abandoned wells under an emergency contract Aug. 27 in Millcreek Township, near here.

The first of the two wells to be plugged sits on the bluff overlooking Baer Beach, directly behind Crystal Point Condos, which is home to 90 residents.

Once plugging operations behind Crystal Point Condos has been completed, DEP contractors will mobilize to the site of the second well located at 1602 Linwood Ave. Much like the first, this well has no responsible owner and is actively leaking methane in a residential area.

Game Commissioners Met Sept. 5

Harrisburg — Pennsylvania game commissioners were to meet on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Game Commission’s headquarters here.

The business meeting was to be preceded by a public comment session. The Sept. 5 meeting was livestreamed on the Game Commission’s YouTube channel and can be viewed there.

Pennsylvania Outdoor News will have full coverage of the meeting in the next issue.