PA State Game Lands Hiking Ban

[TreeBeard13]

PA Game Commission considering banning hiking and require a permit in State Game Lands during hunting season, basically Oct thru Jan and Spring Turkey, a few weeks in April. About 130 days out of the year

Link
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/brea...ing_all-o.html

There is a link at bottom to e-mail your thoughts to them at the bottom of the page.

[Dutch]

I hope this doesn't become a reality. I think the PA game commission doesn't have the power it had in the past.

[wildwillott]

Why should hikers be punished because hunters are irresponsible?

[Ironman65]

Why should hikers be punished because hunters are irresponsible?

That's kind of a broad brush, don't you think?

[cmseeley]

Why should hikers be punished because hunters are irresponsible?

This isn't a fair statement... That's like me saying "Why should hunters be punished because hikers are irresponsible?"

I am both a hunter and a hiker. I also hope that this doesn't become a reality as I am often out and about during hunting season even while not hunting. Having said that though, I try to stear clear of other hunters while on public land during hunting season. (That is just being responsible!)
Several segments of the finger lakes trail do get closed during hunting season. I suspect these segments are on private land, and the landowner makes these decisions for thier own reasons. Several segments of the finger lakes trail go through NY State dec hunting lands, and they are not closed to hikers during hunting season.

Best,

Chris

[Roche]

Why should hikers be punished because hunters are irresponsible?

Why should hunters be punished because hikers are irresponsible? Hikers would get 2/3 of the time and hunters 1/3 of the time, restricted to state game lands only.

[OneClick]

It's our land, we need to share it.

Last November I walked right under a bow hunter. He just gave me a quick waive. I felt bad because I knew I screwed up his hunt...blowing my nose, hiking on the loud leaves, stinking the place up. He could have been a DB about it, but I guess he realized what I just said - It's our land, we need to share it. If he wanted a 100% guarantee of NO people whatsoever, get on private land of a friend, acquaintance, family member, or whatever.

Once I was hunting on public land in northern MI, and some guy walked no more than 75 yards right in front of my blind to set up a stand. What are the chances? I just waited a bit and left. What are you going to do.

[Scooby]

It is a tricky issue. The land was purchased with funds that were collected from hunters. Meanwhile, the number of hunting permits that are sold has declined in the past decade by roughly 100,000 or 10%. I believe this issue is being raised now as a manner to generate a new revenue stream to fund the game commission.

Also, it is not uncommon to see many hikers head into the game lands with an unleashed dog and no blaze orange during hunting seasons. They could benefit from some education. Not being a deer hunter, I know I would personally benefit from learning more about the proper etiquette on how to best share the woods during the season.

Personally, I would rather purchase a hiking permit for a small fee than to see game lands sold in order to generate revenue. One thing I hope never changes is no hunting on Sundays.

[Ratdog]

I don't mind paying a few bucks or registering for a 3 year permit but being told I can't hike on State Land without carrying a weapon and intending to harvest some wildlife is wrong imho.

Are a bunch of hikers being shot by hunters, did I miss a news update? I know bunch of hunters have shot each other, happens every year.

Not being in the least anti-hunting, totally support folks who do, but why is it necessary to go to this extreme? How did this proposal even get this far??

[Pops1954]

It looks like the proposal was tendered on the 12th - not much time for discussion. PA residents you need to send an email to the game commission and speak your piece. The game commission is organized for and by hunters - Let them know you appreciate that it is a hunting organization but we as hikers are safety conscience enough to exist in the woods with hunters and willing to pay small fees every few years for a permit to help defray the costs of keeping these lands available for our use. As has been stated the hunters are dwindling so that means funds are too and I don't want to see the lands being sold off to raise the money or reduce the costs. Hikers can be an asset to the game commission - let them know.


Thanks for letting me rant,
Roy