Cautions for Running in the Game Lands

Off The Beaten Path

The State College Area is full of great woodland trails for outdoor sports and activities. But runners should use caution, especially during hunting season. Particular care should be exercised when running in State Game Lands, which are often used by runners and come close to populated areas.

Here are the State Game Commission's regulations for use of the State Game Lands.

Here is an official map, published by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, of State Game Land 176, which is the game land closest to town.

Here is a trail map, compiled by Marty Mazur, from our running maps pages that shows many of the trails in SGL 176.

Note, however, that hunting is not limited to State Game Lands. Be aware that the farmer who has told you it was OK to run across his field may have also told hunters that they could clear his land of deer. The message below is adopted from a local hiker's bulletin board, but the message applies to anyone who takes to the woods. The dates mentioned apply to the 2008-09 season, and we'll try to keep this information updated from year to year. However, the approximate times will probably be good from year to year, and the message is clear. It's generally a good idea to stay out of the Game Lands, except on Sundays, from October through late January, and in May. And always wear bright colors and florescent orange.

Many people who are not hunters are not aware of the many seasons which put hunters in the woods for their lawful hunting activities.

Starting in early October, there will be many different hunting activities going on in Pennsylvania; hunters will be:

Quietly sitting in tree stands, waiting for Deer
Sitting with their backs to trees, calling in Wild Turkey
Standing or slowly stalking Small Game

Some hunting activities require Blaze Orange Caps and Vests; others allow complete camo. Some hunters will have bows, some use shotguns, some use high-power rifles . . .It all depends on what game they are seeking.

"SAFE" means "absence of risk". You might consider doing your outdoor activity in areas where hunting is not allowed. We don't want anyone to interfere with lawful hunting activity. Neither do we want to read about someone being killed or injured while walking out there, enjoying the woods.

Recent PGC Regulation:

IT IS UNLAWFUL for non-hunters to be present, except on Sunday, on State Game Lands from November 15 through December 15 inclusive without wearing at least a Fluorescent Orange hat, visible from 360 degrees (a vest or jacket of 250 sq. inches is of Safety Orange is recommended). . .

BUT 11/15 to 12 /15 IS NOT THE ONLY "HUNTING SEASON":

Adopted 2008-2009 Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 11-17 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Fall Season – Oct. 18-Nov. 29; Late Seasons – Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7 (6 daily, 12 in possession limit after first day).

RUFFED GROUSE: Oct. 18–Nov. 29, Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24 (2 daily, 4 possession).

RABBIT (Cottontail): Oct. 25-Nov. 29, Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7 (4 daily, 8 possession).

PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Oct. 11-18 (2 daily, 4 in possession). Male pheasants only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B. Male and female pheasants may be taken in all other WMUs.

PHEASANT: Male only in WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A and 5B – Oct. 25-Nov. 29. Male and female may be taken in all other WMUs – Oct. 25-Nov. 29, Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 7 (2 daily, 4 in possession).

BOBWHITE QUAIL: Oct. 25-Nov. 29 (4 daily, 8 possession). (Closed in WMUs 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.)

HARES (SNOWSHOE RABBITS) OR VARYING HARES: Dec. 26–Jan. 1 (1 daily, 2 possession).

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except: Sundays; during the antlered and antlerless deer seasons; and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season.

CROWS: July 4-April 5, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.

STARLINGS AND ENGLISH SPARROWS: No closed season, except during the regular firearms antlered and antlerless deer seasons and until noon daily during the spring gobbler turkey season. No limit.

WILD TURKEY (Male or Female): Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B and 2A (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 1-15; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 1-22; WMUs 2C, 2E, 2F, 4A and 4B– Nov. 1-15; WMUs 2D, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E – Nov. 1-22; WMUs 5A and 5B – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgun and bow and arrow) – Nov. 1-7. (1 bird limit, either sex).

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license – April 18, 2009. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.

SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 25-May 25, 2009. Daily limit 1, season limit 2. (Second spring gobbler may only be taken by persons who possess a valid special wild turkey license.)

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D) Bow and Arrow only: Nov. 19-20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Statewide): Nov. 24-26. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (WMU 3C and Portions of WMUs 3B, 4E and 2G): Dec. 1-6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. All of WMU 3C. Also, in that portion of 3B, East of Rt. 14 from Troy to Canton, East of Rt. 154 from Canton to Rt. 220 at Laporte and East of Rt. 42 from Laporte to Rt. 118 and that portion of 4E, East of Rt. 42. Also, in that portions of WMUs 2G in Lycoming and Clinton counties, and 3B in Lycoming County, that lie North of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River from the Rt. 405 Bridge, West to Rt. 15 at Williamsport, Rt. 15 to Rt. 220, and North of Rt. 220 to the Mill Hall exit, North of S.R. 2015 to Rt. 150; East of Rt. 150 to Lusk Run Road and South of Lusk Run Road to Rt. 120, Rt. 120 to Veterans Street Bridge to S.R. 1001; East of S.R. 1001 to Croak Hollow Road, South of Croak Hollow Road to Rt. 664 (at Swissdale), South of Rt. 664 to Little Plum Road (the intersection of S.R. 1003), South of S.R. 1003 to S.R. 1006, South of S.R. 1006 to Sulphur Run Road, South of Sulphur Run Road to Rt. 44, East of Rt. 44 to Rt. 973, South of Rt. 973 to Rt. 87, West of Rt. 87 to Rt. 864, south of Rt. 864 to Rt. 220 and West of Rt. 220 to Rt. 405 and West of Rt. 405 to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

BLACK BEAR (WMUs 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 3-6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.

BLACK BEAR (Rockview State Correctional Institution): Dec. 1-6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year. Prior approval must be obtained from prison to hunt.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Nov. 3-8. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

ELK (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 1-27, 2008. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlerless Only) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 20-Oct. 3, Nov. 17-29 and Dec. 15-23. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide, including WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Oct. 4-Nov. 15 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D: Dec. 1-13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER (Antlered Only) WMUs 2D, 2G, 3C and 4B: Dec. 1-5. One antlered deer per hunting license year.

DEER (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2D, 2G, 3C and 4B: Dec. 6-13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Statewide): Oct. 23-25. Junior and Senior License Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license, or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 18-25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 10. One antlered per hunting license year, or one antlerless deer and an additional antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, Antlerless (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 15-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; and New Cumberland Army Depot, York County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license.

ADOPTED 2008-09 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS

COYOTES: No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of any deer or bear season, coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any archery deer season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or with a furtaker license. During the regular firearms deer and any bear seasons, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting deer or bear, or with a furtaker license while wearing 250 square inches of fluorescent orange. During the spring gobbler season, may be taken by those with a valid tag and meet fluorescent orange and shot size requirements.

RACCOON & FOXES: Oct. 25–Feb. 21, unlimited.

OPOSSUM, SKUNKS & WEASELS: No closed season, except Sundays and prior to noon during the spring gobbler season. No limits.

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4D): Oct. 25-Feb. 21. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers in possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)

ADOPTED 2008-09 TRAPPING SEASONS

MINK & MUSKRAT: Nov. 22–Jan. 11. Unlimited.

COYOTE, FOXES, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, SKUNKS, WEASELS: Oct. 26–Feb. 22. No limit.

COYOTE & FOXES (Statewide) Cable Restraints: Jan. 1-Feb. 22. No limit. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.

BEAVER (Statewide): Dec. 26–March 31 (Limits vary depending on WMU).

BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4D): Oct. 26-Feb. 22. One per permit. (Bobcats may only be taken by furtakers in possession of a Bobcat Hunting-Trapping permit.)

ADOPTED 2008-09 FALCONRY SEASONS

SQUIRRELS (combined), QUAIL, RUFFED GROUSE, COTTONTAIL RABBITS, SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE, RINGNECK PHEASANT (Male or Female combined): Sept. 1-March 31. Daily and Field Possession limits vary. (Migratory game bird seasons and bag limits for falconers will be set in accordance with federal regulations in August.)

No open season on other wild birds or mammals. Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird seasons will be established in accordance with Federal Regulations this summer.

As you can see, "Hunting Season" isn't just one month.Â
Please be aware of these lawful hunting activities.Â You don't want to ruin a hunter's day - and he or she doesn't want you to be endangered.

IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, BE AWARE ! . . .WEAR BLAZE ORANGE FOR SAFETY

Please be aware that sportsmen and women could be legally hunting in some State Parks, Conservation Areas, Sanctuaries and other areas where hunting is normally not allowed. PGC’s Deer Management program and plans to reduce Canada Goose populations will open some areas where you haven’t seen hunting before. Check with the agency supervisors for details. Hunting is the most cost-effective method of control.

Hunting is always prohibited on the Appalachian Trail’s National Park Service-owned corridor, but there may be some hunters who are not aware of that law.

For detailed information, (and the information about migratory waterfowl),

go to www.pgc.state.pa.us

Last Updated ( Friday, 07 November 2008 14:11 )

Nittany Valley Running Club

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