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Department of Conservation CONTACT: Terry Brady STATE FOREST DISTRICTS OPENING ADDITIONAL ROADS FOR HUNTERS HARRISBURG (November 20, 2007) — When a new season opens Monday for Pennsylvania deer hunters, new hunting grounds will be open, too, Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said today. Additional state forest roads are being opened this hunting season in 17 of the 20 state forest districts. “When hunters seeking white-tailed deer head to the woods for the opening of the state’s traditional season, they will find more than 90 percent of all state forestland is now within one-half mile of an open road,” said DiBerardinis. “Since the start of archery season in late September, the bureau of forestry has opened approximately 500 additional miles of state forest roads that normally are gated.” Through the state’s deer-hunting seasons, running from Nov. 26 into January, hunters will find more than 3,100 miles of open roads in state forestlands. “Selective, temporary opening of state forest roads enables our forestry experts to channel deer hunting pressure where it is needed to benefit forest regeneration,” said DiBerardinis. “We’re also offering hunters — who we view as invaluable tools in both wildlife management and forest stewardship — access to sometimes remote areas, creating a win-win situation.” “In my experience, many hunters — especially veteran hunters — are sometimes apprehensive about hunting in remote areas because they’re afraid they’ll be unable to drag a harvested deer long distances out of the woods,” said Bureau of Forestry Wildlife Biologist Merlin Benner. “I encourage deer hunters to try some of the areas where newly opened roads will make hunting more viable because more roads make it easier to transport downed game to parked vehicles.” Some normally gated roads will only open during deer season and at the discretion of the district forester. Others will only be opened for the second week of the traditional rifle season because they cannot withstand the expected heavy traffic of the first week. Two- or three-month long openings will be in effect only where there is minimal threat of damage or deterioration to road surfaces or forest surroundings. Road openings are planned in the following state forest districts and counties:
Listings of open roads, effective dates and district office phone numbers are available at www.dcnr.state.pa.us (select Forestry). # # # 2007 Click Here To Return To The Previous Page |
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