There may be no better way to take advantage of the public tours of area State Game Lands held each fall by the Pennsylvania Game Commission than doing so in the company of a youngster whose excitement and anticipation of what is or may be seen becomes the highlight of the trip.
Much as rocks that seemingly turn into black bears and bushes into deer for hunters who have been on the stand for hours, youngsters have the ability to see animals around every turn in the road. Some of those animals may actually be there.
Area tours of State Games Lands begin Sunday, Oct. 4, in Carbon County, continue Sunday, Oct. 11, in Luzerne and Wyoming counties and conclude Sunday, Oct. 18, in Berks and Schuylkill and Dauphin and Lebanon counties. In addition to having the opportunity to view wildlife in their natural setting, tours provide an opportunity to talk with personnel directly responsible for managing and protecting the commonwealth’s State Game Lands.
Here is the schedule of upcoming tours of area State Game Lands:
• Sunday, Oct. 4 — State Game Lands 141 in Carbon County consists of nearly 17,048 acres. Registration will be held from 9 a.m. until noon at the large parking lot along state Route 93 on State Game Lands 141, Nesquehoning Township. The lot can be reached by taking state Route 93 north from state Route 209, proceed 3.5 miles and turn right into the parking lot. PGC personnel will be on hand to explain various points of interest, including wildlife habitat-improvement projects. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance are recommended for this 9-mile, self-guided driving tour that begins at the large parking area on the east side state Route 93 and travels east on a game lands road toward the Lehigh Gorge State Park and back to state Route 93, exiting at the parking lot across from the game lands shooting range. Each vehicle will be provided a map and brief explanation of wildlife and habitat management programs being carried out on this tract of public hunting land.
• Sunday, Oct. 11 — State Game Lands 57 in Luzerne and Wyoming counties consists of nearly 44,600 acres. Registration is from 7:30 a.m. until noon at the headquarters building complex on State Game Lands 57, Ricketts Station, Forkston Township, Wyoming County. The location can be reached by taking Route 487 north from state Route 118, proceed 7½ miles and then turn right onto the dirt road near the game lands sign on the right. PGC personnel will be on hand to explain various points of interest, including wildlife habitat-improvement projects. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance are required for this 30-mile, self-guided driving tour, which will pass habitat-improvement projects completed by the State Game Lands 57 Food and Cover Corps crew, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Whitetails Unlimited and Ducks Unlimited. Representatives from the PGC and conservation organizations will be on hand to explain the projects and answer questions, and each vehicle will be provided a map and brief explanation of wildlife and habitat-management programs being carried out on this tract of public hunting land.
• Sunday, Oct. 18 — State Game Lands 110 in Berks and Schuylkill counties and encompasses nearly 10,150 acres of historical, scenic and recreational property. Tours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the 9-mile trips begin at the PGC parking lot on Mountain Road, midway between the Shartlesville exit of Interstate 78 and Route 61. Tours will exit onto Route 183, north of Strausstown, and PGC officers will be on hand to answer questions relating to agency programs and activities.
State Game Lands 211 in Dauphin and Lebanon counties encompasses more than 44,400 acres in a three-county area and tours will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning at the Ellendale gate in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, seven miles east of the Borough of Dauphin. PGC personnel will be present at the beginning and along the 17-mile trip along an abandoned railroad bed and will exit on to Goldmine Road in Lebanon County.