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February 29, 2008 Some of you are undoubtedly already aware that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is attempting to purchase two tracts of land as additions to State Game Lands # 44 in southwestern Elk County. These two tracts of land were once both open to public hunting and used as the primary pheasant stocking area of the county as well as one of the primary access areas to some of the most remote parts of SGL # 44. One of the two tracts, 4,960 acres, was closed to public hunting and became part of a hunting lease about ten years ago. That tract is what is now known as the “Rock Shanty Hunt Club” and presently closed to all but the hunt club members though it has some of the best pheasant and grouse hunting habitats within this part of the state. These lands already have about eighteen established and maintained wildlife food plots that are presently maintained to the benefit of many wildlife species even though the intended purpose was for deer. Those existing food plots would be a great start toward building even better pheasant and small game habitat and hunting opportunities. There are also approximately one hundred old apple trees located at various locations on this tract of land that could be greatly enhanced for wildlife benefits. The other tract is about 1,555 acres located just to the east side of Route 219 between the Toby and Brandy Camp Roads and extends onto portions of land on both sides of the Johnny Kyler Road. This tract is presently open to hunting and one of the most hunted areas of the county for those seeking quality cotton-tail rabbit hunting as well as pheasant hunting. Both tracts were previously owned by The New Shawmut Mining or Timber Company and presently made up largely of reclaimed strip mine lands with various vegetative cover from grass lands to seedling/sapling – pole stage timber areas, which were clear-cut in past years, to some stands of mature forested habitat. There is also an entire valley (Mead Run, adjacent to the Shawmut Road) of prime wetlands habitat, with beaver dams, and other areas that provide some of the best deer and turkey wintering grounds within that part of the county. Now I will get to the part where we need your help to complete the acquisition of these unique and highly valued wildlife rich lands. Though the acquisition of these two tracts was approved for purchase, in January, by the Board of Game Commissioners the acquisition also requires the approval of the persons that handle the Pitman-Robinson funding for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Hadley, Massachusetts. The money being used for this acquisition is money that was set aside when Penna. State University (Toftrees) was required to replace the value of a portion of the game lands they adversely affected in a manner that was outside the guidelines allowed on lands previously purchased with federal funding. Those adversely affected lands were about 950 acres of farmland type habitat located near State College. Those holding the land replacement funds are reviewing the present acquisition, while still maintaining hope of acquiring farmland habitat closer to State College that is suitable for small game habitat. Such lands, at an affordable price or large quantities are simply not presently available.   Since we are able to buy the two tracts of highly valued, and multi-species habitat, land within Elk County at $400 per acre many of us believe that the purchase of these 6,500 plus acres of land are a once in a lifetime opportunity. This land purchase option will expire within months and should we fail to complete the present option it may never be available in this quantity or affordable cost again. Even after completing this land transaction there would still be considerable money remaining in the land replacement fund to continue trying to make a suitable purchase of farmland type habitat closer to State College, should such lands become available. We are hoping that you and your leadership organization will take an important step toward helping to make this land acquisition a reality by sending a letter supporting the land acquisition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The letter should be in your own word, to the point and very politely written while addressing the positive views toward the addition of these lands to the game lands system. All letters should be addressed to Mr. Marvin Moriarty, Regional Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, Ma. 01035, with a CC of the same letter to Dr. John Organ at the same address. Both letters can be sent in the same envelope. We would also request that you send a copy of the letter to the attention of William A. Capouillez at Penna. Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg Pa. 17110-9797. I would like to thank you in advance for your consideration of this most important matter toward a brighter future for the State’s wildlife resources and the future of hunting. Sincerely yours in conservation, Richard S. Bodenhorn WCO, Elk County

This is one we should all write letters on

I am sure Buff will agree this is PRIME land to acquire it would be WONDERFUL....

Think ... Buff's backyard... not too far from that either

I hope many of you will write in support of this... THANKS SO MUCH !!

It is a good proposition for the hunters in this area and the PGC.

At the same time the PGC is screwing the hunters that live around State College out of their small game hunting lands...

Wasn't this the money promised to replace the land that the PGC sold to Penn State in State College??? Wasn't this money to be used to purchase land near State College? They're just like the big government using money they don't have, and taking it from one place and using it on another and not replacing it, and when it comes time that they need the money to buy the land near State College for State College area hunters, guess what, "We don't have the money, it's gone".

Maybe things will happen by then and the PGC won't be strapped for money.

It's a good deal for me, but not the Hunters in and around State College.  

--Last edited by Buff on 2008-03-02 16:11:30 --

I heard there are 3 active mining permits on this property. Does this mean that it could be stripped after it is purchased?

Not sure about the mining thing.. I'll try to get an answer for that one...

Yes it's the State College deal that BUff mentions  ---- BUT there is no land available at this time in that area and this is prime land so I say go  for it and see what happens later IF and when land becomes available near State College

An answer for Keystone....

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I believe there are three places they are stripping on it right now. When they are finished with those open pits they will be backfilled and seeded in accordance with there permit. We generally don't have the mineral rights to hardly any of the game lands, which is part of the reason we can get them within the legislative prescribed amount. It is still very rare for them to strip on game lands because they do have to go through more hoops to get permit on game lands or any other public land. I would not expect to see much more coal removal from surface mining in that area though there could be some deep mining in the future. In fact, I kind of think that I remember hearing that the deep mine, there at Brockport, might already be under some of those areas that would be lands.

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Dr Trout wrote : An answer for Keystone.... Quote : I believe there are three places they are stripping on it right now. When they are finished with those open pits they will be backfilled and seeded in accordance with there permit. We generally don't have the mineral rights to hardly any of the game lands, which is part of the reason we can get them within the legislative prescribed amount. It is still very rare for them to strip on game lands because they do have to go through more hoops to get permit on game lands or any other public land. I would not expect to see much more coal removal from surface mining in that area though there could be some deep mining in the future. In fact, I kind of think that I remember hearing that the deep mine, there at Brockport, might already be under some of those areas that would be lands.

Thank You Dr. Trout. I was told the whole east side of Shawmut Road was to be stripped and it will be many years before it is finished. Yes I heard about the deep mining and of a new portal to go in near or on this new property.I also heard the owner reserved the timber rights.

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Hello Folks, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel have made contact with the Harrisburg office and asked that people stop sending letters supporting the Elk County land acquisition. Though I don’t know if the volume of letter they are receiving as had any positive impact on their decision it seems they are taking up a large amount of their time reading and responding to a large volume of letters. We still don’t know how or when they will act on this proposal but we have been asked to honor their request to call off the present letter campaign. In that vane I would like to thank all of you who did such a fantastic job of writing such excellent letters showing your continued support for this important step forward in wildlife habitat acquisition and management. But, I will also ask that those who have not already composed and mailed support letters hold off on doing so for the time being. Don’t throw any already composed letters away though, we might still find them to be a valued response should the need once again arise. Once again thank you for your support. You are a tribute to the future of wildlife habitat management, conservation and hunter interests. Hopefully we have all made a positive impression and helped move this important decision forward in a favorable manner. Dick Bodenhorn