The Board of the Pennsylvania Game Commission this week approved three proposals that will increase the State Game Lands system by more than 1,360 acres.

With this week’s actions, the Board has approved the acquisition of more than 48,900 acres of State Game Lands since July 1, 1999, when the last license fee increase went into effect.

"State Game Lands represent a tangible asset that hunters and trappers of this state can literally point to as a product of their license fees," said Vernon Ross, Executive Director. "In addition to the bountiful wildlife in our state, this is one more reason to view the price of a Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker licenses as a bargain."

The approved purchases included--

Clarion County: 453.44 acres in Piney Township from the Alliance for Wetlands and Wildlife for $161,860, with a 50 percent Federal-State Wildlife Grant reimbursement.

The “Piney Tract” is an area of grasslands and scattered woods that has long been recognized as an important habitat for wildlife. The property was mined for coal several times beginning during World War I, resulting in a diversity of topographic features. The most recent activity was reclamation and revegetation work in 1979. Much of the area was reclaimed into gently rolling hills planted with various grasses.

"The Piney Tract is significant because of the large populations of grassland-associated birds and the diversity of species that have occupied this area for many years," Ross said. "In addition to the various game species - such as ring-necked pheasants, rabbits, ruffed grouse and wild turkey - that use this property, there are a number of species of special concern that can be found on this same tract."

As an example, Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Section supervisor, noted that the Henslow's sparrow - a nationally rare bird that is classified as endangered or threatened in most states in which it occurs - canbe found in the hundreds on the Piney Tract.

"This probably represents the largest concentration of this species in the state," Brauning said. "Other state endangered and threatened species, such as the short-eared owl and upland sandpiper, also can be found on Piney Tract."

Brauning pointed out that grassland habitats have been under siege, but reclaimed minelands in Pennsylvania and across the country have become refuges for viable populations of game and nongame species.

The Piney Tract stands out among reclaimed mine lands because of its size, which helps reduce the impact of forest-edge predators enabling birds to sustain substantial local populations. Few reclaimed areas have such extensive fields, or support the diversity or densities of grassland species as does the Piney Tract.

Erie County: 53.75-acre parcel of land in Waterford Township, which is an indenture into SGL 109, from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for $9,400. The tract is predominately comprised of wetlands, which the Game Commission considers critical and unique wildlife habitat. Of the remaining land, about 13 acres are woodland and the remaining seven acres are reverting farmland. The western edge of the property borders State Route 97. SGL 109 currently contains 1,899 acres in Erie County.

Schuylkill County: 600-acre parcel of land in Union Township, adjoining SGL 329, from the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah for $205,000. The majority of the tract is mixed hardwoods with a small five-acre wetland created where Little Creek flows into a reservoir on the adjacent private property.

Armstrong County: 256 acres in Perry Township from E.S. Dewey, Trustee, Dewey Family Trust. The Allegheny River forms the northern boundary of the property and will protect about 4,000-feet of riparian habitat. The first bald eagle nest to be identified in the 10-county area within the Game Commission Southwest Region was on an adjacent property to this parcel. The tract will become an unattached part of SGL 105, which currently contains 2,812.7 acres. The Trust reserves the right to cut and remove timber within one year of the conveyance of the property.

The Trust also retains all gas and oil rights with certain rights to enter the property to explore for and conduct gas and oil operations.

10/7/2005