The Board of Game Commissioners this week approved three options that will increase the State Game Lands system by roughly 160 acres.

In Plunketts Creek Township, Lycoming County, the Board approved the purchase of 101 acres adjoining SGL 134. The parcel - 52 acres of reverting farmland, 49 forested acres - is being purchased from the David Taylor Estate, Barbours, and provides exceptional ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer and wild turkey habitat. SGL 134, which has holdings in both Lycoming and Sullivan counties, is 6,722 acres. There are no reservations on the parcel. The purchase price was $100,000. The amount paid from the Game Fund will be limited to $40,000.

Other funding will be provided through a previously-approved land-lease exchange with Fisher Mining and through a partnership with the state Department of Environmental Protection providing funding for environmental initiatives and projects from settlement agreements.

In Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, the Board approved a donation of 59 acres adjoining SGL 211. The parcel - 52 wooded and 7 farmland acres - was donated by Jean Jones of Rockville, Maryland. She placed a restriction on the tract that it could not be sold or transferred for 25 years from the date of the deed. The land, which provides fine habitat for wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and songbirds such as ovenbirds and worm-eating and black-throated green warblers, will augment SGL 211's 44,373 acres. The seven acres of tillable land interspersed with woodland are especially beneficial to wildlife in this area because there are few herbaceous openings found in this part of SGL 211.

In Jay Township, Elk County, the Board approved a donation of 1.1 acres adjoining SGL 311. The parcel, donated by James and Shirley Burke of Weedville, is surrounded on three sides by SGL 311 with the fourth being a township road that will provide better access. SGL 311 comprised 3,067 acres before the donation.

"The Game Commission's ability to purchase and preserve lands for wildlife and for public hunting and trapping has always been limited by rising property values and, during certain tight financial times, the limited availability of funds," said Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. "The agency's last license fee increase was in 1999, and since that time, we have made considerable cuts in the agency's budget to keep pace with inflation and to offset reduced license sales.

"For the foreseeable future, it seems likely that most of this agency's land acquisitions will be tempered by the availability of escrowed funds, assistance from conservation partners and property donations. We'd like to do more, but it's a financial impossibility," said Roe.

In addition to relying on the agency's land purchase escrow funds, Roe noted that the agency has maximized land acquisition efforts by working closely with conservation partners, such as the various land conservancies.

"Conservation-minded individuals and organizations are helping the Game Commission leave a legacy for all Pennsylvanians to admire," Roe said.

For more information on how to contribute either land or money, visit the Game Commission's Wildlife Donations webpage.

1/26/2007