PGC at it's finest

[DDelle338]

  Another indicator that the PGC DOES NOT represent the sportsman. There was some supposed gypsy moth damage on State Game Lands. I was there scouting this summer and saw very little (if any). OK, so the PGC sells the lumber rights for a couple hundred thousand. If there is damage, I guess I can see making some use of the wood before it rots. But I saw NONE this summer. And then for the most part, only the damaged trees should go. But our PGC gave the OK to remove over 90% of the trees on the SGL. This area happens to be right next to a very large area of Game Lands that has already been "Clear Cut". Sort of RAPING the forrest and wildlife if you ask me.  And now,,,,, guess when the work was scheduled to start???
 It started last week! The first week of Deer Season! Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? Or am I just wacked in the head for thinking that they could hold off for another couple weeks?!

[Davemuzz]

DDelle,

Which SGL # was this? And yeah....you would think they could wait a few weeks. It ain't like the lumber is gonna run away or something.

Dave

[buckbeast]

I'm just up the road from you (Dillsburg). I remember reading something about this in the paper, but can't find a link. I don't even remember where the SGL was, but the article said that the logging company only has a permit for like 90 days or something to that effect. I don't think the permit was approved until the week before Thanksgiving if I remember correct.

Buck

[DDelle338]

  It was SGL #145 over in Lebanon. Just can't see the permit being that much of a dictating factor in this. I can imagine that dates must have been discussed before the permit was acquired.
 

[DDelle338]

  Buckbeast,
  Have you done any hunting on the Game Lands up that way?
  I drive through Dillsburg several times each summer on our camping trips in Michaux State Forrest, and each time I think to myself that I need to get up there and do some scouting. But have yet to do it. Life happens and I get "too busy" if you know what I mean.

[buckbeast]

Ddelle,
I have done some hunting in the past on those game lands but not any this year. I'm hoping to get there for late flintlock over New Years. I've hunted the one between Dillsburg and Rossville (SGL 242) more often, as it has many more acres, than the one down by Franklintown (SGL 243).

These game lands do seem to get hunted pretty hard during rifle (tons of hunters). They are very thick with briars and brush at some places and those are where the best chances are for finding deer, as most of the hunters don't like to walk through the thick stuff.

Buck

[kiddekop]

I drove from CA to friends home near williamsport to hunt on their 1/2 section for whitetail, never saw a legal buck scouting 2 days or any legal bucks for the 5 days I hunted.Lots of disappointed hunters this year I think the 3 point rule is a bad idea kills off the breeders & leaves the spikes,1x2's & 2x2's as doe breeders with inferior genes that perpetuate more spikes,1x2's & small antlered deer.

[Flash]

  Another indicator that the PGC DOES NOT represent the sportsman. There was some supposed gypsy moth damage on State Game Lands. I was there scouting this summer and saw very little (if any). OK, so the PGC sells the lumber rights for a couple hundred thousand. If there is damage, I guess I can see making some use of the wood before it rots. But I saw NONE this summer. And then for the most part, only the damaged trees should go. But our PGC gave the OK to remove over 90% of the trees on the SGL. This area happens to be right next to a very large area of Game Lands that has already been "Clear Cut". Sort of RAPING the forrest and wildlife if you ask me.  And now,,,,, guess when the work was scheduled to start???
 It started last week! The first week of Deer Season! Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? Or am I just wacked in the head for thinking that they could hold off for another couple weeks?!

I have my pesticide applicator's license and go to seminars every year to learn about ornamental and shade trees plus turf grasses. Gypsy moth damage doesn't mean the tree must be cut down. The moth only defoliates the trees and they do live afterwards. The is some die back on twigs and limbs but nothing to justify cutting the tree down. The tree will die in maybe 10 to 12 years but the moth problem is greater in the Delaware Water Gap and Pocono Mountains. The moth is dealt with by spraying, not cutting down trees. This is a smoke screen to either generate revenue or discourage hunting but absolutely not a way to deal with gypsy moths. Now, the Emerald Ash Borer is another story. What type of tree were they?

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/gypsymoth/gypsymoth_faq.aspx

[DDelle338]

  I don't know what trees were involved. I was doing some scouting in the area over the summer and didn't notice any damage. Not to say there wasn't any, I just didn't see any. Now up in Michaux Sate Forrest where I camp and horseback we saw a whole mountain of leafless trees, most or all of these were oak I guess. And I haven't heard of them logging that mountain off. I do know that the trees should come back the following year. And I do wholeheartedly believe that the PGC used this as an excuse to sell our trees.
  This is going to be interesting. On the back side of the hill where this is taking place there are a bunch of Rich Yuppies living in a small resort type of village that scream about deer eating their tulips. And across the road there is a natural area (no open hunting) that they say the deer are destroying. Where do we suppose those deer are going to go while all this butchering of the woods is being done??? This whole situation is screwed up. In the next year we are going to hear allot more screaming about deer damage and next thing we are going to see is DMAP signs on every tree (that's left) in an area that doesn't hold many deer at all! So after they sell the trees, they are going to sell the DMAP permits. It's gonna be a Win Win for the PGC's bank account.

[oaknut]

In reference to lumber cut at GL #145---Seems our commission has been cutting this game lands for the last 5 years--would not like to be a farmer on the outskirts of these lands as that is where the food is located---the game lands that thick with multi-flora rose you can not hunt thur, some places you can not crawl thur!!!  So we have a big hidding place for deer, nor alot of small game--scarly to think about hunting deer here with high power rifles!!

[DDelle338]

  Yea I understand what you are saying.
  The area that they are cutting now is right up against the populated/residential area and the Gov. Dick natural area. It had been a kind of "Buffer Zone" between these areas and the clearcut areas.