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| Winslow Hill Road- Dewey Road Entrance To Left |
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| Parking Lot Along Winslow Hill Road |
As important, or perhaps more important to many is the decision to add the area known as "The Saddle" to The Restricted Area beginning June 1, 2015. This effectively means that from that date The Saddle is to be posted with restricted area signs the same as the areas along Dewey Road and users will be required to follow the designated routes, which will be the same or much the same as the trails that were established for horse and bicycle riders. This is effective until the last Saturday in September or the first day of archery deer season. I am not completely clear on this point, but it should be posted plainly on the restricted area signs.
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| All Users Will Be Required To Stay On Designated Routes During Restricted Period |
In 1998 there was an estimated 72,000 visitors to Pennsylvania Elk Country, while in 2014 it was reported that over 400, 000 people passed through Elk Country Visitor Center. In light of increased traffic and congestion on Winslow Hill and the drastic increase of use of the Dewey Road--Saddle Area in particular, The Pennsylvania Game Commission began placing more emphasis on controlling secondary users such as horse and bicycle riders last year, when designated routes for horse and bicycle riders were plainly marked and an extensive public relations campaign was implemented to make the public aware of the regulations.
Actually
State Game Lands regulations have required for many years that horses
and bicycles be used only on designated routes unless one is actively
engaged in legal hunting or trapping. It is also illegal to ride a
non-motorized vehicle,
conveyance or animal from the last Saturday in September until the
third Saturday in January, and prior to one hour after close of
lawful hunting hours for spring turkey season from the second
Saturday in April through the last Saturday in May, inclusive, except
on Sundays or while lawfully engaged in hunting,
trapping or fishing.
Most are aware of the recent attempt on the part of certain members of the PGC board of commissioners to ban all secondary users from the SGLs during the period of time that horses and bicycles are banned, but I have been told that at this point it doesn't seem likely this will happen and that nature enthusiasts will be permitted to walk anywhere in The Saddle from the end of the restricted period until the next June, but one would do well to remember that anything can change at any time.
At this point it is not completely clear just where
the designated routes will be, but generally speaking they will be much
the same if not the exact same as they were last year. An important
point to remember is there is no longer any State Forest Land in The
Saddle (many will recall the white boundary markers that are plainly
visible along the edge of the woods on Test Hill once the foliage is
gone and not as noticeable along the entire lower edge of The Saddle).
This land was acquired from DCNR by the PGC as part of a lands trade and
is now part of SGL 311 and as such may be restricted to what extent the
PGC may decide.
I hope to discuss this a bit more as well as deal with more changes that are coming in another post in the near future.
Most are aware of the recent attempt on the part of certain members of the PGC board of commissioners to ban all secondary users from the SGLs during the period of time that horses and bicycles are banned, but I have been told that at this point it doesn't seem likely this will happen and that nature enthusiasts will be permitted to walk anywhere in The Saddle from the end of the restricted period until the next June, but one would do well to remember that anything can change at any time.
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| Test Hill-Former State Forest Land runs along edge of meadow to right |
I hope to discuss this a bit more as well as deal with more changes that are coming in another post in the near future.
