Hunting & Trapping Digest 2024-2025State Game Lands Regulations

S_G_L_RSTATE GAME LANDSare public hunting grounds.
Lawful hunting and trapping is permittedon game lands during open seasons.Many other rules are in place regarding game lands use.Dividing RuleTo enable the Game Commission to effectively manage and protect these invaluable land holdings for this and future generations of hunters, trappers and wildlife enthusiasts,Game Lands Users May Not:

Camp or use campsites.

Contaminate, pollute or degrade groundwaters or surface waters or any waterways.

Graze or permit the grazing of domestic livestock; place or maintain beehives or beekeeping apparatus.

Solicit or place private advertisements, signs or posters.

Plant, gather, cut, dig, remove or otherwise injure any plants or parts thereof, including trees, shrubs, vines, flowering plants and cultivated crops. (Mushrooms and fruits of berry-producing plants may be picked.)

Travel on lands by means of any vehicle or conveyance propelled by motorized power. (Exemption for individuals with Disabled Person Permit for battery-powered motorized wheelchair.)

Ride a non-motorized vehicle, conveyance or animal, except on roads normally open to public travel, or designated routes as posted, or while lawfully engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing.

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.

Ride a non-motorized vehicle, conveyance or animal on roads open to foot travel only.

Drive motor vehicles with or without attachments having a registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 12,000 pounds.

Use boats propelled by a motor. Battery-powered electric motors may be used on waterways but boat speed must be operated at “slow” or “no wake.”

Fish from dam breasts posted against fishing.

Swim in any dam, pond, lake or stream.

Injure, destroy or cause damage to property, real, personal or mixed.

Remove or attempt to remove any manmade or natural object, except wildlife and fish lawfully taken. Objects that may not be removed include animals, rocks, minerals, sand and historical or archaeological artifacts.

Participate in, become part of, contribute to or engage in disorderly conduct.

Travel on roads open to vehicular travel with vehicle or conveyance propelled by motorized power that is not licensed or authorized for operation on a public highway.

Violate, fail or neglect to follow instructions posted on signs authorized by the Executive Director.

Destroy, mutilate or remove any sign or placard.

Travel by mechanical or motorized conveyance or ride animals on newly constructed, seeded or planted roads, or other areas, when posted against travel.

Consume, possess or transport any alcohol, liquor, beer, malt or brewed alcoholic beverage.

Use or possess any controlled substance or drug paraphernalia.

Occupy, use or construct, place or maintain structures or other tangible property, except that portable hunting blinds and stands may be used, provided no damage is caused to trees.

Feed wildlife or place any food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals.

Release any domestic animals, captive-bred or captive-raised game or wildlife.

Operate a motor vehicle in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property or in excess of posted speed limits, or where no speed limit is posted, in excess of 25 mph.

Target shoot with firearms, bows and arrows, or devices capable of launching projectiles, unless the person is in possession of a valid hunting or furtaker license signed by its holder. Exercise of privileges shall be done in a manner as to not cause injury to persons or property, or on areas not otherwise posted closed to those activities.

Except as provided on established shooting ranges, discharge any firearm, bow and arrow or device capable of launching projectiles that is not a lawful device to hunt game or wildlife. Shoot clay birds anywhere except areas designated by the Executive Director by signs stating that clay bird shooting is permitted.

Engage in any activity or event involving more than 10 persons, which may conflict with the intended purposes or uses of property, or poses a potential environmental or safety problem.

Sell, distribute, deliver, service, guide or rent any equipment, material or commodity or otherwise transact or engage in any commercial activity. Such activity is when a person directly or indirectly accepts consideration of value as compensation for the provision of goods or services, including transportation.

Use State Game Lands for any personal, organizational or commercial purpose other than the intended use of the property.

Operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) of any size, design or specification for any purpose whatsoever launched or retrieved from lands or waters designated as state game lands.

Operate under authority of a contract, lease, agreement or permit and fail to abide by the terms and conditions set forth.

To be present on State Game Lands from Nov. 15 through Dec. 15 inclusive when not engaged in lawful hunting or trapping and fail to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on the head, chest and back combined, or, in lieu thereof, a hat of the same colored material. Orange material must be visible 360 degrees. Persons using shooting ranges are exempted.

Small open fires for cooking or warming purposes are permitted, except when the Fire Index Rating used by the Bureau of Forestry, DCNR, is high, very high or extreme. Fires must be contained and tended at all times.

Snowmobiles, as defined in the All Terrain Vehicle Act of 1985, may be driven beginning the third Sunday in January through April 1, only on designated areas, roads and trails marked with appropriate signs. Snowmobiles must display a valid registration decal.

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