[dap]

I was just thinking about the discussions we've been having about what percentage of Pennslyvania State Game Lands are in young forest as opposed to what percent should be. The more I think about it, the more I wonder why we shouldn't be pushing to have more than 50% of the SGL in shrub or young forest. Most game species do better in Early Succesional Habitat (ESH) than in pole timber or mature forests. Think about it. The obvious benefactors would be grouse and woodcock, but Deer, Bear, Snowshoe Hare, Rabbits all do better in the young forest / shrub habitat. Turkeys and Squirrel sometimes take advantage of it as well.

I found the following quote regarding the carrying capacity for different forest types for deer.

The PA Game Commission has determined that early successional, or young forests, with a lot of young trees and shrubs, can support 50 deer per forested square mile over winter. Pole-timber stands, or forests in which the trees are between 5 and 11 inches in diameter, provide very little habitat for deer, supporting as few as 5 deer per-forested square mile over winter. Mature forests, which provide good cover for deer and moderate amounts of browse and mast (food), can support about 20 deer per forested square mile over winter.


If the primary purpose of the game lands is the management of habitat for wildlife and provide opportunities for lawful hunting and trapping then why isn't the majority of the game lands property in ESH?

 

[PAGSPHUNTING]

Most managment i see is to doze trees over for new well roads, mining roads and plowing autumn olive over for pheasant fields.

 

[Marcus99]

What is the current splits?

The problem is that people are going to be pissed because its very hard to hunt in early successional. As others have said game lands are less than 1% of land in PA so how much effect is it really going to have. What I would like to see happen is to have more wildlife habitat work take place in state forest land or ANF.

 

[dap]

What is the current splits?

The problem is that people are going to be pissed because its very hard to hunt in early successional. As others have said game lands are less than 1% of land in PA so how much effect is it really going to have. What I would like to see happen is to have more wildlife habitat work take place in state forest land or ANF.

The less than 1% number is a little misleading. SGL may be less than 1% of total land, but I believe it is 5% or more of forested lands.


As for the does it matter? It certainly would for hunting the gamelands. Having 50% in ESH would be about 750,000 acres of ESH where I believe the current number is about 75,000 acres.

 

[Jlane35]

What does it matter?

I'm lucky enough to have 218 private acres to hunt and manage. I'm focusing on creating ESH. Before we did anything to improve the land there was a small area that held a few rabbits. I've hinged trees, planted spruce, and crabapple trees and stopped mowing. The spruce and crabapples are still young so as of right now they do not contribute to any success, but they will In the future. This area is no larger then 10 acres and we or the dogs kicked up 8 different rabbits hunting one day before Thanksgiving. I kicked out a grouse last year and this spring I found 4 woodcock nests with eggs.

I can't wait until I start converting another 25 acres or so of old hayfields.

The woods are another story, we timbered 4 years ago and since then I have seen 5 grouse, and one had 6 chicks with her in the spring.

 

[Marcus99]

What does it matter?

I'm lucky enough to have 218 private acres to hunt and manage. I'm focusing on creating ESH. Before we did anything to improve the land there was a small area that held a few rabbits. I've hinged trees, planted spruce, and crabapple trees and stopped mowing. The spruce and crabapples are still young so as of right now they do not contribute to any success, but they will In the future. This area is no larger then 10 acres and we or the dogs kicked up 8 different rabbits hunting one day before Thanksgiving. I kicked out a grouse last year and this spring I found 4 woodcock nests with eggs.

I can't wait until I start converting another 25 acres or so of old hayfields.

The woods are another story, we timbered 4 years ago and since then I have seen 5 grouse, and one had 6 chicks with her in the spring.

You are very lucky! The problem is we need a lot more people to do what you are doing to have a great effect.

 

[Jlane35]

You are very lucky! The problem is we need a lot more people to do what you are doing to have a great effect.

That includes public land too.