Inside/Outside State College is a monthly column by Jeff Deitrich offering views on downtown and the outdoors within a 30-minute driving distance.
We’re blessed in this little hamlet with a wide variety of places to pursue outdoor leisure activities. One of those is hunting.
Hunting, for many of us, is a ritual as much as an activity. I find it to be a ritual that grounds one in nature. As central Pennsylvania author Charles Fergus once wrote, “How fine it is to be patient, absorbed in one’s surroundings.” And how fine it is at times to bring home a season’s worth of dinners in one outing.
Some people who live “in State College” can literally walk out their back doors and be on State Game Lands (SGLs). For all of us, such lands are just a short drive away. Everyone who lives “in State College” can be on public hunting grounds in just 10-15 minutes. And the number of those areas that one can access in 29 minutes or less is remarkable.
I’ll go into more detail on each of the seven SGLs within 20-25 minutes of downtown, as well as several other lands owned by the state and Penn State. It’s a terrific idea as well to visit the PA Game Commission’s map site. Here you can enter the number of any SGL and see a detailed map of its location.
This SGL site, while otherwise fantastic, seems to have been made with a map that predates the existence of I-99. Several access points exist on the interstate that I have seen hunters use, but these are not marked on the website map, especially in SGL 278. Likewise, it’s difficult to locate an SGL by location. I found it easier to search that way via Wikipedia
SGL 176 – Scotia
The most amazing example because it is so close to town is SGL 176. Known as the Scotia Barrens, this SGL comes in two sections – the main section just west of Park Forest Village that extends south and west toward Gatesburg, and a separate section north of Toftrees (note that the Toftrees section is also missing on the state’s web site map).
This piece runs north of Toftrees between the Toftrees Golf Resort and the property where Nittany Valley Sports Centre is located off Bernel Road. Access is easy via a parking area along Fox Hill Road just after the big curve heading toward the airport, but access can also be found along Cricklewood Drive. There are several paths leading back to the SGL, though you may feel a little out of place getting your weapon and blaze orange out of the vehicle along here.
The fun part about the Toftrees section is the ponds. If you have the proper waterfowl license and a buddy to hunt with, try jump hunting ducks from these ponds. It’s a terrific challenge. You can also, of course, wait nearby at first light to catch ducks landing before trying to jump them. This area is mostly flat with a variety of fields, ponds and small areas of woodland.
The main part of this SGL is primarily accessible along Scotia Range Road, which can be found off Scotia Road near the Geisinger Health complex on Grays Woods Boulevard. The range road runs through the heart of this SGL and intersects with West Gatesburg Road in the SGL just east of Gatesburg. There are parking areas along both of these roads.
This section is generally flat and has large swaths of low scrub oaks from prior controlled burns. This gives it a very open feel in places. In others, it is thickly forested. The terrain is generally level and interspersed with herbaceous openings.
Scotia shooting range and the commission’s Barrens Grouse Habitat Management Study Area are located on this tract. Primary game species are bear, deer, turkey, rabbit and grouse. The shooting range is terrific and very complete, with sections for sighting pistols, patterning shotguns, practicing archery and sighting rifles – all at multiple distances.
SGL 333 – State College
Another 5-10 minutes farther up Nittany Valley from Toftrees is SGL 333 – the only area SGL with extensive field and grass lands. That makes it great habitat for rabbits and ring-necked pheasants, and the state stocks pheasants there from early October through early January.
State Game Lands No. 333, consists of 1,210 acres in Centre County. The terrain is rolling and forested interspersed with herbaceous openings. Primary game species are deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse. Access at Shiloh Road, upstream from Fisherman’s Paradise, or via Rockview Road. off Route 150 on the prison grounds. Note that the valley floor is not part of the game lands. The valley floor is reserved for other uses, primarily fishing and the bike/walking path through the so-called Spring Creek Canyon.
Bald Eagle Valley provides several options to the north and west of State College. Five separate SGLs can be accessed off Bald Eagle Valley, including 278 north of Warrior’s Mark, 33 west of Port Matilda, 103 west of Wingate, 92 southwest of Howard and 323 east of Curtin Village.
SGL 278 – Warrior’s Mark
This SGL includes 4-5 separate tracts along the sides and ridge of Bald Eagle Mountain from around Lion Country Supply on South Eagle Valley Road (Old Route 220) almost to Tyrone. The first two sections are north of Route 350 west of Warrior’s Mark across Bald Eagle Ridge to the valley below along Bald Eagle Creek. The larger has a parking area near Lion Country Supply on Old Route 220, but the smaller section covering the ridge top and most of the rest of these two sections have little or no access points other than I-99.
The middle sections are south/west of Route 350 near the town of Bald Eagle. Again, there is limited access, though there is a parking area on Route 350 leading to the larger section and several spots on I-99.
The last section runs from the top of the ridge to the valley floor roughly between the villages of Vail and Northwood along South Eagle Valley Road. There is a parking area there and another near the end of Mathias Street from Northwood. Both sections are primarily forested and mountainous and have deer, turkey, bear, grouse and squirrels.
SGL 33 – Port Matilda/Sandy Ridge
State Game Lands No. 33, comprises 17,583 acres, primarily high, forested plateaus. Several small trout streams traverse the property. The most prevalent wildlife species are bear, deer, turkey and ruffed grouse.
Access is off I-99 either via Route 322 out of Port Matilda or Route 350 out of Bald Eagle both heading toward Philipsburg, with Sandy Ridge Trail connecting the two and offering numerous parking areas. Many parking areas are available along Route 322.
This SGL is heavily wooded and starts near the top of the Allegheny Front, extending north and west. Rather than a straight slope up a ridge, this area has numerous hollows and streambeds from the headwaters and tributaries of Cold Stream. Therefore, it can be quite challenging to maintain your bearings compared to the ridge and valley region.
SGL 323 – Curtin Village
SGL 323 is 3,084.6 acres near the towns of Mount Eagle, Curtin, Jacksonville and Milesburg. This SGL is mostly covered with hard and softwood stands. Nearly 100% of the acreage is forested.
The principal species are white-tailed deer, turkey, ruffed grouse and black bear. Furbearer trapping opportunities include bobcat, eastern coyote, gray and red fox, mink, fisher, opossum and raccoon. Hunting pressure is not excessive due to the relative inaccessibility and steep terrain of most of the game lands.
Primary access is off Route 150 via Curtin Road at Curtin Village, and then along Old Route 220, which intersects the northwest edge of the SGL at several locations between Curtin and past Howard. Most of this land is on the steep slope of Bald Eagle Mountain, with some spots crossing the flatter crest of the mountain. It includes land on both sides of I-80 where it crosses through Curtin Gap between the Bellefonte and Milesburg exits. There is one small, lower gradient section right against the north side of I-80 as it comes through the gap on the Milesburg side.
SGL 92 – Howard
Several roads lead northwest up to SGL 92 from Route 150 between I-80 and Howard borough. Curtin Hollow Road and Greens Run Road both have parking areas, while Curtin Run and Gravel Point Road also provides direct access.
State Game Land (SGL) 092 is 5278.719 acres with topography that varies with very gentle slopes to steep side hills. It is totally forested, with the exception of some small herbaceous openings planted annually and periodically that are adjacent to Game Land Road and Greens Run Road.
This is a good area for hunting bear, deer, turkey and grouse on some gentler slopes. Because there is greater access than some other SGLs, you may encounter more pressure from other hunters.
SGL 103 – Wingate
SGL 103 is found off Route 144 and north toward Snow Shoe. However, it ends just before 144 passes over I-80. Primary access is off Birch Lick Road near that spot, with several parking areas available. Other access is off Route 504 at Snow Shoe Road, which runs through much of SGL 103. This SGL encompasses almost the entire watershed of the headwaters of Wallace Run upstream/west of Gum Stump.
State Game Lands No. 103, consists of 8,993 heavily forested acres. The terrain is steep and rocky, with significant sections of thick rhododendron and mountain laurel. Primary game species are bear, deer, turkey, and grouse.
To the south of State College, hunters can be on the grounds of Stone Valley Recreation Area and Rothrock State Forest in 20-25 minutes. Both are open to hunting, and both are good places for deer, bear, turkey, squirrel and roughed grouse.
These areas are primarily mountainous and heavily wooded. Pay attention to signage that may restrict hunting, especially in Stone Valley, since the section around Lake Perez is used heavily for classes, hiking, boating and other recreational activities.
To the northeast, the majority of the back side of Mount Nittany beyond Route 144 is open to hunting. It is a small part of Bald Eagle State Forest separated from the rest of that state forest. This is primarily accessible via Greens Valley Road off Route 144 between Pleasant Gap and Centre Hall. The SGL starts near the ridge that is visible from Route 64 and across the valley floor along the headwaters of Little Fishing Creek. Many hunters use the James Cleveland Memorial Trail for deeper access off Greens Valley Road.
This section is almost completely wooded and on steep side slopes, with only a small area along the streambed that is flatter. Thick stands of rhododendron and hemlock make jump hunting grouse a heart-racing challenge.
State Game Lands
Within about 20-25 minutes of State College
33 – West of Port Matilda
92 – Southwest of Howard
103 – Northwest of Wingate
176 – West and North of State College
278 – West and North of Warrior’s Mark
323 – East of Curtin Village
333 – North of State College
Notes:
- With the exception of the most northern reaches of SGL 323, all of the lands noted here are in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 4D. It’s necessary to know this when purchasing a doe license and for details on extended seasons and bag limits for certain game.
- Hunting on all public lands like those described here is subject to pressure from other hunters. It’s up to each hunter to be respectful of all others. Do your best to avoid disturbing other hunters and their surroundings and also respecting the rights of others to be on the land hunting as well.
- As noted, the terrain varies considerably from place to place. Areas like Scotia are flat and may have open fields, while many other locations have extremely steep and very rocky slopes. Caution is needed on the latter terrain.
- The number one killer of hunters in the woods is heart attacks due to the extreme exertion of dragging large kills back to the vehicle. Take your time in doing so, or have someone available to help you.
- Two state parks and many more SGLs are located just a short distance more than 30 minutes away. Most notable are Black Moshannon State Park and Bald Eagle State Park, both of which are open in most places to hunting, and SGLs 255 and 295 to the northeast past Howard and Lamar.
Jeff Deitrich is a retired hotelier and outdoors writer living in State College. He welcomes comments at psumohs@yahoo.com.
