Pennsylvania Game News - June 2022 - 54

HABITAT & ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS
State Game Lands 42 is nearly entirely forested. While much
of the forest is over 40 years old, the Game Commission's forest
management here is aimed at providing a mix of forest age
classes. Many different habitat projects to create young forest
have been completed in recent years in cooperation with conservation
partners. Mowing down high-elevation areas with dense
laurel and conducting controlled burns has promoted regeneration
of valuable food-producing trees, benefiting many wildlife
species. Ruffed grouse have been the focus of many of these projects and have responded favorably,
showing an increased presence. Providing more young forest also benefits other game species, including
deer and turkeys, as well as other species of concern, such as the brown thrasher, yellow-breasted chat
and golden-winged warbler. Meanwhile, a mixed-age forest interspersed with open fields and food plots
provides food and cover for countless wildlife species and makes the game lands ideal for hunting, trapping
and wildlife watching. Nearby roads, some of which bisect the game lands, provide excellent access
for hunters, trappers and others. The Game Commission also maintains 18 miles of administrative roads
on the game lands and improvements to roads and bridges regularly are made.
HISTORY
When originally purchased in
1928, this game lands comprised
4,474 acres, all within Westmoreland
County. Several additions have
been made since, and the recent
addition of 2,500 acres in Cambria
County has brought State Game
Lands 42 to its current acreage.
Remnants of old strip-mining
activity, including Baldwin Furnance,
a stone coke oven along
Baldwin Creek, still exist on this
game lands.
There's also a memorial marker
at the site of a 1945 military plane
crash, where the plane's engine
still remains.
HUNTING, TRAPPING & MORE
Many of those who hunt this game lands pursue deer,
bears or turkeys. But pheasants also are stocked within suitable
habitat here and grouse can be found, particularly at
high elevations. Other species found here include squirrels,
woodchucks, raccoons, red and gray foxes, coyotes, minks,
fishers, bobcats, porcupines, striped skunks, opossums
and weasels.
The game lands is located within the Chestnut Ridge/
Laurel Ridge Important Mammal Area. Several cave-bat
species, including state-endangered northern long-eared
and little brown bats and state-threatened small-footed
bats are within this area, and hibernate on the game lands.
State-threatened Allegheny woodrats also might be found
along ridges here. Because the game lands is located within
the Laurel Highlands, in an extensive forest corridor used by
many migrating birds, it represents an important breeding
and nesting area for forest-interior birds.
To further explore
state game lands
visit the Mapping
Center at
www.pgc.pa.gov
SHOOTING RANGES
State Game Lands 42 has two
established shooting ranges, both of
which are maintained by the habitat
management crew based here. Recent
improvements to the ranges include
the addition of new concrete shooting
benches and the construction
of a pavilion to house the shooting
stations. The range near New Florence has a 100-yard rifle station and a pistol
range. The range near Laughlintown has a 100- and 50-yard rifle range.
54

http://www.pgc.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Game News - June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - June 2022