Pennsylvania Game News - December 2022 - 50

WILDLIFE & HABITAT
There's a wealth of public hunting opportunity near and
including State Game Lands 156. The game lands sits on the
same ridgeline as State Game Lands 46, about a mile to the
east, and State Game Lands 145, about 2 miles to the west.
This combined area, known as the Furnace Hills, represents
one of the largest, contiguous forested ridges south of the
Blue Mountain.
Habitat along the ridgeline, and to the east and west of
the game lands, predominantly consists of mixed woodlands
that include oak, tulip poplar, maple, birch, hickory and pine.
To the north and south, the habitat is mostly agricultural.
The habitat goal on State Game Lands 156 is to maintain a mix of forest age classes, benefiting
a wide variety of forest-dwelling wildlife. These conditions, along with the presence of openings,
wetlands and agricultural areas, create optimal habitat for deer and turkey - two of the species most
frequently hunted here.
But deer must be kept in check for young forests to take hold. Deer exclosure fences play an important
role in maintaining oak forests on State Game Lands 156. In areas where the forest is managed
through practices including controlled burns, fences help protect new oak sprouts from deer that eat
them. Once the young oaks are firmly established, the fences are removed.
Another initiative on State Game Lands 156 is the reintroduction of shortleaf pine, which was present
historically in the Furnace Hills, but disappeared as disturbances such as forest fires became less
frequent. Today, shortleaf pine, which is shown in the photo, is planted on the game lands in suitable
openings and following the completion of timbering.
To further explore
state game lands
visit the Mapping
Center at
HUNTING, TRAPPING & MORE
Aside from deer and turkeys, squirrels are hunted frequently on State Game
www.pgc.pa.gov
Lands 156. Opportunities also exist for rabbits, raccoons, minks, muskrats, foxes
and coyotes. Ruffed grouse and American woodcock are rarer finds.
The game lands is important to nongame wildlife, as well. Approximately
140 species of birds and 42 species of mammals do or could inhabit the game
lands. Among them are five mammals and 21 birds in need of greatest conservation
need. And barn owls have nested about a mile south of the game lands.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
State Game Lands 156 plays host to recreational opportunities other than hunting and trapping, too.
Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird-watching and cross-country skiing all are popular here.
Hiking opportunities exist on more than 12.5 miles of trails, roads and utility access lines. Nearly 4 miles
of the Horseshoe Trail bisects the game lands and is open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding,
and there are an additional 7 miles of horse trails.
Those using any part of the game lands always can park relatively close by. There are 10 maintained
parking lots on State Game Lands 156, and all parts of the game lands' interior are within 0.7 miles of a
parking lot. With a plethora of opportunities, and convenient access, the game lands is understandably
popular.
50
John B.

http://www.pgc.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Game News - December 2022

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