Our legislators should support Pennsylvania House Bill 1811, which amends Title 34 to ensure that the Pennsylvania Game Commission pays fair market value for land acquisitions intended for use as state game lands, aligning pricing authority with real-world land values.

If enacted, this legislation would be a catalyst for greatly improved hunting access in Pennsylvania’s most populous areas.

HB 1811 modernizes outdated pricing limits that have constrained the Game Commission’s ability to acquire new land in counties where the market value has long outpaced the current $400 per acre cap and authorizes the commission to pay fair market value for game lands.

This bill would allow the PGC to establish or expand state game lands close to population centers, thereby creating hunting access for the maximum number of Pennsylvanians.

The lack of places to hunt is a major barrier to those who want to become or remain a hunter in the commonwealth.

The economic benefits of investing in public lands are substantial.

Outdoor recreation contributes more than $13.6 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy, supporting more than 152,000 jobs.

Much of this activity is directly tied to public lands. Hunters, anglers, hikers, campers and others drive spending in both rural and urban communities, generating sustainable economic growth while reinforcing our shared commitment to conservation.

By passing HB 1811, the General Assembly can help ensure that Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in public land stewardship, hunter access and outdoor opportunity.

Stan Kotala

Altoona