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HARRISBURG -- Hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts heading into Pennsylvania's state-owned woodlands this autumn will find additional roads open in 18 of the 20 state forest districts, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Friday.
"Our Bureau of Forestry is opening more than 508 miles of state forest roads normally open only for administrative use," DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. "These roads will be available to hunters, hikers, foliage viewers and others visiting state forestlands this fall. This improved accessibility, coupled with DCNR's promotion of deer hunting, benefits forest regeneration and the overall ecosystem."
When combined with state forest roads that are normally open most of the year for public travel, more than 3,245 miles of state forest roadways will be open during the statewide archery deer season, which opens Saturday and closes Friday, Nov. 17.
Many of these roads will continue to stay open through other hunting seasons, continuing into January. Forest managers may close these roads at any time if weather conditions dictate, to prevent damage or deterioration to road surfaces or forest surroundings.
"We encourage safe, responsible use of the additional roads as we share our forests this fall and winter," Dunn said. "Regardless of whether they seek deer, bear, turkey or small game, hunters in our state forests will find more than 90 percent of that land now is within one-half mile of an open road."