Raystown Lake opens select gates for hunting season

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Raystown Lake will open select access roads to accommodate various upcoming hunting seasons. 

 The following gates will be open from October 18 - December 13, 2014:

•          Hawn Road (Gate 1 - end of Hawn’s Bridge Road)
•          Susquehannock Campground Road (Gate 8 - off Bakers Hollow Road)
•          Upper Corners Road (Gate 13 - off Upper Corners Road)
•          High Germany Road (Gate 28 - Nancy’s Camp Service Road, off Old Plank Road)
•          Miller Farm Road (Gate 35 - end of Weaver Falls Road)

 The following gates will be open from December 1 – December 13, 2014:

•          Fink Road (Gate 27 - off John Bum Road)
•          Gate 36 (near Weaver Falls Bridge)

The Corps would also like to take this opportunity to remind hunters that only portable hunting stands or blinds may be used and placed not more than two weeks before the start of any deer season and must be removed within two weeks after the close of the final deer season as defined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  Any stand or blind that is not removed at the end of the final season or damages government property is subject to enforcement, in addition to removal and impoundment.

The Corps’ property at Raystown Lake, in its entirety, is included in the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Disease Management Area 2 (DMA 2). Please be aware of the rules and restrictions for hunting within this DMA. For more information visit www.pgc.state.pa.us/.

The Corps may close or choose not to open these gated roads depending on weather, road conditions or special activities such as logging operations. Other hunters, such as those pursuing small game or archery hunting opportunities, may also use the open roads for vehicle access during these periods. Autumn is also a time of year when many other visitors enjoy the woods including trail hikers, mountain bikers and nature observers.  The 32-mile Allegrippis Trails System will only be closed for the whitetail deer rifle season from December 1-13. The Corps urges you to please be aware of your surroundings and always positively identify your target.

There is no off-season maintenance on these roadways; vehicle operators will be traveling at their own risk. All Pennsylvania Game Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations apply. For more information on Raystown Lake’s natural resources and hunting programs, visit the natural resources stewardship link at http://raystown.nab.usace.army.mil/  or call (814) 658-3405.