Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 5. Cultural Resources
Establishing official boat launch sites and developing a water trail for the headwaters of the
Allegheny River will increase usage of the river for recreational purposes. The establishment of
formalized access sites guides users to designated locations to access the streams, thereby limiting
trespassing on private land.
Water trails are a series of public access points along a waterbody where paddlers can access the
waterway. Development of the water trails on area streams, including Tunungwant Creek, Allegheny
Portage Creek, Marvin Creek, Potato Creek, Oswayo Creek, and the Allegheny River is needed. Along
with developing the needed access sites, signage and printed maps identifying access sites, safety
features, and services available should be developed. For more information on boating visit PFBC
website: www.fish.state.pa.us.
Hunting
Hunting is a popular form of recreation throughout Pennsylvania; there are over 33,000 acres of
public lands open for hunting within the Allegheny River headwaters. Pennsylvania Game Commission
(PGC) manages and regulates hunting in Pennsylvania. An individual can begin to hunt at 12 years of age
after passing a hunter safety course.
The number of hunters in many states is rapidly declining, as it is in
Pennsylvania. It is essential for future wildlife management and preservation of
the hunting and trapping heritage of Pennsylvania that the recruitment of new
hunters and trappers is successful. Since 1998, the sale of licenses has decreased.
Table 5-1 list the number of hunting licenses sold from 1998-2008 (PGC,
2009a).
In an effort to increase hunting, youth have been targeted in two new
programs being offered by the PGC—Junior License and Mentored Youth
Programs.
Junior Hunting License Program
The Junior Hunting License Program allows youth between the ages of 12
and16 to hunt. The program provides special hunting days where only youth
hunters can hunt pheasant, wild turkey, and waterfowl. Junior hunters who have
the proper tags may harvest an antlerless deer during the permitted season.
Table 5-1. Hunting
Licenses Sold
Year Licenses
1998 1,071,205
1999 1,033,315
2000 1,038,846
2001 1,047,820
2002 1,017,154
2003 1,018,248
2004 1,013,866
2005 964,158
2006 945,842
2007 924,448
2008 926,892
(Source: PGC, 2009a)
Mentored Youth Hunting Program
Mentored Youth Hunting Program allows unlicensed youth younger than 12 years of age to hunt
with a licensed, adult mentor. Mentors must be 21 years of age and are held liable and responsible for the
youth they are mentoring. The program is designed to give youth the opportunity to gain experience and
to learn first-hand about Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage. Through the guidance of a mentor, youth learn
ethics, safety, responsibility, and the enjoyment of hunting. Mentored youth can hunt groundhogs,
squirrels, and antlered deer. During the spring gobbler season, mentored youth may also hunt turkey.
More information about the Mentored Youth Hunting Program is available on the PGC website.
Area sportsmen’s groups organize hunts and youth programs in an effort to increase participation.
Local sportsmen’s clubs, in cooperation with PGC, host hunter safety courses that educated new hunters
about laws and safety.
Pennsylvania state game lands are public lands dedicated to wildlife habitat enhancement, but are
managed with an emphasis on game species. There are portions of six state game lands within the project
area that provide 33,832 acres of public land for hunting. In addition, many private landowners permit
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