Pennsylvania State Game Lands

Pennsylvania has an extensive network of public and private lands that are open to hunting. The cornerstone of our public hunting heritage is the 1.5 million acres of Pennsylvania State Game Lands.  The PA State Game Lands were purchased predominately using revenues from hunting and fur taker license sales - although some acreage was donated as well.  

They are open to the general public as guests, and used by many for their outdoor recreation opportunities; all we in the hunting community ask in return is that you follow the rules for general use, which are posted at every Game Lands parking lot and access point; limit your travel when riding horses, bicycles, or motorized vehicles to the designated paths; and respect hunter use during the designated hunting seasons.   (You're welcome, from the landowners - the Pennsylvania hunting community.  We're kinda neighborly and generous like that.)

Game Lands Maintenance and Upkeep

The PA Game Lands are maintained in large part with funds collected by the Pittman-Robertson Act, otherwise known as the Wildlife Restoration Act, which is an excise tax assessed on the manufacture of firearms, archery equipment and reloading supplies.  Operational revenues on gas and mineral rights for Marcellus shale resources on State Game Lands, and revenue from timber harvesting operations, also contribute.

This means that the cost to maintain the PA State Game Lands are carried predominately by hunters, and other participants in the shooting sports; no tax dollars from the general fund are used to purchase or maintain the PA State Game Lands.

Game Lands in Lebanon County 

In Lebanon County, we have access to almost 69,000 acres of State Game Lands; the Game Lands tracts residing in whole or in part in Lebanon County are:

• SGL 046, Including Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, southeast of Kleinfeltersville, extending into Lancaster County; (6,254 acres)

• SGL 080, East of Swatara Creek State Park, extending into Berks and Schuylkill Counties;  (10,691 acres)

• SGL 145, At Colebrook,  located entirely in Lebanon County, from Lawn to Mount Gretna; (2,792 acres)

• SGL 156, Southeast of Cornwall along Route 322, extending into Lancaster County;  (5,187 acres)

• SGL 211, North of Fort Indiantown Gap, extending into Dauphin and Schuylkill Counties; (43, 675 acres)

• SGL 225, South of Newmanstown along Cocalico Road, located entirely in Lebanon County.  (296 acres)

SGL 211, otherwise known as Saint Anthony's Wilderness, is the second largest roadless wilderness tract of land in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  SGL 211 is included annually on the PGC driving tour schedule. 

You can use the PGC interactive map to plan your next hunt.

State Parks in Lebanon County 

PA State Parks administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).  As tax dollars are used to purchase and maintain the State Forests and Parks, they are subject to additional hunting restrictions as determined by the DCNR.  In Lebanon County, the State Parks are:

• Memorial Lake State Park, which does not permit hunting; and

• Swatara Creek State Park, which does.