Pennsylvania Hunters Upset Over Public-Land Clear Cutting Just Before Deer Season
Posted February 21, 2025 by
They say the operation, which happened on State Game Land 72, hindered access to treestands that were already in place and created dangerous conditions
Some Pennsylvania hunters say they lost or were cut off from their stands on State Game Land 72 after a clear-cutting operation took place just before deer season. (Photo by Kamil Zajaczkowski)
Some Pennsylvania hunters are voicing frustration after a clear-cutting operation took place at State Game Land 72 in Clarion County, just weeks before deer season. The logging left behind fallen and hanging trees, and prevented some hunters from being able to retrieve their treestands that had already been hung.
According to exploreClarion.com, the hunters claim the operation not only created unsafe conditions, but it hindered access to their usual spots. Scott Anthony, a local hunter, said the operation resulted in “a mess,” and that fallen trees and debris blocked access to key hunting spots and stranded expensive treestands. Anthony, whose treestand was already set up in his favorite hunting location and was in the middle of the clear-cut, was frustrated by the lack of notice.
“They didn’t notify anyone,” he said. “They buried treestands and made it nearly impossible to retrieve them.”
By law, hunters can install their stands no earlier than two weeks prior to the season and must remove them within two weeks after it ends. Anthony says the clear-cut trapped equipment, putting hunters in risk of fines or criminal charges. Some hunters say that better timing and communication from the Pennsylvania State Game Commission could have prevented many of the issues.
Bill Snyder, a 73-year-old retired biologist and long-time hunter, says the operation left behind “a maze of downed trees and tangled brush.” Navigating the area is both difficult and dangerous, Snyder said, and it’ll be worse once the area is covered in snow.
Hunters are questioning the timing of the clear-cut. Hunting consultant Jason Say said that operations like this should be conducted in spring.
“There’s no reason to do this right before hunting season,” Say told exploreClarion. “It’s a disruption that could have been avoided.” Say acknowledges that timbering can benefit wildlife if done correctly by opening the forest canopy and promoting fresh growth. However, he says execution matters.
“From the photos I’ve seen, it looks like they just took the valuable timber and left everything else behind. That’s not how you create quality habitat,” he said.
Dan Schmidt–Wildlife Conservation Officer Supervisor for the northwest region–told exploreClarion that the Commission understands hunters’ concerns about safety and timing. He said while timbering operations may cause short-term inconvenience, the goal is long-term benefits for wildlife and hunters.
“There is so much work going on that sometimes it has to be done at a specific time. I understand that for hunters–if this work happened right before deer season–it likely changed their view of the landscape,” Schmidt told exploreClarion.com. “However, we hope that the short-term disadvantage brings long-term advantages for the wildlife and ultimately for the hunters, as well.”
Concerning the hanging trees, which could pose a danger to hunters, Schmidt said, “Typically, we don’t want trees hanging above where people might be,” he said. “While we leave one or two dead trees per acre for wildlife like woodpeckers and other animals, if there are that many trees leaning against others and causing potential safety issues, that’s something we should address.”
