State Game Lands Number 52 — Local services in Brecknock Township

It's so sad. All throughout the 1960 & 70s, SGL#52 was the Schwarzwald(Black Forest of Germany) of Pennsylvania. Oaks and Popular trees everywhere,so thick, you needed a 6 volt flashlight to see your way down the fire trails. Trucks and Jeeps could get through with relative ease. In the 80s, greed was rampant, Game land caretakers who had day jobs, and worked for the love of the State Game Lands,retired. They were replaced by young college educated game managers. Well they managed to fine everyone for anything, and they began to"Manage" the resources. New Jeeps every year, gas paid for by the land. In early 2000's they clear-cut 100s of acres of SGL#52, leaving 1 last Oak per acre. Millions in hardwood were hauled off to the mill. Yet no care was given to foot trails. Fist sized crushed stone was dumped on the larger ones. My property backs up to #52. From miles away, you could see the scalping of the hills. The hill is now covered by millions of foreign plants that were to never get higher than a few inches. These bushes, choke out the growth of everything but Maple trees, so to go off trail, ya better have a machete! The wildlife now lives nearer to the road then back on the hill. The Whitetail deer population has been desomated, down to practically none. Plenty of skunks, and turkey buzzards. So sad for a hill with such an amazing history. A barn from the 1600, later used as one of Ben Franklin's Post Offices. Fingle's castle a wooden Fort, built by a Bastard son of a childless,French nobleman, who during the French Revolution, found safe haven here with/a horse racing track, hugh barns, and 2 decorative, fish/Koi ponds. All destroyed for better land...

This is your typical wildlife management area, nice variety of woods, and wetlands. Overall the forrest seemed fairly well managed and there was a decent amount of game sign, but nothing impressive. I was only able to small game hunt while I was in Pa, and this is the only management area I got to go to. It was never over run with hunters, but I was never alone, and it wasnt deer gun season. Decent amount of squirrel, but never got a limit, harvested 2 squirrel and 1 woodchuck in about 4-5 trips, a...

What is amazing to me. There is a run away slave graves yard , way back in the woods. I'm not black but history is awesome. It took me 2 hours to find it. My wife prayed over them. Why is this not known about it marked. A lot of history is on game lands and they do nothing to preserve it. Hell hunting sucks in pa. And they are all so proud of...