Should those who clip-clop or pedal their way along Pennsylvania State Game Lands trails pay a fee to use the land?

The Pennsylvania Game Commission board of directors will vote on that proposal during its meeting later this month. The board of commissioners will hear public comment at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 22 at Lamplighter Inn in Delmont. The vote will be held the next day.Comments may also be submitted in writing to

pgccomments@pa.gov or mailed to 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg 17110.The permit would apply to those riding bicycles, horses or snowmobiles on designated trails on state game lands."Under the proposal, the privileges to use designated trails on game lands for horseback riding, bicycling and snowmobiling would be added into the existing State Game Lands Shooting Range Permit," said Travis Lau, PGC press secretary."The name of the permit would be changed to State Game Lands Permit, and with that one permit, the holder would be able to use shooting ranges and designated trails."Lau said the idea is still just a proposal. Also, he said, those holding a valid hunting or furtaker's license would not need a permit to use trails trail use is already a privilege contained within the license.About the trailsThere are more than 1,328 miles of designated trails on game lands for horseback riders, mountain bikers and snowmobilers. According to a February 2003 law, anyone who rides a nonmotorized vehicle, conveyance or animals on state game lands must use designated routes only.There are also some restrictions on use of designated trails. They are closed during the state's hunting seasons, from the last Saturday in September to the third Saturday in January, and from 1 p.m. the second Saturday in April to the last Saturday in May.A general, basic hunting license for a resident adult costs $20.70. Unlike state and county parks, the state game lands system was created and has been maintained almost entirely with sportsmen's dollars, largely from the sale of hunting and furtaking licenses, Lau said.The cost to maintain game lands parking lots and designated trails can mount very quickly."In reviewing recent spending records, the Game Commission identified about $230,000 in new costs of the past three years associated with trail maintenance and signage," Lau said. "Other projects to build or maintain game lands roads, parking lots or other infrastructure all of which benefits trail users topped $4 million in less than three years."State organizations respondSkip Seifert of York County, president of the Pennsylvania Equine Council, said the organization plans to present testimony during the September PGC meeting. He said that for starters, council members believe the permit should cost the same as a hunting license."The system we have now is working fine, and the equine people are happy," Seifert said. "We have a trail stewardship program in place and are very involved with that.""It seems like a foolish proposal," he said. "It adds more bureaucracy and would be difficult to enforce."Seifert pointed out a problem that was echoed by snowmobiling fans. Most game lands parking lots are not large enough to accommodate vehicles and trailers. And although trails may be longer in western and northern areas of the state, in eastern and southern Pennsylvania, trails aren't long enough to warrant the trouble of loading either horses or snowmobiles to ride there.Paul Fogal, owner of Pocono Whitewater in Jim Thorpe, rents mountain bikes and enjoys riding in his spare time."I certainly ride my bike often, but in general I wouldn't be against paying a fee," Fogal said. "But although it would be easy to set up a fee requirement, it might be hard to police."Fogal also pointed out a regulation that affects business people in recreational areas. It is illegal to conduct commercial activities on state game lands, he said. Pocono Whitewater also offers guided trips for hikers and mountain bikers, and customized youth outdoor activities.There are state game lands such as those near Glen Onoko Falls where they'd like to conduct such activities, and where people may need the assistance of a guide, but they can't because of the law."State parks have a fee structure for that type of thing," Fogal said. "I'd like it if we could pay a fee and use trails on state game lands."His wife, Cleo Fogal, said that all outdoor enthusiasts should remember that it is a privilege and not a right to use land, whether it's private or state land."I consider myself extremely lucky to have significant pieces of land in my neighborhood which will remain open, despite growing land pressure all around them," she said. "As a responsible mountain biker, I have no problem contributing $30 toward the maintenance of game lands."Thorn Devlin, owner of Thorn's Cycles and ATVs in Tamaqua, said he'd like to see more monies designated to improving trails and outdoor opportunities for everybody."We should all be able to share the trails," Devlin said. "But we should also share the cost."The game commission agrees."In the worst cases, damage associated with the trails threatens the very purpose of the game lands, and conflicts with the concept that recreational opportunities on game lands should come at no compromise to wildlife habitat or hunting and trapping opportunities," according to the PGS's official press release about the permit proposal."The permit being considered would seek to better regulate riding on designated trails, thereby mitigating that impact as well as raising revenue for associated maintenance costs."