Your annual hiking time on state game lands such as Glen Onoko may be cut by 130 days, and you may need a permit to meander the trails, if the Pennsylvania Game Commission agrees to changes in some rules.

The commission on Jan. 27 expects to consider extending the time during which hiking and other non-hunting, non-trapping activities are barred in spring and fall hunting seasons.It also expects to consider whether to require permits, which would be issued free of charge, for hikers and recreational riders to use the trails.It would be unlawful to "hike on foot or ride a nonmotorized vehicle, conveyance or animal from the last Saturday in September until the third Saturday in January, and from the second Saturday in April through Memorial Day, inclusive, except on Sundays or while lawfully engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing," the proposal states.Trail permits would be issued to people over age 16 who don't have valid Pennsylvania hunting or furtaking licenses. Permits would be needed to ride on bike, horse, or snowmobile trails or to hike on state game lands.The proposal stemmed from a June meeting at which the commission's Bureau of Wildlife Management was directed to study the feasibility of the permits.The game commission says permits allow for an information exchange with people who use the game lands but who do not purchase a hunting or furtaking license.Revenue from hunting and trapping licenses helps to buy and maintain the trails.The proposals struck a chord with hiker Mark Zakutansky of Albrightsville. He learned of them through an alert issued by the Keystone Trails Association.Zakutansky, who is the Mid-Atlantic Policy Manager for the Bethlehem-based Appalachian Mountain Club, said he was "immediately concerned with the new language that would add hiking as a prohibited activity during hunting seasons."Hiking limitsRecreational riding is currently prohibited from the last Saturday in September until the third Saturday in January, then from the second Saturday in April through the last Saturday in May, except on Sundays. The proposal would replace the "last Saturday in May" with "Memorial Day," and would add hiking to the list, said Commission spokesman Travis Lau.Zakutansky is concerned that the hiking ban extension would also apply to a popular outdoor recreation spot near Jim Thorpe."I have every reason to believe that the hiking prohibition will be applied to Glen Onoko and will end a 145-year legacy of hikers enjoying the beautiful waterfalls in the spring and fall seasons," he said.The Appalachian Trail would be exempt from the rules, he said. But the fall-spring ban could limit hikers' access to the Appalachian from feeder trails."As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I am particularly concerned with the proposed restrictions on hiking, which would amount to a prohibition on hiking on State Game Lands for over 130 days of the year. I believe that this proposal should be rejected outright, as its implications for certain State Game Lands unit will be significant and consequential. Affected user groups and communities should be more closely consulted before enacting such a prohibition," he wrote in a comment to the Game Commission."Prohibiting hiking on State Game Lands during the spring and fall hunting season, as proposed, would close down this popular hiking trail for more than 130 days of the year, negatively impacting tourism and the enjoyment of the outdoors near Jim Thorpe, a community reliant on its growing outdoor recreation-based economy," he wrote.Zakutansky has no problem with the permits."I do not oppose the establishment of a free permit system for non-hunting users on State Game Lands, as long as the non-hunting users groups will be represented in land management decisions by the Pennsylvania Game Commission," he said.Times News readers offered their opinions about the permit proposal on Facebook.Richard W. Szoke wrote "I think there are plenty of non-state game land trails to walk, or hiking, and the permits for State Game lands are free. I don't see what the big deal is other then a minor inconvenience to people."Another who identified herself as Holly Ann wrote "A permit to walk a trail ... ridiculous. I don't care if it's free. It's just something I have to take the time to get."To read the proposals, access the Jan. 27 agenda at

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on the "meetings of the board" link. The proposals are on pages 37-38 of the agenda.Submit comments at

pgccomments@pa.gov, or mailing them to the Game Commission at 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17110-9797.