During my time as a conservation officer, there was one single complaint I heard more often and louder than any other — there is no place to hunt. I continue to hear this as I travel and meet more outdoorsmen at shows, clubs, and even in the field. But is it true? How can a state as large as Pennsylvania not have enough land for everyone to enjoy such a time-honored tradition?

This statement is not true. It could not be further from the truth. Pennsylvania consists of approximately 28.8 million acres. Although much of this is private property, the Pennsylvania Game Commission estimated that approximately 6 million acres, or more than 20%, is open to public hunting. That is more land than New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island combined.

State Game Lands are the most well-known areas for public hunting. With over 312 game lands encompassing over 1.5 million acres, there is a property in every county other than Delaware County. Even Philadelphia now has a small 17-acre game land open to archery hunting.

State parks and forests offer over 2.4 million acres of public lands, almost all of which are open to hunting. The Allegheny National Forest adds another 500,000 acres, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area adds 70,000 acres — all open to the public, including hunters.

Finally, though private landowners, the Game Commission has an estimated 1.65 million acres enrolled in the Hunter Access Program. Most of this is farmland or forest owned by private individuals who have agreed to allow public hunting. All the hunter needs to do is locate the property and ask the landowner. While some landowners may have specific rules regarding areas open to the public, where vehicles may be parked, etc., each has already agreed to allow hunters access.

So, the problem is not whether land is available for hunting; it is whether private land is open to hunting. Many hunters believe that hunting on private land is better and more productive than public land. While I can not disagree with this as a general statement, it does not mean that much of the state land is not equal to or better than any of the surrounding private property. Only some of those private properties are explicitly managed for wildlife. Other than the feeling that you have your very own plot to hunt, there is a slight advantage to private vs. public property when it comes to hunting.

Why is public land hunting so villainized? Why does it get such a bad rap? Mainly because the average person has never hunted private land and is basing their decision on the stories they have heard or driving by on opening day and seeing filled parking lots and seas of orange within sight of the roadway. But this is not where the best hunting is anyway. The place to be is farther off the beaten path and deeper into the woods.

Most public land hunters venture just a short distance from their vehicle. Whether this is laziness, lack of scouting, or fear of leaving their car unattended is a mystery. But drive by any game lands or state forest on opening day, and all you will see is blaze orange leading the way. Get off the roadside and deeper into the woods, and you will notice a trend. The farther you walk, the fewer people you will see.

Despite the perceived crowds, the interior, harder-to-reach areas rarely see a hiker, never mind a hunter. This means there truly are such areas that have been untouched by the average person and are perfect for the would-be hunter willing to walk a little further.