Re: State Parks, SGL's, Army Corp, and elsewhere
1. Pennsylvania State Park laws: YES Go for it, no need to ask but as a courtesy, sometimes I call and let them know I am there. I have detected many State Parks in PA with NO problems and Park Wardens are very obliging. Here's the info ..........................
2. Pennsylvania State Game Lands: BE CAREFUL........Email I got 5/19/05 from the PGC..........
We do not have regulations regarding metal detecting, per se. However, there are several regulations regarding State Game Lands use
Also, as you will see from the SGL regs that follow, there are certain times of the year -- primarily the hunting seasons -- in which visitors to SGLs must wear the appropriate amount of blaze orange for obvious reasons.
Here are the two sections of the Game Commission regulations that you need to be aware of. Please note that I've put a double asterick (**) by points that I believe are directly related to metal detecting:
§ 135.2. Unlawful actions.
In addition to the prohibitions in the act on lands, waters or buildings under Commission ownership, lease or jurisdiction, it is unlawful, except with the permission of the person in charge of the lands, to:
(1) Camp or use campsites.
** (2) Plant, gather, cut, dig, remove or otherwise injure plants or parts thereof, including trees, shrubs, vines, flowering plants, cultivated crops, mushrooms and fruits of berry-producing plants.
(3) Travel on lands by means of vehicle or conveyance propelled by motorized power. This prohibition does not include the travel by individuals permanently confined to a wheelchair propelled by electric power obtained from batteries. Individuals desiring to hunt from an electric powered wheelchair shall have a disabled person permit under section 2923 of the act (relating to disabled person permits).
(4) Swim in a dam, pond, lake or stream.
(5) Injure, destroy or cause damage to property-real, personal or mixed.
** (6) Remove or attempt to remove any manmade or natural object except wildlife and fish lawfully taken during the open season. Objects which may not be removed include animals, rocks, minerals, sand and historical or archaeological artifacts.
(7) Participate in, become a part of, contribute to or engage in disorderly conduct as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § § 5503 and 5505 (relating to disorderly conduct; and public drunkenness).
(8) Kindle, use or maintain an open fire.
(9) Travel on roads open to vehicular travel with vehicle or conveyance propelled by motorized power which is not licensed or authorized for operation on a public highway under 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to the Vehicle Code).
(10) Violate, fail or neglect to follow instructions posted on signs authorized by the Director.
(11) Travel by mechanical or motorized conveyance or ride animals on newly constructed, seeded or planted roads, or other areas, when posted against the travel.
§ 135.41. State game lands.
(a) Restrictions limited. The following exceptions to § 135.2 (relating to unlawful actions) pertain to lands and waters designated as State game lands:
(1) Mushrooms and fruits of berry-producing plants may be picked.
(2) Small open fires for cooking or warming purposes are permitted only at places where adequate precautions are taken to prevent the spread of fire which may damage adjacent areas and shall be attended at all times and completely extinguished before leaving the site of the fire. Open fires are prohibited when the fire index rating used by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is high, very high or extreme. A person causing a wildfire, in addition to possible criminal penalty, is liable for all damages, cost of extinguishing and fines.
(3) Snowmobiles, as defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 7702 (relating to definitions) may be driven beginning on the third Sunday in January through April 1 on designated areas, roads and trails marked with appropriate signs, so long as snowmobiles are registered and display valid registration decal as required under 75 Pa.C.S. § § 7711.1 and 7711.2 (relating to registration of snowmobile or ATV; and limited registration of snowmobile or ATV).
(b) Closure of game lands.
(1) When the threat of forest fires exists, the Director has emergency authority to restrict the use of smoking materials on State game lands or to close State game lands to hunting, trapping, fishing, recreational use and other activity which may be or become detrimental to those lands or the flora or fauna thereon until the Director removes the restrictions. Emergency restrictions or closures will be announced to the news media.
(2) The Director has the authority to close State game lands or portions thereof, to recreational or other uses, when the specified uses may be or have become detrimental to those lands or the flora or fauna thereon, or where the uses conflict with legal hunting, furtaking or fishing activities or the Commission's management or administration of State game lands. The closure may be seasonal or year-round and shall remain in effect until the Director removes the restrictions.
(3) It is unlawful to violate restrictions or closure placed on these lands by the Director.
(c) Additional prohibitions. In addition to the prohibitions contained in the act pertaining to State game lands and § 135.2, except with the written permission of the Director, it is unlawful to:
(1) Contaminate, pollute or degrade groundwaters or surface waters or any waterways.
(2) Graze or permit the grazing of livestock, place or maintain beehives or beekeeping apparatus.
(3) Solicit, or place advertisements, signs or posters.
(4) Ride a nonmotorized vehicle, conveyance or animal, except on roads normally open to public travel, or designated routes as posted, or while lawfully engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing.
(5) Ride a nonmotorized vehicle, conveyance or animal from the last Saturday in September until the third Saturday in January, and before 1 p.m. from the second Saturday in April through the last Saturday in May inclusive, except on Sundays or while lawfully engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing.
(6) Ride a nonmotorized vehicle, conveyance or animal on roads open to foot travel only.
(7) Drive motor vehicles with or without attachments having a registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 12,000 pounds.
(8) Use boats propelled by a motor. Battery powered electric motors may be used on waterways unless posted otherwise.
(9) Consume, possess or transport any alcohol, liquor, beer, malt or brewed alcoholic beverage.
(10) Use or possess any controlled substance as defined or classified under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (35 P. S. § § 780-101-780-143).
(11) Occupy, use or construct, place or maintain structures or other tangible property, except that portable hunting blinds or stands may be used, provided no visible damage is caused to trees.
(12) Feed wildlife or lay or place any food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt or other minerals.
(13) Release domestic animals, captive bred or captive raised game or wildlife.
(14) Operate a motor vehicle in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property or in excess of posted speed limits, or where no speed limit is posted, in excess of 25 miles per hour.
(15) Target shoot with firearms, bows and arrows or devices capable of launching projectiles in a manner that could cause injury to persons or property, or on areas posted closed to those activities.
(16) Except as provided in Subchapter J (relating to shooting ranges), discharge any firearm, bow and arrow, or device capable of launching projectiles that is not a lawful device to hunt game or wildlife.
(17) Engage in an activity or event involving more than ten persons, which may conflict with the intended purposes or uses as defined in section 722 of the act (relating to use of property), or poses a potential environmental or safety problem.
(18) Sell, distribute, deliver, service, guide or rent any equipment, material or commodity or otherwise transact or engage in any commercial activity. Commercial activity is any activity in which a person directly or indirectly accepts consideration of value as compensation for the provision of goods or services, including transportation.
(19) Use State game lands for any personal, organizational or commercial purpose other than the intended use as defined in section 722 of the act.
(20) Operate under authority of a contract, lease, agreement or permit and fail to abide by the terms and conditions contained in the contract, lease, agreement or permit.
** (21) Except on Sundays, be present on State game lands from November 15 through December 15 inclusive when not engaged in lawful hunting or trapping and fail to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange-colored material on the head, chest and back combined or, in lieu thereof, a hat of the same colored material. The material shall be worn so it is visible in a 360° arc. Persons using shooting ranges are exempted from this requirement.
-----Original Message-----
From: Rich Yanishak sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:31 PM
To:
pgccomments@state.pa.us
Subject: Metal Detecting
Are there any laws prohibiting the common person from metal detecting on
State Game Lands? Is it permitted? Or Not? And where can I find the laws
pertaining to it, if any.
3. Raystown....wasn't that the old military bombing range/impact area? now sitting on State Park land. Unexploded artillery shells have been unearthed there. I think you can detect it but I would check and think twice about it................good luck
4. College campuses..............don't go in there without permission, you'll get arrested. Grounds director is the person you want to contact and get written permission.........................Rich
