Charles E. Bechtel, Lehigh Valley & South Mountain Chapters Field Day

Join the Ruffed Grouse Society’s Southeast region for an opportunity to work and interact with staff from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This field day will include chapter and national RGS news and happenings, planting of 1,000 containerized seedlings of various mast-producing shrubs and a walking tour of habitat activities adjacent to the planting site.

The day will start with a welcome and light refreshments at 9 a.m. in the PGC parking lot off Gold Mine Road (north of state route 443). The first hour of the program will include RGS chapter news and events, national news and PGC current program objectives as well as ongoing habitat projects. Andy Weaver PGC Southeast Regional Forester will provide current information concerning the new RGS initiative called the Dynamic Forest Restoration Block on State Game Lands.

Curtis Noll PGC Southeast Regional Forester, will discuss the morning’s activities and the ongoing habitat work on this Game Land. Game Commission forestry staff will detail the proper planting of the seedlings for the work portion of the day. After a hot lunch, a walking tour of adjacent forest habitat work will be conducted. During the walking tour updated habitat information will be presented. Topics included in the tour will include ongoing timber management and prescribed fire operations on State Game Lands #211.

A hot lunch consisting of hot dogs, pork barbeque, macaroni and potato salad along with chips and hot/cold drinks will be provided for all participants. All are asked to bring a baked good for the morning gathering and/or a lunch-time dessert.

Sturdy walking shoes and work gloves are recommended for the day’s activities. Tools needed for the day will be shovels and perhaps a digging bar. The Game Commission will supply planting bars for those who wish to use them.

Directions: You can access the eastern portion of State Game Lands 211 via Gold Mine Road. Gold Mine Road is off Route 443 in northern Lebanon County. A location map with GPS coordinates providing a detailed location for the field day is linked below with event flyer.

In order to meet your needs for the day, you must register. Complete the registration form and mail or email it by April 11.