Game Commission approves multiple land acquisitions, exchanges and a non-surface oil-and-gas agreement
April 12, 2025 | Game Commission, TOURISM & RECREATION, Executive Departments, Organizations, Executive, Pennsylvania
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The Pennsylvania Game Commission on April 12 approved a string of land transactions intended to improve the manageability and ecological value of state game lands and accepted a non-surface oil-and-gas agreement covering subsurface rights beneath portions of State Game Land (SGL) 95.
Land acquisitions and exchanges approved included a Pheasants Forever donation/purchase of roughly 71 acres adjoining SGL 44 (option price $142,600; the Game Fund obligation $10,718.32 with conservation fund covering remaining cost), a 79.3-acre wetland parcel near SGL 313 in Tioga County for $375,000 to be paid from a restricted environmental-settlement account, a 427-acre parcel adjacent to SGL 132 in Schuylkill County for $1,750,000 from the Game Fund, and a 7.2-acre addition to SGL 217 from Natural Lands Trust at $400 per acre. The board also approved a 45‑acre exchange with Houettsdale Municipal Authority to consolidate SGL 60 boundaries and accepted two separate exchanges with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to reconfigure holdings near SGL 141 and SGL 214.
Several commissioners acknowledged partner organizations. “I’d just like to acknowledge Pheasants Forever stepping in to help us with this purchase,” one commissioner said, thanking named staff and volunteers involved in that acquisition.
Separately, the commission negotiated terms with Laurel Mountain Energy LLC to offer non‑surface-use oil-and-gas development rights beneath approximately 646 net oil-and-gas acres under portions of SGL 95 (Washington and Parker townships, Butler County). The approved agreement is a five-year, paid-up non-surface-use agreement with a bonus payment of $1,250 per net oil-and-gas acre and a royalty of 14% for the first 36 months that increases to 15% thereafter. The total bonus payment is $807,500, to be paid in five annual installments of $161,500; the first installment is due within 60 days of execution. All bonus, rental and future royalty payments will be deposited into the Game Fund. The operator will access the reserve using horizontal drilling from adjacent lands with no additional surface disturbance on the game lands; the commission said the agreement includes non-surface-use protections and will be administered under the commission’s oil-and-gas regulations and cooperative agreement.
The board also adopted a rule change allowing users of rifle and handgun ranges on state game lands to discharge firearms at steel targets placed and mounted by the Commission (amendment to section 141.4 / appendix G language for hours and section 135.181 for ranges as recorded on the agenda).
Why it matters: The land actions aim to improve habitat connectivity, management efficiency and public access on state game lands; the oil-and-gas agreement provides revenue to the Game Fund while the commission says it limits surface disturbance. Commissioners emphasized partner roles (nonprofit partners, DCNR, Fish & Boat Commission) in facilitating acquisitions.
Next steps: Standard closing procedures and integration of parcels into state game-land management and mapping; oil-and-gas payments to be handled according to the agreement schedule and subject to the commission’s oil-and-gas regulations.
Land acquisitions and exchanges approved included a Pheasants Forever donation/purchase of roughly 71 acres adjoining SGL 44 (option price $142,600; the Game Fund obligation $10,718.32 with conservation fund covering remaining cost), a 79.3-acre wetland parcel near SGL 313 in Tioga County for $375,000 to be paid from a restricted environmental-settlement account, a 427-acre parcel adjacent to SGL 132 in Schuylkill County for $1,750,000 from the Game Fund, and a 7.2-acre addition to SGL 217 from Natural Lands Trust at $400 per acre. The board also approved a 45‑acre exchange with Houettsdale Municipal Authority to consolidate SGL 60 boundaries and accepted two separate exchanges with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to reconfigure holdings near SGL 141 and SGL 214.
Several commissioners acknowledged partner organizations. “I’d just like to acknowledge Pheasants Forever stepping in to help us with this purchase,” one commissioner said, thanking named staff and volunteers involved in that acquisition.
Separately, the commission negotiated terms with Laurel Mountain Energy LLC to offer non‑surface-use oil-and-gas development rights beneath approximately 646 net oil-and-gas acres under portions of SGL 95 (Washington and Parker townships, Butler County). The approved agreement is a five-year, paid-up non-surface-use agreement with a bonus payment of $1,250 per net oil-and-gas acre and a royalty of 14% for the first 36 months that increases to 15% thereafter. The total bonus payment is $807,500, to be paid in five annual installments of $161,500; the first installment is due within 60 days of execution. All bonus, rental and future royalty payments will be deposited into the Game Fund. The operator will access the reserve using horizontal drilling from adjacent lands with no additional surface disturbance on the game lands; the commission said the agreement includes non-surface-use protections and will be administered under the commission’s oil-and-gas regulations and cooperative agreement.
The board also adopted a rule change allowing users of rifle and handgun ranges on state game lands to discharge firearms at steel targets placed and mounted by the Commission (amendment to section 141.4 / appendix G language for hours and section 135.181 for ranges as recorded on the agenda).
Why it matters: The land actions aim to improve habitat connectivity, management efficiency and public access on state game lands; the oil-and-gas agreement provides revenue to the Game Fund while the commission says it limits surface disturbance. Commissioners emphasized partner roles (nonprofit partners, DCNR, Fish & Boat Commission) in facilitating acquisitions.
Next steps: Standard closing procedures and integration of parcels into state game-land management and mapping; oil-and-gas payments to be handled according to the agreement schedule and subject to the commission’s oil-and-gas regulations.
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