At its public meeting the Game Commission approved a series of property transactions, conservation purchases and additional regulatory changes affecting ranges and agricultural deer control.

Land and donations: the commission accepted a donation of about 62 acres in Elk Township, Chester County, from The Nature Conservancy, creating what staff said will be Game Land No. 340. The board approved a number of additional acquisitions and option-price agreements to be paid from the commission’s restricted accounts or through third-party commitments. Several parcels were discussed and approved by voice vote; four properties (L-3892 in Butler County, L-3895 in Elk County, L-3896 in Potter County and L-3897 in Perry County) were tabled for further stakeholder input at the bureau director’s request. Commissioners emphasized the strategic importance of several purchases for habitat connectivity and public access.

Oil and gas non-surface use agreement: the commission approved terms for a 5-year paid-up non-surface use oil and gas cooperative agreement with Xpand Energy Corporation (formerly Chesapeake Energy Corporation / Southwestern Production Company) covering approximately 933.8 net acres near State Game Land 66. The contract terms described in the meeting record include a $1,500-per-net-acre bonus (approximately $1,400,700 total), a paid-up five-year term, and an 18% royalty on production; staff noted rentals, bonus and royalties will be deposited into the game fund and that the agreement will be governed by the commission’s oil-and-gas regulations and cooperative agreement terms.

Range rule change — steel targets: the commission amended its rules to allow the discharge of firearms at steel targets placed and mounted by the commission on rifle and handgun ranges located on state game lands. Staff and commissioners said the change aims to reduce safety risks and range-closure times associated with shooters going downrange to check targets; staff emphasized the rule does not authorize users to bring or mount their own steel targets.

Hunting hours and antlerless quota: the commission updated its hunting hours tables to reflect the 2025–26 dates and hours of legal hunting, and approved an increase in the personal quota of antlerless deer licenses in WMUs 5C and 5D from six to 15 for individuals purchasing antlerless deer licenses in those WMUs. Commissioners from the affected region said the increase will provide an additional tool to address local deer overpopulation and crop depredation concerns.

Agricultural deer control program changes: commissioners approved amendments intended to improve accessibility and effectiveness of the agricultural deer control permit program. Changes include replacing deed-or-lease documentation with an applicant certification that they are the owner/lessee with hunting rights on the parcel; eliminating a four-coupon limit for harvest participants on a permitted property; relocating the ag-permit season text into the seasons section and expanding the permit season to include most of the permit year while retaining a short closure during peak fawning; and matching lawful arms and ammunition requirements for portions of the expanded permit season that overlap with traditional seasons.

Votes and procedure: most items were adopted by voice vote after staff presentations and brief discussion. The four land parcels identified by bureau staff for additional stakeholder input were tabled on a motion and carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: the acquisitions, donations and program reforms together affect public access, habitat protection and the tools available to landowners and hunters to address deer-related agricultural damage. The non-surface gas agreement generates revenue for the game fund while limiting surface disturbance, and the range-target rule change is intended to improve shooter safety and reduce maintenance costs.

Next steps: staff and the real estate team will finalize purchase documents and acceptances, incorporate deed restrictions required by funding sources where noted, and implement the range and permit-program rule changes through final rule text and operational guidance.