1

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP

OUTDOOR RECREATION BRIEF

Nick Hoffman

Outdoor Recreation Coordinator

TURN SPEAKERS ON

FOR BRIEF

Outdoor Recreation (OR) at Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG) is a Privilege and is at the discretion of the Garrison

Commander.

The Garrison Commander may suspend any and all activities based on training requirements,

available personnel, staffing resources, and/or installation security.

All Participants must comply with Pennsylvania Game Code Laws and Regulations as well as FTIG Regulation

215-2.

2

OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Required by Department of Defense and

Department of Army.

Outlines rules and regulations for

Outdoor Recreation participants at Fort

Indiantown Gap.

Pick up a Copy at the Outdoor Recreation

Check-in Facility or the Wildlife Office

(Building 11-19)

It is Mandatory for all OR participants to

know and follow all rules and regulations

within this handbook

3

FIG REGULATION 215-2 OUTDOOR

RECREATION IN TRAINING AREAS

Army Regulation 200-3:

Forest and Wildlife Management

63 Installation permits and fees

b. Fees

(1) (a) Such fees are to be used on the installation from

which collected for the protection, conservation, and

management of fish and wildlife, including habitat restoration

and improvement, biologist staff and support costs, and

related activities, but for no other purpose. Management of

this source of funds will be the responsibility of the

installation’s natural resources management professional.

4

WHY IS THERE AN ACCESS FEE?

5

MAP OF FTIG TRAINING AREAS

5

Corridor

17,150 Acres

Cantonment: Ranges & Training Areas South of Blue Mountain

Training Corridor: Majority of Accessible land for Outdoor Recreation

Cantonment

6

CHECK-IN AND OUT PROCEDURES

Check - In

Enter Login User Name and Password

Select Activity (ex: Archery, Deer Rifle, Scouting, etc.)

Select Two Training Areas Available For Those Activities

Confirm Check-in

Log Out

Fill out a Dash Card and place in vehicle

Check-Out

Enter Login User Name and Password

Check-Out

Confirm Game Harvested

Confirm Check-Out

Log Out

7

DAILY PERMIT DASH CARD

A Dash Card must be filled out and

placed in the dash of your vehicle

once it is parked near the training

area of which you are

hunting/scouting.

The dash card must be displayed on

the dash of the vehicle at all times

for each individual hunter that rode

in that vehicle.

8

ACCESSIBLE AREAS

OR participants are responsible for obtaining, learning and understanding the

FTIG OR Map. Red areas are OFF LIMITS. Blue areas are restricted to archery

weapons only. Purple areas al low archery and shotguns ( S i z e 4 sh o t o r sm a l le r ) .

See FTIG REG 215-2 or Wildl i fe Staf f for fur ther explanation.

Established PA Game Commission/PA Fish and Boat Commission seasons and bag limits; however, the Garrison Commander may limit or suspend seasons at any time.

No Quail hunting at FTIG

No Amphibian/Reptile hunting or collecting

PGC Wildlife Management Unit 4C

FTIG Seasons: First Tuesday after Labor Day we open for scouting. We close at the end of small game season in February. We reopen for Spring turkey season in late April and close at the end of the last day of Spring turkey season.

Hunting and Scouting are not permitted on Fort Indiantown Gap on Sundays for any reason.

9

FTIG SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS

Fishing is authorized along Indiantown Run from bridge

at St. Joseph Springs, south along route 443 into

Marquette Lake without FTIG access permit.

Fishing is authorized with FTIG access permit in

Training Areas available to outdoor recreation.

Trappers see Wildlife staff (Building 11-19) to register

trap lines

Trappers must confirm areas open to trapping at

Building 11-19.

10

FISHING & TRAPPING

All fish and game harvested must be reported within

the FTIG iSportsman system and a Yellow Card filled out

with all harvest information.

Failure to report ANY game harvested could result in

revocation of permit

Successful hunters are required to bring their deer to

the deer harvest station throughout regular deer

firearms season (Check In Facility) or whenever open

11

GAME HARVEST STATION

12Check Station is Mandatory When Open

Hunters Control the Deer Population

13

REQUESTED DATA ON HARVESTS

Measure Around

Chest Behind

Front Legs

Nose Length

Point to Point

Antler base circumference

14

HARVEST DATA

Your data helps us effectively manage the wildlife populations at FTIG

Without it we cannot provide the best outdoor recreational experience

Every harvest matters regardless of species

Buck Doe M. Fawn F. Fawn Antlerless Total

2016-17 96 144 26 32 202 298

2015-16 82 131 35 24 190 272

2014-15 84 151 29 22 202 286

2013-14 88 88 21 22 131 219

2012-13 61 127 35 26 187 249

2011-12 81 160 32 23 215 296

2010-11 76 114 26 25 165 241

2009-10 67 154 26 32 212 279

2008-9 70 96 26 26 148 218

2007-8 47 87 15 27 129 170

2006-7 46 64 15 24 103 149

2005-6 82 117 21 56 195 277

2004-5 47 110 20 31 161 208

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Squirrel 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 11

Pheasant 90 115 63 49 69 71 69 40 17 11

Grouse 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 7

Rabbit 5 5 12 6 10 21 22 12 19 9

Turkey 37 26 31 9 10 11 1 8 11 10

Woodcock 0 1 4 2 3 1 5 14 0 1

Raccoon 10 2 24 10 1 1 9 0 7 8

Opossum 4 0 5 2 0 2 1 0 0 0

Mink 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Grey Fox 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

Red Fox 4 6 1 0 2 2 0 0 1 0

Coyote 4 2 1 3 3 1 2 1 1 2

Bobcat 0 0 0 0 1 NA NA NA NA NA

It is unlawful for a hunter under PA Game Code to

refuse or neglect to make a reasonable effort to

retrieve any game or wildlife that the hunter may have

killed or wounded

Contact Range Operations or Wildlife ASAP if wounded

game enters closed area

It is at the discretion of Range Operations as to whether

game can be recovered from closed areas

Contact the PA Game Commission if wounded game

enters private property

15

RECOVERING DEAD OR INJURED WILDLIFE

RETRIEVAL OF WOUNDED DEER

16

Track Your

Deer!

Not All Deer That Enter The Impact Area May Be Safely

Recovered!

Point system is used to assist those unwilling to comply with

rules and regulations.

Notification of infractions and number of points will be sent via

mail to participant.

Any participant who accumulates 3 points will lose privileges

for the rest of the current season. Letters explaining the

issuing of points will be mailed to violators.

In 2016-17 violations did improve from the previous year. There

were 30 recorded violations. Please keep up the good work,

knowing the regulations and staying self -aware.

17

VIOLATIONS

Examples

Failing Check-in/out Properly

Littering (including flagging and cat -eyes)

Accidental Entry Into a Closed Area

Failing to Present Permit When Asked

Speeding

Failure to Display Dash Card

Interfering in the Recreation of Other Hunters

Will Result in 1-2 Points

18

IMPROPER ACTIONS:

Falsifying information

Entry into Impact Area (3-strand wire fence)

Spotlighting

Willful entry into closed areas

Harassment or intimidation

Supplemental feeding or stocking of wildlife

Possession of illegal substances

Vandalism or target shooting

Shooting across ranges or other off-limit areas

Could Result in Permanent Revocation of Privileges, Fines,

and/or Legal Action19

ILLEGAL, UNSAFE ACTIONS, OR

INTERFERE WITH TRAINING

Mentored persons hunting are permitted in accordance with PA Game Code

Registered guardians wanting to participate must register the mentee into the iSportsman system and fill out a Hold Harmless Agreement.

Hold Harmless agreements must be submitted to the Wildlife Office before participating in recreation activities. If the Hold Harmless form is completed the day of use, it can be placed in the Harvest Card Box.

Mentors are responsible for ensuring that the child understands the dangers associated with UXO’s

Mentees must remain with their registered Mentor at all times

20

MENTORED YOUTH AND ADULT HUNTING

PA Game Commission Permit to use vehicle as blind is

required to obtain a Disabled Hunter permit from FTIG

Wildlife Office

FTIG permit must be displayed on the dash of the

vehicle at all times

Permit allows OR participants with disabilities to travel

on any accessible permanent trail or road within an

open Training Area.

See Wildlife staff for more information

21

OR PARTICIPANTS WITH DISABILITIES

A lottery may be used to allocate the number of hunters

that may utilize FIG North of Blue Mountain during any of

the 12 days of Regular (“Rifle”)Deer Season.

Lottery will be posted at Outdoor Recreation facility and

at: (www.milvet.state.pa.us).

Cantonment Areas do not have lottery capacity

restrictions.

Youth and their registered Guardians may hunt together if

either is drawn. Siblings (youth) may also hunt together

(with a registered guardian) as long as one is drawn for

the day. FTIG REG 215-2, section 2-3;m.

22

FIREARMS SEASON LOTTERY

A waiting list may be used on lottery days for those that

did not get drawn that day.

OR participants that were not drawn will sign in on a

waiting list and then will wait for approval to be

released.

If capacity allows for more OR participants in the

Lottery areas, waiting lists will then be released at the

discretion of Wildlife personnel.

23

LOTTERY WAITING LIST

24

DEER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM: DMAP

Hunters May Receive 2 DMAP Coupons After Viewing Safety Brief—See

Announcement tab on iSportsman home page for information on times

and locations that coupons will be handed out.

Take Coupon to License Vendor, Pay $10 + $0.90 Handling Fee, and

Receive Tag from Vendor.

Only valid as antlerless tag in DMAP unit on Fort Indiantown Gap

DMAP Coupons MUST BE REEDEMED For Tags. Unredeemed Coupons

Will Result in Revocation of DMAP Privileges

Hunters Must Report (Via Card or Online)To PGC Even If They Do Not

Harvest a deer with the tag.

Names Of Hunters Receiving DMAP Coupons Will Be Provided To PGC

IAW PA Game Code.

It is preferred that hunters harvest mature doe and or female fawns over

male fawns to achieve the best practice population ratios.

25

DMAP UNIT 643

DMAP UNIT 643

is only composed

of Training Areas

South of Blue

Mountain

This includes all

A-Training Areas

and C-1

DMAP 643 Tags

are not valid in

any rifle areas

26

IDENTIFYING SEX OF FAWNS

Deer Manager's Goal Is Have Healthy Does That

Produce Large, Healthy Fawns.

27

Carrying Capacity and Recruitment: Habitat Quality

10 Adult Doe And 3 Fawns

(Only One Is A Button Buck)

5 Adult Doe And 8 Fawns

(4 Are Button Bucks)

Deer Manager’s Goal is Producing

Lots of Healthy Fawns

Earn-A-Buck is an effective herd control measure that requires hunters to harvest an Antlerless deer before having the opportunity to harvest a Buck.

However: Earn-A-Buck will be suspended for the 2017/2018 hunting season. You will not have to harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting an antlered deer this year!

29

EARN-A-BUCK

All Persons Volunteering Will Receive 1 Additional Entry Into The Lottery For Every 10 Hours of Volunteer time you complete

Do not Have To Be A Member Of Conservation Club To Participate!!!

Volunteer Application Forms are available at the Wildlife Office. Information on orientation dates also available.

New (First Time) Adult Participants Are Encouraged to Participate in the New Hunter Orientation or Volunteer Event

New Outdoor Recreation applicants must be aware of safety risks due to rules, regulations, and the military training mission

30

VOLUNTEERING AND ORIENTATION

Know Where You Are And What You Are Doing

Check-in and Out Properly

Harvest Station is Mandatory When Open. Hunters & Anglers MUST report any and all harvests

Follow DMAP and Earn-A-Buck Regulations where they apply

All PGC & PFBC Regulations Apply to Hunting at FTIG

Noncompliance of FTIG REG 215-2 = Reduced Opportunities For ALL

31

REMEMBER!!!

32

CONTACT INFORMATION

Building Number Email Comment

Range Operations 11-9717-861-2152 or

2153 Call for all access/safety concerns

Fort Indiantown Gap Police 7-005 717-861-2727

Wildlife Cell 11-19 717-821-3028 RA-MVORP@pa.gov Preferred Contact Info

Nicholas Hoffman 11-19 717-861-2663 Outdoor Recreation Program Leader

Jarrod Derr 11-19 717-861-6222 Outdoor Recreation Program Leader

Public Affairs Office 8-41 717-861-8468

Fish and Game Conservation Club 13-4 NA Facebook page Meet third Thursday of each month

The Wildlife/Forestry Office Building 11-19 is along Utility Road just south

of the intersection with Clement Ave.