At Marsh Creek, there's a great hunting opportunity for hunters with access to a canoe who aren't afraid to paddle across a lake in the dark. Launch a canoe or small boat at the 24-hour boat ramp on the south side of the lake off Lyndell Road, which intersects with Route 282.

Take a climbing tree stand. Be sure to wear a PFD and use appropriate caution at all times in your boat.

Paddle north across the lake to the opposite shoreline and then paddle east. Cross a channel that stretches north off the main body of the lake to a peninsula sticking into the lake. Beach your canoe at the tip of the peninsula and head the woods to find a good stand tree.

Hunters looking for deer in this section of the park are going to walk toward this position from the road all day. Because you'll be set up at the end of a peninsula, deer that those hunters kick up are likely to circle past you as they try to escape. The lakeshore will funnel them right into your lap.

For a map of Marsh Creek State Park, call the park office at (610) 458-5119.

For lodging information, call the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau at (610) 344-6365.

SGL NO. 49
State Game Lands No. 49 covers 6,310 acres in Bedford and Fulton counties. It is south of Altoona and about halfway between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Both Bedford and Fulton counties are among the most productive in the state and are good places to go for successful deer hunting this month.

SGL 49 is split into four disconnected tracts in Bedford County's Monroe and Mann townships and Fulton County's Union Township. The largest of the four tracts straddles the top of Town Hill and Rays Hill north and south of McKees Gap on McKees Gap Road. The other three tracts are to the north.

Pennsylvania Game Commission employees in the South-Central Region recommend that December deer hunters explore the southernmost tip of SGL 49. Take Route 484 west from Buck Valley to Hammon Road, which cuts through the game lands.

There's a parking lot on Hammon Road. Park there and hike east up the ridge to a series of food plots. The resident deer herd should be hunkered nearby.

For a map of SGL 49 and all other state game lands mentioned, go to the Game Commission's Web site at www.pgc.state.PA.us. Click on "State Game Lands."

For lodging information, call the Bedford County Visitors Bureau at 1-800-765-3331.

FORBES STATE FOREST
Pennsylvania's Southwest Region is fast becoming the state's hot corner for deer hunting. It has plenty of deer and some big bucks, too.

Forbes State Forest consists of 20 separate tracts of land in Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties. Together, these tracts cover more than 50,000 acres.