Except for a few maintained openings where pheasants are stocked, the habitat is a combination of mature timber and very thick wooded areas that have been logged. Deer get into these thick areas and escape hunters during the regular firearms hunting season.

"There seems to be a pretty good (deer) population," said land management group supervisor George Miller. "Of course, the areas near the roads get hunted hard."

The key to finding deer here during the flintlock season will be locating mast.

"It looks like red oak production will be good, but it will vary from area to area," Miller said. "You probably won't find much white oak mast. Beech is doing well in spots. Soft mast is really doing well this year - the apple crop was tremendous."

Find acorns and beechnuts and you will be close to deer. Getting up to those oak ridges requires some steep climbs of several hundred feet, so be prepared. Apples, if you can find some still hanging on the trees, will be at lower elevations.

"Hunters who are willing to put in some time to get back to those areas should do pretty well. In muzzleloader season that area is under-hunted and there are a lot of deer left," Miller said.

Local information is available by contacting the Northern Alleghenies Vacation Region, 315 Second Avenue, P.O. Box 804, Warren County, PA 16365; or call (800) 224-7802.

"Gypsy moth damage forced a different timber management strategy," noted land management group supervisor Jim Deniker.

Gypsy moth infestation during the 1980s took a severe toll on the oaks on SGL 39, prompting salvage cuts. Those areas have now grown into the pole timber stage, which is not good deer habitat, but there are still plenty of deer in the area.

One key to successful muzzleloader hunting will be staying out of the pole timber and focusing on the available hard mast or soft mast.

Acorns are spotty this year, and although this is not good for deer, flintlock hunters can turn this to their advantage. Deer will be concentrated in relatively small areas wherever there are still acorns on the ground.

This state game lands has maintained openings that have been planted with native grasses and clover mixes specially designed for wildlife. Wetlands have been reestablished along Sandy Creek where the land had been drained for farming.

"We've also established several apple orchards," Deniker pointed out.

These apple orchards include various varieties chosen so that the apples drop at different times. Finding apple trees that have held their fruit into winter could be a huge advantage during the flintlock season.

You can get information about local services by contacting the Oil Heritage Region Tourist Promotion Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 128, Oil City, PA 16301; or call (800) 483-6264.

For more about flintlock hunting in Pennsylvania, contact Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; or call (717) 787-4250.