I was just at the lumberton walmart getting my friend a fishing license, and there was a guy at the counter who said he was part of the nj forest fire service...we got to talking and he told me some pretty disturbing and crazy shit...
as we got to taking he told me the following things...first off and most startling, he told me that apple pie hill was now closed to the public...i knew this, but what he told me next was worse...he claimed that if you are caught anywhere at apple pie hill you will be ticketed and serve at least 30 days in county jail. i mentioned that i had been there recently, because in march i took a few trips out there, one driving, where i noticed that the state put up a brand new yellow metal crossbar barrier to prevent automobile access...there were still people all over the place and i never see rangers there....additionally, in march i hiked a 15 mile section along the area where apple pie hill is and doubled back and it went straight by....he told me that the state changed the route of the batona trail so that it doesnt go directly by apple pie hill any longer and that access is even more restricted.
he also told me that if you are caught at quarter mile, the charges are the same and you will face jail time. the same thing goes for hidden lakes, he told me that if you are caught anywhere in the area of the wma you will be ticketed and possibly expect jail time. i asked him how that was possible because it was in a wma and that i knew automobile access was forbidden but that i thought you should be able to hike or hunt there as usual and he said this was not the case; even if you wanted to hunt legally in season the only way you would even be allowed in the wma was if you got a permit to be there.
there were many other things he told me but these were the most vivid in my mind...the last thing i remember was that he said he camped at oswego lake and i thought that although no one would bother you because the area isnt well patrolled that it was illegal to camp outside of the designated camping areas in the pine barrens
last but not least, he told me that if lebanon state forest doesnt generate enough revenues this season that it will shut down indefinitely and all of the facilities will be closed...is this true?!
do any of you have any information on this?! i know its illegal to be at a few of the spots he mentioned but i had no idea the charges could be so severe, especially since i see people at apple pie hill all the time, as an example...
any input is greatly appreciated
as we got to taking he told me the following things...first off and most startling, he told me that apple pie hill was now closed to the public...i knew this, but what he told me next was worse...he claimed that if you are caught anywhere at apple pie hill you will be ticketed and serve at least 30 days in county jail. i mentioned that i had been there recently, because in march i took a few trips out there, one driving, where i noticed that the state put up a brand new yellow metal crossbar barrier to prevent automobile access...there were still people all over the place and i never see rangers there....additionally, in march i hiked a 15 mile section along the area where apple pie hill is and doubled back and it went straight by....he told me that the state changed the route of the batona trail so that it doesnt go directly by apple pie hill any longer and that access is even more restricted.
he also told me that if you are caught at quarter mile, the charges are the same and you will face jail time. the same thing goes for hidden lakes, he told me that if you are caught anywhere in the area of the wma you will be ticketed and possibly expect jail time. i asked him how that was possible because it was in a wma and that i knew automobile access was forbidden but that i thought you should be able to hike or hunt there as usual and he said this was not the case; even if you wanted to hunt legally in season the only way you would even be allowed in the wma was if you got a permit to be there.
there were many other things he told me but these were the most vivid in my mind...the last thing i remember was that he said he camped at oswego lake and i thought that although no one would bother you because the area isnt well patrolled that it was illegal to camp outside of the designated camping areas in the pine barrens
last but not least, he told me that if lebanon state forest doesnt generate enough revenues this season that it will shut down indefinitely and all of the facilities will be closed...is this true?!
do any of you have any information on this?! i know its illegal to be at a few of the spots he mentioned but i had no idea the charges could be so severe, especially since i see people at apple pie hill all the time, as an example...
any input is greatly appreciated
