With the opening of bow season a little more than two months away, now is the time to research new hunting areas.

In the case of public areas, two sometimes overlooked options are found on state game lands managed primarily for other species, and on public areas that border flood control lakes.

Here's a look at two such places:

Crawford County is better known for the abundance of waterfowling options on public lands. But the enterprising hunter will find that whitetails exist in good numbers on the uplands that gently rise from the swampy areas.State Game Lands 213 comprise the outflow of Conneaut Lake. Officially, this 5,555-acre parcel is called Conneaut Marsh, though locally it goes by the moniker Geneva Marsh. An extremely popular waterfowling destination, especially during the early seasons, Geneva Marsh also provides whitetail habitat along its fringes, where the marshland gives way to field and forest.The majority of the deer habitat is located within the western portion of the game lands. Some uplands are located around other portions, though it is a narrower band of habitat found between the swampland and surrounding private land.Access into the interior of SGL 213 is by way of primary and secondary roads that skirt it, as well as a few back roads that cross it. Route 285 runs along the southern side of the game lands, through the town of Geneva. A couple of parking areas are located along this road.Backcountry roads that cross the marsh can be found intersecting with 285 and the railroad track. A propagation area exists within the marshland, downstream of the railroad.The key to success on this game lands parcel is to do a bit of pre-hunt investigation to determine what areas offer proper deer habitat.Good maps of the area can be downloaded from the Game Commission's website at w.pgc.state.pa.us.

Located in the northeastern corner of Armstrong County, this Army Corps of Engineers dam on Mahoning Creek backs the creek up for several miles. In that the maximum capacity of this flood control dam is more than 60 feet above the normal summer pool, a significant amount of acreage in the watershed above the dam is in the public domain.The Pennsylvania Game Commission manages the flood zone lands surrounding Mahoning Lake. This is a common practice on several federal flood control lakes. Acreage available for public hunting totals about 1,280 acres.Other than in developed areas, hunting is permitted throughout the project property. The public hunting lands at Mahoning extend upstream along the creek into both Indiana and Jefferson counties.Perhaps the most significant portion of this tract, from a deer hunter's standpoint, is located upstream of Milton, a village found along Route 839. Township Road 371 intersects with Route 839 near Milton and runs along the northern portion of the property.While the terrain that surrounds the lower part of the reservoir is quite steep, here things flatten out dramatically. Sharecroppers farm a portion of this land. It's a mix of cultivated land, brush and woods.Access to the opposite side of the creek requires wading across a shallow section of Mahoning Creek. This is a fertile bottomland with a mix of mature hardwoods and younger growth.Farther upstream, Little Mahoning Creek joins Mahoning Creek. An iron bridge spans Mahoning Creek at the spot. Public lands also straddle Little Mahoning a couple of miles upstream toward Smicksburg, and extend up Mahoning Creek toward North Point.Hunters should keep in mind that wet weather will affect fall hunting opportunities. Be sure to call ahead for lake conditions before a hunt. Daily lake condition can be heard by calling 814- 257-8017. Contact the park office at 814- 257-8811.