The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently cited several people for riding off-road vehicles on private property in Winfield Township that is open to hunting through the commission's hunter access program.

Southern Butler County Game Warden Randy Pilarcik said deputy game wardens cited four people over the Aug. 29 weekend for riding off-road vehicles on property owned by Armstrong Cement and Supply Corporation on Clearfield Road.

The company has had “a couple thousand acres” of its land enrolled in the hunter access program for many years and has tolerated people riding all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side off-road vehicles on the property until the amount of activity recently got to be to much, he said.

“It's rampant with people illegally riding ATVs,” Pilarcik said.

One person drove a truck on to the property and got it stuck in a stream. That truck was towed, but a sport-utility vehicle that was driven on the property remains stuck, he said. Charges will be field against the SUV owner, who will have to pay to have the vehicle towed, he said.

All that traffic has left trails that lead to erosion and other unsafe conditions on the property, he said.

“People buy these ATVs and side by sides, and they don't have any place to ride in their own yards so they go somewhere else.” Pilarcik said. “It's beyond me. It's someone else's property and they feel they have the right to ride on it without any permission what so ever.”

Riders who are cited tell wardens they feel like they are being treated unjustly, he added.

The commission provides law enforcement and other services to private property owners to allow public hunting on their land through the hunter access program.

“No Motorized Vehicles” signs provided by the commission were recently posted on the property after the off-road activity increased. Signs previously posted were found discarded in the woods, Pilarcik said.

Deputies reported hearing only one off-road vehicle on the property over the Labor Day weekend and the commission will continue to monitor the property, he said.

The commission also is trying to stop off-road riding on a hunter access property in Clinton Township, he said.