Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 are situated near Mainville. They have an area of 12,646 acres. This is 61.4 percent of all the State Game Lands in Columbia County and 41.7 percent of all the protected land in the county. The game lands occupy portions of five townships: Beaver Township, Catawissa Township, Main Township, Mifflin Township, and Roaring Creek Township.{{Citation|url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/d_001222.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213855/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/d_001222.pdf|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 23, 2015|title = Columbia County Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, Greenways and Open Space Plan|year = 2007|access-date = February 20, 2015}} The game lands have been described as being shaped like a dogleg.{{Citation|publisher = Northwoods Publications|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=AxgPAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Dogleg-+shaped%2C+it+surrounds+the+western+end+of+the+Catawissa+and+Nescopek+mountains%22|title = The Pennsylvania Sportsman, Volume 32, Issues 5–8|page = 85|year = 1991}}

The terrain in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 is described as "heavily forested and mountainous" by the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau. They are flatter in their northern reaches and more mountainous in their southern reaches. However, there are also foodplots and grassy areas. Rocky outcrops and ravines occur in the game lands.{{Citation|author = The Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy|url = http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/cnai_pdfs/columbia%20county%20nai%202004.pdf|title = Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory 2004|page = 50|year = 2004|access-date = February 20, 2015}} A fire tower is situated within the game lands. Most of them are on Catawissa Mountain, but a disconnected section is on Nescopeck Mountain. Numerous small streams flow through the game lands, including Furnace Run, Fisher Run, Mine Gap Run, Long Hollow, Stranger Hollow, Klingermans Run, and Cranberry Run. The game lands are in the watershed of Catawissa Creek.

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 are one of only three tracts of public forest in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. It comprises the vast majority of such land.{{Citation|author = Pennsylvania Environmental Council|url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20029597.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215915/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20029597.pdf|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 23, 2015|title = Catawissa Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan|date = December 9, 2010|access-date = February 11, 2015}} The game lands are on part of a system of connected forested ridges running from Moosic Mountain to the Susquehanna River.

Game animals occurring in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 include deer, bear, wild turkey, and grouse. Pheasants have also been hunted in the game lands and have been stocked there.{{Citation|url = https://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/901502/youthpheasanthunt_pdf|title = Junior Pheasant Hunt — Oct. 10 - 17|access-date = February 11, 2015}}{{Citation|work=Times Leader |url = http://archives.timesleader.com/1997/1997_19/1997_11_02_PHEASANT_STOCKING_SITES_LISTED_PENNSYLVANIA_GAME_COMMISSION_PERS.html|title = Pheasant stocking sites listed|date = November 2, 1997|access-date = February 23, 2015}} The area has been managed for ruffed grouse and woodcocks.{{Citation|url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/habitat-work-underway-on-pa-state-game-lands-121996278.html|title = Habitat Work Underway on PA State Game Lands|date = May 17, 2011|access-date = February 23, 2015|work=PR Newswire}}

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 have a high level of bird biodiversity. Bird species in the game lands include six warbler species, two vireo species, wood thrush, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak, eastern wood pewee, barred owl, white-breasted nuthatch, and blue-gray gnatcatcher. Mammals observed there include eastern chipmunks, white-footed mice, short-tailed shrews, and red-backed voles. Reptiles and amphibians observed in the state game lands include box turtles, American toads, wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and garter snakes. Insects such as the black swallowtail and the tiger swallowtail are also found there.

Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 are one of the largest remaining tracts of forested land in Columbia County. It mainly consists of deciduous forests, such as dry oak-heath forests and dry oak–mixed hardwood forests. However, other forest types such as pitch pine–mixed oak forest and hemlock-hardwood forest are present as well. Hemlock trees line many of the area's ravines and streams. A total of 1800 aspen seedlings were also planted in the game lands in 2011. Native, warm-season grasses inhabit the game lands as well.

There is one designated hiking trail in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58. It is {{convert|11.3|mi|km}} long and loops from the base of Fire Tower Road up to the fire tower and back. Additionally, there are designated routes for horses and bicycles there. The game lands also contain a rifle range, which is at the entrance to the game lands, on Rifle Range Road near Pennsylvania Route 339. The game lands have four parking lots in their southern end and at least eight in their northern end. Some township roads lead to the game lands.

The old Reading Railroad corridor passes through Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58. In 2011, several acres of warm-season native grasses were burned in Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 during a controlled burn. In 2014, {{convert|626|acre|ha}} were slated for controlled burning.{{Citation|work=Weekender |url = http://www.theweekender.com/news/outdoors/1349812/PGC-to-conduct-prescribed-burns|title = PGC to conduct prescribed burns|date = April 26, 2014|access-date = February 23, 2015}}

In August 2013, Wildlife Conservation Officer John Morack stated that he intended to increase law enforcement patrols at the shooting range of Pennsylvania State Game Lands #58 to prevent vandalism and other illegal activities.{{Citation|author = P.J. Reilly|work=Lancaster Online |url = http://lancasteronline.com/sports/pgc-aims-to-reduce-problems-at-ranges/article_52b420d0-342a-51a9-8cb7-9a66c412f59b.html?mode=jqm|title = PGC aims to reduce problems at ranges|date = September 11, 2013|access-date = February 23, 2015}}

• Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 13, also in Columbia County
• Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 55, also in Columbia County
• Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226, also in Columbia County
• Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 329, also in Columbia County

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