Pa. hunters alerted to drill site workers

    With fall comes hunting season in upstate Pennsylvania. But this year, the gas industry is reaching out to hunters

    to warn them about the rapid increase in drill sites and workers in the woods

    Drill sites are popping up on state forest and game lands, as well as private property in the northeastern part of the state. The Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association has sent out warnings to drillers, especially those from faraway places such as Texas, that hundreds of thousands of hunters will be descending on the woods looking to shoot deer and bears.

    Steve Mohr, the president of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, said about 750,000 hunters will be out the Monday after Thanksgiving.

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    “The chance of interactions between hunters and workmen is much more likely because the work is being done right in the center of where the deer hunting activity is occurring,” he said. “So you don’t want the stray bullets, you don’t want the equipment in the line of fire.”

    Mohr said he’s working to make sure all of his members know what to expect.

    During hunting season, the gas drillers are telling workers to wear the orange blaze while they’re on the job.

    “We’re talking about the folks who are actually out in the woods, survey crews, well-tenders, pipeline inspectors, anyone who is actually physically out in the woods themselves to make sure that they’re seen,” said Lou D’Amico, president of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.

    D’Amico said the gas industry supports hunting.

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