"Wildlife Safety Zone"

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rayman612
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2015/03/22 12:41:40 (permalink)

"Wildlife Safety Zone"

There is a small stream that runs under the turnpike & into Turtle Creek near Bel-Air Park in Monroeville.  It seems very clean & I've dropped a minnow trap in there a few times & caught a nice amount of chubs/dace.  (Especially around this time of year when it's illegal to use a trap in a trout approved stream like Turtle Creek)  The problem is I noticed as I went over there today that it's a "Wildlife Safety Zone" & there is no hunting fishing or trapping allowed in the area...  So, I took my minnow trap somewhere else but I'm kind of upset.  

Why is this a wildlife safety zone?  Are all areas adjacent to the turnpike safety zones as well?  I can understand why there is no hunting allowed in these areas as it could be dangerous that close to the highway but I can't figure out why there should be a ban on fishing as well...
 
Anyone else run into these signs?
 
Also does anyone know if I can get permission or something to trap minnows here?  Really no idea who I'd have to call but, I'm pretty sure it's all public property as the signs say photography & hiking is allowed.
#1

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    eyesandgillz
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/03/23 12:18:03 (permalink)
    If you are on the NE side of the Turnpike, it looks like it is Murrysville and not Monroeville and it looks to be private property based on the Westmoreland County GIS.  If so, landowners can control it however they like.  
    You can try and ask permission to trap minnows from the property owners.
    If this is not the area you are talking about, then disregard these suggestions.
    #2
    rayman612
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/03/23 18:13:52 (permalink)
    Nah this stream runs along the west side of the turnpike. Its all wooded between the stream and a monroeville park on top of saunders station road, i think its "heritage park"?

    Edit: Good call on the GIS, I checked out Allegheny County's & it appears that Monroeville owns the land covered in these signs, BUT the turnpike owns the land this stream is on hmm
    post edited by rayman612 - 2015/03/23 18:30:56
    #3
    FishinGuy
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/03/24 07:39:49 (permalink)
    West side of the pike. Near bel aire... you lost me. I grew up in the area. You talking about abers creek or turtle creek? They're the only 2 big enough to trap. FYI it is turtle creek that runs behind valley park. Abers branches Off to the left after you head upstream past valley. I would assume the creek behind valley park (soccer field, hockey rink, skate park) is approved trout waters and part of turtle creek, just a ways upstream. Haven't seen the signs as I don't head through there much anymore. BTW I was told that a dam was removed from turtle creek in Trafford and now carp, smallies, and drum have been caught in Monroeville! I've caught and seen carp the last couple years and wondered why. That's the reason.
    #4
    rayman612
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/03/24 18:41:25 (permalink)
    Its very small stream, even unnamed on that giant stream map in the PSU library. If you pull off to the left of abers creek road just before you go under the turnpike bridger there is a little hill you can climb down to get in it. Its not turtle creek or abers creek, but it runs right into turtle creek.

    Ive also heard those dam stories, but havent seen any smallies only carp haha, have also heard of guys catching sauger in pitcarin
    #5
    ChromeBandit412
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/03/24 19:43:44 (permalink)
    The suckers I've seen caught are bigger than most of the trout they stock in turtle creek. They claim to put in 3000 trout but I've been to the stocking for the past 2 years and I can tell you only a half dozen or so are over 18 inches. I'm looking for big trout. And the wildlife safety zone posters are because it is part of a municipal park. No one will bust you for trapping minnows.
    #6
    masterbaiter1983
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/03 20:59:49 (permalink)
    Oh we have caught these carp and drum by B Y park on turtle. Most likely have made there way up turtle. Farther . And the creek if im right does not run into turtle unless it is abers if its around the exit to 286 its abers if it runs by northern pike near speedway its a un named creek.
    #7
    Chris Johnson
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/05 14:06:58 (permalink)
    Are you talking about Lyons Run?  Is the map still up on the 4th floor of the Walker Bldg?  Did you check the quad for the area? 
    #8
    Chris Johnson
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/05 14:32:11 (permalink)

     
    I think I see where you are referring to, marked it with a green X.  I would call the local PFBC office with the coordinates and ask to be sure.
     
    Yes the dam is gone.
    #9
    masterbaiter1983
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/06 09:52:34 (permalink)
    Chris i think hes talking about the creek as u turn off 22 on to northern pike it runs along the hill side of northern pike and 22. Right? Abers flows under. Ground at 22 right
    #10
    Chris Johnson
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/06 15:36:40 (permalink)
    rayman612
    If you pull off to the left of abers creek road just before you go under the turnpike bridge



    Sounds like it is close to the intersection of ACR and the TP overpass.  I guess I could drive by to see the signs or wait until Rayman Returns, lol.
     
     
     
    #11
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/06 15:50:04 (permalink)
    You ain't right....(lol)

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #12
    Chris Johnson
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/06 15:57:26 (permalink)
    Trying to be funny.  Trying being the operative word.  I really don't have as much time on my hands as it would appear.  The B and T on the poster just lent itself too easily to the picture to bypass.   
    #13
    FishinGuy
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/06 16:18:34 (permalink)
    Raymans gonna be pizzed when his creek chub spot looks like the wall o nuts in November next time he stops to set his trap.
    #14
    Chris Johnson
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/06 16:39:26 (permalink)
    He listed all but the coordinates himself.  Plenty of places to catch chubs in that immediate area that are easier to access.
    #15
    rayman612
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/08 20:45:20 (permalink)
    Hahaha yes its exactly where that green x is

    & i have a file of that stream map on my comp, takes about 3 minutes to load lol, & was on 4th floor patee library last i saw it
    #16
    rayman612
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/08 20:48:56 (permalink)
    Also speaking of lyons run i went up there a bit to see if any stockies snuck up there last year & caught a 10 inch chub

    State record trophy chub waters
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    Chris Johnson
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/09 07:41:20 (permalink)
    rayman612
    was on 4th floor patee library last i saw it



    The Walker Bldg had a mural relief map on the wall opposite the elevators on what I remember as being the 4th floor.  It may have just been central PA (Pittsburgh to Harrisburg), but it was great for trout fishing the area.  Did they move the map to Patee?  If I had to guess it was roughly 8'x 40'.
     
    I briefly stopped at the sign on ACR but the berm was very soft and I didn't want to sink in or chew it up.  I will assume the PFBC/PGC said no trapping includes no chub trapping in the zone. 
     
     
    #18
    rayman612
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/09 09:32:55 (permalink)
    hmm they must just be 2 diff maps
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    masterbaiter1983
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/11 23:01:09 (permalink)
    Chris i know where it is. Better chubbin about 300 football feilds away bahaha
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    masterbaiter1983
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    Re: "Wildlife Safety Zone" 2015/04/14 12:02:58 (permalink)
    Chris ewwwwwww its a rat geeez what a fink that weasle weasled his way to a title god i hate duke.
    #21
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