PROMISED LAND STATE PARK -- People are being told to stay out of the Delaware State Forest in parts of Pike and Monroe Counties as the manhunt for suspected cop killer Eric Frein continues. That includes both hunters and hikers.
But the state says it's OK for people to continue to visit Promised Land State Park.
After the Pennsylvania Game Commission banned bow hunting for seven townships in and around the massive search area for Eric Frein, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) also decided to limit all foot travel in their thousands of state forest lands within those same townships.
Promised Land State Park is the exception.
The restricted state forest land surrounds Promised Land State Park in Pike County.
A few campers there decided not to cancel their reservations.
"We had planned this for many months in advance. And we assessed the situation and felt comfortable enough that it would be OK to come up here," said Michelle Giffroy-Rossi of Phoenixville.
There have been about two dozen camping cancellations at the state park now that the game commission announced bow hunting would be banned on this state land and in seven townships, after two pipe bombs were discovered in the search area.
Hiking is now off limits outside of the park, too.
"I think everybody has to make their own choices. And we made some choices in advance. We talked to the folks at the park office before coming up," said Giffroy-Rossi.
Even though hunting and hiking are off limits in a portion of the Delaware State Forest, hiking is allowed in Promised Land State Park.
The restrictions, combined with the manhunt, have continued to strain business at the Lake Store at Promised Land.
"It's been extremely slow. We've seen a lot of police activity coming up and down the road but they're not stopping and it scared a lot of people away," said Jeff Darnell.
The owners decided to close for the winter for the first time in years because of the toll this manhunt has taken on their business.
But some, like Nicodemo Rinaldis of Canadensis refuse to let the manhunt stop his fall photography.
He's just planning to stay out of the forest.
"I'm fully aware of that and that's why I'm not there and right here, right by the church."
Promised Land State park is surrounded by the Delaware State Forest entirely, so many of the trails that start in the park, lead into areas that are now off limits.
Forest officials say anyone seen in the Delaware State Forest will be told to leave, or they could possibly face fines.