Pilot Gold Returns 0.48 g/t Gold and 0.64% Copper Over 176.9 Metres at Halilaga

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/31/11 -- Pilot Gold Inc. (TSX: PLG) ('Pilot Gold' or the 'Company') is pleased to report that ongoing core drilling at the Halilaga Project in northwest Turkey continues to increase both the size and continuity of copper-gold mineralization at the Kestane porphyry.

Drilling from within the Kestane porphyry has intersected shallow high-grade supergene mineralization that returned:

--  0.77 grams per tonne gold and 1.51% copper over 37.4 metres in HD-86
    within a broader interval that returned 0.48 g/t gold and 0.64% copper
    over 176.9 metres
--  1.09 g/t gold and 0.87% copper over 49.4 metres in HD-94A contained
    within a broader interval that returned 0.64 g/t gold and 0.51% copper
    over 117.3 metres

Step-out drilling designed to expand the size of the porphyry body returned:

--  0.22 g/t gold, 0.27% copper and 0.01% molybdenum over 316.3 metres in
    HD-92A
--  0.20 g/t gold and 0.19% copper over 76.4 metres in HD-87
--  1.51 g/t gold over 15.1 metres in HD-89

All true widths are 80-90% of reported widths unless otherwise stated. All
intervals of no sampling have been assigned zero grade for the purposes of
compositing. Composites were calculated at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/t gold
equivalent cut-offs using $1000/oz gold and $3.00/lb copper for consistency
with historic reporting practice. For a PDF of comprehensive drill results
to date, including new and non-reportable intercepts, please click:
http://www.pilotgold.com/sites/default/files/HalilagaDrillResults1116.pdf

For a map highlighting recent drilling, please click: http://www.pilotgold.com/sites/default/files/HalilagaDrillMap1116.pdf

These results are from the Phase 1, four-rig, 10,000 metre exploration/delineation drill program completed in H1 2011, focused on the Central Zone of the Kestane target, as well as, prominent magnetic anomalies on the remainder of the property. A Phase 2, 10,000 metre program is underway and is expected to wrap up in early October, with approximately 4,470 metres completed to date. Pilot Gold's share of the 2011 budget is approximately $2.0-million.

The Kestane porphyry is mineralized over a strike length of 1,200 metres, a width of 850 metres, and a thickness of up to 600 metres, including a locally developed shallow supergene enrichment zone with grades of 1%-to-2% Cu.

All drill samples and analytical data for Halilaga are collected under the supervision of TMST, using industry standard QA-QC protocols. Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., VP Exploration and Chief Operating Officer for Pilot Gold, and a 'Qualified Person' within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for compiling the technical information contained in this release. Mr. Cunningham-Dunlop has not verified all the assay data generated by TMST as project operator, however the grades and widths reported here agree well with the Company's past results on the project and TMST has given him no reason to doubt their authenticity.

ABOUT PILOT GOLD

Pilot Gold is a gold exploration company focused on advancing Halilaga, TV Tower and our pipeline of projects in Nevada. For more information, visit: www.pilotgold.com

For further details on Halilaga, please view the NI 43-101 compliant technical report entitled 'NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Halilaga Exploration Property, Canakkale, Western Turkey', dated February 15, 2011, as amended June 7, 2011, prepared by Ian R. Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng. and VP Exploration and Chief Operating Officer, Pilot Gold (formerly VP Exploration, Fronteer Gold Inc.) under Pilot Gold's Issuer Profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as 'plans', 'planning', 'planned', 'expects' or 'looking forward', 'does not expect', 'continues', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'potential', 'anticipates', 'does not anticipate', or 'belief', or describes a 'goal', or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will' be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, information with respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting timelines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size of mineralized zone, potential expansion of mineralization, potential type of mining operation, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic studies and the timing and results of any future development programs involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Pilot Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking information.

Such factors include, among others, risks related to the interpretation and actual results of current exploration and development activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Amended Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2010 dated May 12, 2011 (amended June 7, 2011), which is available under Pilot Gold's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Pilot Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Pilot Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Contacts:

Pilot Gold Inc.

Matt Lennox-King

President & CEO

604-632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677


Pilot Gold Inc.

Patrick Reid

VP Corporate Development

604-632-4677 or Toll Free: 1-877-632-4677
info@pilotgold.com
www.pilotgold.com