Pennsylvania Game Commission Votes Down Change to Gun Deer Opener

The Pennsylvania Game Commission voted to keep the start of rifle season the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Chris Seager)

For now, the start of Pennsylvania’s rifle season for deer will remain the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

According to lancasteronline.com, the Pennsylvania Game Commission board has voted against changing the date to the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving, a move some commissioners believed would stem hunter loss numbers.

Since the weekend before Thanksgiving has traditionally been the start of rifle black bear season, it would have to start one week earlier, and the bear muzzleloader, archery, and special firearms season would have shortened to a single weekend to accommodate the change.

In a statement announcing the proposal, Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said the change would provide more opportunities for families and young hunters to travel to hunt without interfering with the Thanksgiving holiday.

Since 2020, the state Game Commission has reported an annual decline in the sale of hunting licenses.

During a January meeting, six game commissioners voted against the move, and three voted in favor. Commissioners said the idea could be revisited at a later date and that their goal remains to increase hunting participation throughout the state.

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During the public comment section some hunters expressed displeasure over the suggestion to move the opener to the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Steve Shuster, who hunts in Potter County, said moving the rifle season start date would disrupt the traditions of long-time hunters, prevent students from participating in the first day of the season and discourage out-of-state hunters from traveling to Pennsylvania.

“Many hunters hunt multiple states, and this change will negatively affect nonresidents who travel to Pennsylvania for the opening of rifle season,” Shuster said.

Chris Tanczos, a hunter from Perry County, said he was concerned the proposed new starting date would cause conflict between bear and deer hunters as their seasons would leave them hunting in the same areas at the same time.

“The new proposed changes have prime rut and rifle bear drives happening at the same time,” Tanczos said. “I think it's going to prolong the conflict that we’re already seeing between the two groups.”

Many voiced a concern about the state’s declining hunting participation numbers.

Dan Sneath, Pennsylvania director of policy and legislative affairs for Hunter Nation, a hunting advocacy group, said hunting participation is declining across the nation.

“We can’t wait 10 years before we start looking for ways to recruit, retain, and reactivate our hunters,” Sneath said. “We need to accept that change may need to happen.”