Some Pennsylvania Hunters At Odds Over Flintlock Season

The Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters has started a petition requesting a new hunting season for primitive flintlock rifles. (Photo by Michael Tatman)

A Pennsylvania black powder organization wants the state’s Game Commission to create a new early flintlock deer season, but some hunters in the state are against that idea.

According to goerie.com, the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters has started a petition on change.org and a paper petition requesting a new hunting season for primitive flintlock rifles. That online version has 1,277 signatures as of March 31, 2025.

In 2024, the Game Commission added Wildlife Management Units (WMU) 4A, 4D and 5A to the extended firearms antlerless season that ran January 2 to 20 during flintlock season. The change in south-central Pennsylvania was made in an effort to reduce the number of antlerless deer in areas with Chronic Wasting Disease. In the past, the extended firearms season was limited to WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions.

With more opportunities to hunt deer with rifles during the flintlock season, the Black Powder Shooters worry too many hunters will switch to centerfire rifles instead of using primitive firearms.

Jeff Warner, president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters, told goerie.com he would like the early antlerless muzzleloader season in October that includes all types of muzzleloaders to be extended from one week to two weeks. Hunters using flintlocks would be able to hunt either bucks or antlerless deer.

“They’ve (Game Commission) been talking for years now about changing the late season a little bit,” Warner, who lives in Clearfield County, said. “This past year, specifically, they have allowed centerfire rifles in now six Wildlife Management Units across the state."

Warner says while there have been proposals to allow other types of muzzleloaders in the flintlock season, his organization wants to preserve the sport of flintlock hunting.

“We’re pushing for the early season because, with the way the Game Commission works historically, once they’ve added a season or extended the rifle season, that’s not something you can convince them to rescind,” he said.

Warner cites the flintlock’s historical significance in Pennsylvania for the reason his organization isn’t catering to just any type of muzzleloader. He says Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that has a hunting season that’s dedicated specifically to flintlocks and that most people would consider Pennsylvania to be home to the long rifle.

“And as a matter of fact, the Pennsylvania long rifle is our state firearm, which not many people know about,” Warner said.

He says his organization is concerned for the future of flintlock hunting.

“With the allowance of centerfire rifles in the late season, we’re really scared that the history is going to go away,” he said.

He wants the late flintlock season to remain the same and expand upon the October season.

The Game Commission says its open to hearing about new hunting seasons.

Travis Lau, communications director for the agency, released the following statement about the Black Powder Shooters’ petition.

“The Pennsylvania Game Commission annually reviews and sets hunting seasons, so new suggestions are always welcome. It’s up to our Board of Commissioners, working with our staff, to decide how seasons should be adjusted," Lau said. "There are many examples in recent years of the agency expanding opportunities for hunters. When it comes to adding seasons, consideration must be given first to the potential impacts on a given wildlife resource, but social impacts are also considered. By the number who have signed their names, it’s clear the petition has its supporters. As it’s presented and talked about more, there likely will be a better idea of how widely it’s supported.”

Some hunters oppose the federation’s petition because they feel it will lead to changes with the flintlock season.

Drew Ritenour, a hunter from Uniontown, created a petition on change.org against the movement by the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters.

He says his petition is about protecting the late flintlock season as it is a time to honor and celebrate the longtime heritage of building flintlocks.

“The flintlock season coincides with the late archery season. During the late season, there are no cap-lock or inline ignition weapons. Currently, the late season also excludes modern firearms with the exception of ‘Special Regulation’ areas. I have heard from at least two (wardens), there have been discussions between several Game Commissioners regarding the expansion of the late-season to include other ignition type weapons. The matter never made it out of the discussion phase and was never voted on by the commissioners,” he said in a written statement.

He worries that if changes are made to the early season, it will make it easier for the Game Commission to include other types of muzzleloaders in the flintlock season.

“Once the inclusion of the various ignition types in an early season will make the late season vulnerable to the same inclusion," Ritenour said. "This will most likely impact the current regulations and length of season. The petition states to the PGC to keep the sanctity of why the late season was created and stop introducing firearms in some WMUs and keep the season flintlock ignition only.”

As of March 31, 2025, 390 signed Ritenour’s online petition.