For decades, the first Monday after Thanksgiving marked the opening day of Pennsylvania’s statewide firearms deer season. This tradition brought together families and sportsmen from across the state and supported local economies, especially in rural areas. In 2019, the Pennsylvania Game Commission changed the opener to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a move that some say has negatively affected businesses and community organizations.
Senator Gene Yaw (R-23) announced plans to introduce legislation with Senator Lisa Boscola aimed at restoring the traditional Monday opener. “Let me be clear: this legislation is not about wildlife management or interfering with PGC’s authority to regulate deer populations,” Yaw stated. “The Game Commission plays a critical role in managing our wildlife resources, and nothing in this proposal changes that. This effort is focused solely on the economic impact in communities like those in my district that rely on the traditional structure of rifle season.”
Yaw explained that when rifle season opened on Monday, there was a concentrated boost in economic activity for small towns. Local businesses saw more customers, and volunteer fire companies benefited from well-attended fundraisers. Since moving to Saturday, Yaw said many small businesses have experienced a decline in revenue as hunters spend less time preparing for the season and participate less in community events. He cited one volunteer fire company whose fundraiser attendance dropped from hundreds to just a few dozen last year.
“Some will argue that the change was intended to boost license sales or increase participation,” Yaw continued. “Yet there’s strong evidence to the contrary that this shift did not deliver on that promise in any meaningful way and the missed economic opportunities for communities that depend on hunting season suggest that the cost has been too high.”
Yaw described hunting season as an important part of rural Pennsylvania’s economy and called for bipartisan support for his proposed legislation. “This tradition is part of the economic fabric that sustains rural Pennsylvania. Outdoorsmen, businesses, local governments and families from every background have told us they want a return to the structure that once worked so well,” he said.
“This bipartisan legislation puts common sense first and ensures our policies reflect what works best for the people and local economies. Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage is storied, and its economic impact is profound. By restoring the traditional opening day of rifle season to Monday, we can reinforce both,” Yaw added.
Yaw represents Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union counties in Pennsylvania’s 23rd Senatorial District (official website). In addition to his legislative work, he has contributed to community activities by coaching Little League Baseball and youth soccer (official website). He received recognition as Lycoming County Solicitor of the Year in 2004 (official website), provided general counsel to Pennsylvania College of Technology for over two decades while chairing its board since 2013 (official website), chaired key Senate committees including Environmental Resources and Energy (official website), and represented multiple counties throughout his tenure (official website).
Elizabeth Weitzel can be contacted at 717-787-3280 regarding this initiative.
