The first day of the deer rifle season on the Monday after Thanksgiving is a 55-year tradition that could be coming to an end.
The first day of the deer rifle season on the Monday after Thanksgiving is a 55-year tradition that could be coming to an end.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners is talking about possibly moving the start of the season to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, beginning in 2019.
After decades of declining license sales, a Saturday start could bring more participation, especially by young hunters.
"The thought is by moving that opening day to Saturday, that it would give the opportunity for many more to participate in the opening day," game commission spokesman Travis Lau said.
The change would extend the deer rifle season by one day, and hunters would have three Saturdays to take to Pennsylvania's fields and woods.
The board will discuss the proposed change at its next meeting in January. A final vote would come at a board meeting in April.