At the Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce, we strive to keep our members and community informed about legislation that could affect our economy, culture, and way of life. One such proposal currently in discussion is House Bill 1659, a bipartisan bill introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that could change the way regular firearms deer season is scheduled across the state.
Under current rules, the regular firearms deer season opens statewide on the Saturday after Thanksgiving—a change made by the PA Game Commission in 2019. Before that, the opener had traditionally been the Monday after Thanksgiving, with the intent to give hunters more time to prepare, travel, and enjoy time at camp.
House Bill 1659 proposes a geographically split start to the season:
- In counties north of Interstate 80, the season would begin on the first Monday after Thanksgiving (a return to the old tradition).
- In counties south of I-80, the season would continue to start on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (as it has since 2019).
The goal is to offer a compromise: honor tradition in the north, while maintaining expanded access for weekend hunters in the south.
Possible Pros & Cons
From the Hunter’s Perspective:
Potential Benefits of Saturday Opener:
- Easier for youth, working adults, and out-of-state hunters to participate.
- More flexibility for hunters with family obligations over the holiday weekend.
Potential Concerns:
- Shorter camp time for those who traditionally use the weekend to prepare.
- Family and holiday conflict leaving the hunter to choose between family or opening day in the woods.
- A Saturday starts means more hunters in the woods at the same time, which raises safety concerns and reduced chances of success.
- Confusion and unintentional violations for hunters crossing districts.
From the Local Business Perspective:
Potential Benefits of Saturday Opener:
- Increased weekend traffic from hunters traveling earlier.
- Boost to food, lodging, gear, fuel, and convenience stores over the Thanksgiving weekend.
- Opens up marketing opportunities by aligning special promotions, events, or sales with Thanksgiving and opening day.
Potential Concerns:
- Shorter prep time may reduce spending at camps and surrounding businesses before the opener.
- Traditional “Deer Camp Weekend” purchases (food, gear, firewood, etc.) may be compressed or skipped.
- With Saturday hunting, the extended shopping window is lost for items including food, firewood, gear, and other supplies.
- Hunters arriving later and leave sooner, resulting in less lodging, dining, and fuel throughout the week.
- Lost Monday business.
- Complicates statewide marketing for chains and organizations.
We Want to Hear From You!
Do you own or work for a business affected by hunting season? Are you a hunter with strong feelings about the opener?
We want to know:
- How has the Saturday opener impacted you or your business since 2019?
- What do you think of the proposed compromise in House Bill 1659?
Please share your input!
- Comment below,
- Send us a message,
- Or email: director@brookvillechamber.com
Your thoughts will help us better understand how this legislation could affect our area and assist in representing your voice in ongoing conversations.
