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.
The move to Saturday has completely ruined our camp tradition. I’m a member of 2 camps we used to have dozens at each camp with the Monday opener and now it’s down to maybe 4 at each camp. Me personally the decisions the game commission has made the last 10 years has made me quit hunting all together. I used to be a very avid hunter from the first day of dove and goose season and archery to the last day of muzzleloader in 2’ of snow. Last year and now this year I have not hunted or gotten a hunting license. If the return to Monday comes back I will again return to hunting no doubt.
On the issue of 2 openers I’m sorry but that may be dumber and more dangerous than one Saturday opener. You’ll have a lot of people congregating in a smaller area to try and capitalize on 2 openers. I saw this and even took advantage of it when they did the 2 openers for trout fishing. We traveled and took advantage of both trout openers.
Bottom line. Move it back to Monday across the state. It will benefit more people in the long run including the business and the economy across the state.
Totally stupid idea. Solution is simple, start Monday and have continuous season. Same days and businesses get the weekend back. Don’t dance around, the solution is easy.
Definitely needs to go back to Monday north of 80, I have despised having to rush out of Thanksgiving to get to camp. The Holidays and deer season should not feel like a black Friday scramble!
Just leave it state wide opening on Monday
split starting dates is not a good idea (dumb) fish commission tried it and stopped it! Monday start is what is needed it’s that simple my family has a camp in Mckean county hunted and fished there my entire life i am 64 years young the impact on the local economy is plain to see and time spent with friends and family preparing for the hunt was priceless ! PS even if we go days of seeing no deer in the ANF just can’t keep killing more and more does just don’t under stand GC thinking
Return to Monday statewide. Going to Saturday is destroying hunting traditions and greatly impacts local businesses in a negative way. Never should have changed in the first place
Go back to Monday, you are killing the camp tradition and losing new hunters. Kids get involved when it’s Monday opener more at camp and enjoy coming back, now, kids don’t want to even go! Businesses have been hurt. Why did our poorly run government even mess with this!
Move it back to Monday statewide! Nearly every hunter I discuss the issue with wants the Opener returned to Monday. The economical impact hurt small businesses and non-profits across the Commonwealth with the Saturday start. Business owners need to talk to their state legislators and bring back the Monday Opener
RETURN MONDAY OPENER . There’s a group that’s been working on that for a while … Join it for strength in numbers.