The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s decision to move the opening day of firearms deer season to Saturday has resulted in increased hunting license sales and positive economic impacts after five years of implementation. Data indicates a notable stabilization in hunting license sales, which had seen a decline of over 25,000 each year prior to the change; now, sales have held steady with a recorded 71% support for the Saturday opener among adult hunters surveyed.
Despite initial concerns from camp owners about the transition affecting local businesses, reports show that tourism and local economies in the Northern Tier have thrived since the change, with record highs in 2019 and 2022 post-pandemic. This shift not only encourages more hunters, including youth and female participants, to engage in the sport but also enables families to create lasting memories, as highlighted by a personal story of a young hunter successful on the new opener day.
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