Pennsylvania Deer Rifle Season Moved To Saturday
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- For many, the first day of rifled deer season is like a right of passage that leads to a lifetime of enjoying hunting in the woods of Pennsylvania.
"I've been hunting since I was 12 years old, that's a lot of tradition," said Ted Smith. "I go up to camp, I can go out and scout and sight my gun in that Sunday before Monday."
Breaking with tradition, the state game commission voted by a 5-3 margin to move the first day of rifled deer season from the first Monday after Thanksgiving to the first Saturday after the holiday.
"You can get kids out there or more people because you opened it up," said Dave King of West Newton. "More power to it and there's plenty of deer out there."
King's statement summarizes the decision for move. The commission is hoping to get more young people hunting and thin out an already large whitetail deer population.
"Anything we can do to get people more active in the sport of hunting, male and female, gets them out in the woods I think it's a benefit to PA hunting," said Ian Breslin.
There is a large consensus among hunters that hunting should be allowed on Sundays in the state of Pennsylvania.
"I think it should be open all week," saud Dave King. "Why not? You can fish 7 day's a week. Fish don't take a break on Sunday."
There is currently a bill in the Senate appropriations committee that would allow hunting on Sundays.
"It's 2019, not 1919, it's time for change," King said.
