Restoring Pennsylvania’s Traditional Monday Rifle Opener
Protecting Tradition and Supporting Local Economies
For more than 50 years, the first Monday after Thanksgiving served as the traditional opening day of statewide firearms deer season, drawing families, friends and sportsmen from every corner of the state into our forests and towns.
But that tradition was upended in 2019 when the Pennsylvania Game Commission moved the opener to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a decision that has had unintended and harmful consequences for local economies.
That’s why I’ve introduced Senate Bill 1244 to restore the traditional opening day and revitalize the economic engine that this annual event once provided.
WHY SENATE BILL 1244?
Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season brings millions of dollars into local economies each year. Many businesses have shared with me that the traditional Monday opener created several days of sustained customer activity that helped support their annual revenue.
The opening day of rifle season has long been one of the busiest weekends of the year for small businesses like:
- Hotels and Motels
- Restaurants and Diners
- Bars and Taverns
- Sporting Goods Retailers
- Convenience Stores and Gas Stations
- Local Outfitters
Moving the opener to Saturday spread activity differently and reduced many of the long-standing economic benefits that communities had relied upon for decades.
With hunters heading into the woods earlier and having less time after the holiday to prepare, there are fewer overnight stays, fewer meals eaten in local restaurants and less participation in community fundraisers that relied on traditional timing.
One volunteer fire company in my own district saw turnout at its annual fundraiser plummet from hundreds to just a few dozen last year.
WHAT SENATE BILL 1244 DOES NOT DO
Let me be clear: Senate Bill 1244 is not about wildlife management or interfering with the Game Commission’s authority to regulate deer populations.
The Game Commission plays a critical role in managing our wildlife resources, and nothing in this proposal changes that. This effort is focused solely on the economic impact in communities like those in my district that rely on the traditional structure of rifle season.
WHAT’S THE STATUS?
Senate Bill 1244 was introduced on March 23, 2026, and continues to receive strong support from hunters and sportsmen across the Commonwealth.
Unfortunately, progress has been slowed due to continued opposition from the Game Commission and resistance from a few legislators.
Despite widespread support among many hunters, local businesses and a bipartisan group of legislators, this opposition has prevented the bill from advancing as quickly as supporters would like.
SO, NOW WHAT?
Stay engaged. Contact your senators and representatives, tell them why it’s important to you to see the opening day of rifle season restored to the Monday after Thanksgiving and ask them to support Senate Bill 1244.
You can find and contact them directly on the General Assembly’s ‘Find my Legislator’ webpage.
OR you can easily fill out this form on my website voicing your support, and I will personally pass your message along.
Your voice has helped keep this issue alive, and continued support will be critical as we work to move Senate Bill 1244 forward. Keep talking about it, keep sharing your story, and together we can restore a tradition that has served Pennsylvania well for generations.
NEWS
March 23, 2026 – Yaw, Boscola Push to Restore Pennsylvania’s Traditional Rifle Season Opener, Citing Harm to Rural Communities
February 13, 2026 – Yaw, Boscola Propose Restoring Traditional Opening Day of Rifle Season
OP-ED
March 5, 2026 – Protect Pennsylvania’s Hunting Economy