For Mike Shipley, the Monday after Thanksgiving was a holiday tradition that died in 2019.
That was the year the Pennsylvania Game Commission shifted its hunting schedule to start two days earlier, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, ending a decadeslong ritual of hunters heading into the woods the first Monday after the holiday.
Now, commission members are considering another change: moving the start of deer rifle season up by a full week, with a start date pitched for the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
“To me, they’ve already ruined the tradition,” said Shipley, 56, of North Huntingdon. “At this point, what difference does it make if it’s one Saturday earlier?”
Proposed changes
During two days of meetings in Harrisburg that begin Friday, commission members will take preliminary votes on two proposals: one that would enact the earlier start for deer hunting and another that would maintain the status quo. Final votes are scheduled for April.
“This change would give hunters an earlier start and provide more opportunities for families, young hunters and those who travel longer distances to enjoy opening weekend without competing with the Thanksgiving holiday,” Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said.
Smith noted the shift would also require moving the start of bear season one week earlier and shortening the early bear muzzleloader, archery and special firearms seasons to a single weekend. He suggested the move could increase the deer harvest and allow more students to get into the woods while they are off school.
“This is about how we manage wildlife and do what we need to do because we need more hunters,” Smith said.
Economic impact
The shift in the hunting calendar has created ripples far beyond the woods, reaching the storefronts of local retailers.
Nathan Carey, who has owned Bullseye Firearms Gun Vault in New Alexandria for 16 years, noted that moving the opening day was a significant blow to sales typically seen on the day after Thanksgiving.
“Black Friday is a huge gun sales day. They crushed it,” Carey said, referring to the Game Commission’s decision to move the opener. He added that the impact wasn’t limited to firearm sales, noting that “mom-and-pop” stores — which rely on hunters stocking up on supplies before heading to their cabins — were hurt as well.
Carey mentioned he is closely watching to see if the commission will maintain the current two-week season or extend it by starting a week earlier. He also noted that many of his customers remain opposed to changing the date again.
In Kiski Township, Debbie Schultz, owner of Schultz’s Sportsmen’s Shop, said she’s skeptical that shifting opening day will draw more young people to the sport.
She said she’s noticed the steady decline in license sales at her own store over the past several years. Among the licenses she does sell, she said about as many go to young people as seniors.
Moving the date of opening day, however, won’t solve the core issue of getting more young people in the woods, she said.
“(The Game Commission) is trying to make the best decision for the majority and, of course, financially for themselves, but I think there’s going to be some bumps in the road to get to the place where they want to go,” she said.
Still, she said, something has to be done to engage younger outdoorsmen.
But Schultz said the commission will find the best solutions by engaging with the public in forums such as town halls.
Skepticism over ‘shifting’ vs. ‘extending’
Several hunters expressed doubt that simply moving the date would provide any real benefit if the total number of hunting days remains the same.
John Varnise, 40, of Jeannette suggested the proposal likely won’t have much impact.
“I don’t have a problem with it, but it would be cool if it extends the season an extra week. If it’s just shifting it, what difference would it make?” Varnise said.
Robert Capouellez, 40, of Penn Township suggested the change could eventually provide a pathway to extending the season in the future. He believes that, as it stands, a move that only pushes the kickoff earlier offers little advantage.
“If you’re not extending it, there’s no reason to do it,” Capouellez said.
Loss of cabin traditions
For many, the Monday after Thanksgiving was more than just a start date — it was a social cornerstone.
Shipley explained that the traditional Monday start meant a full weekend at a hunting cabin with friends to gather, watch football and prepare for the excursion. This ritual became much more difficult to maintain once the start was moved to the Saturday immediately after the holiday.
“I guess opening on a Saturday gives people who can’t get off work on Monday a chance, but it’s a tradition that needs to be kept,” Shipley said.
Lifelong hunter Jeff Dull, 29, of West Newton agreed that the most significant impact occurred when the commission first moved the date away from that Monday.
“A lot of people were mad,” Dull said. However, he noted that for his own personal routine, the proposed changes wouldn’t affect his vacation days because he hunts in local areas.
Dull plans to introduce his 6-year-old son, Liam, to hunting one day.
It’s a goal that resonates with Shipley, who is willing to put aside his own frustrations for the next generation.
“If they try it and it benefits the youth, I’m all for it,” Shipley said.