Smith Pushes Back Against PGC Proposals Regarding Deer Hunting Opener

January 20, 2026

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Brian Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana) issued this statement following news that the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) will consider a proposal to move opening day of the firearms deer season to the Saturday before Thanksgiving:

“I fully support the Game Commission changing the start of deer season, but this proposal moves it in the wrong direction.

“The Game Commission already made a huge mistake moving the opener from the Monday after Thanksgiving to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Now, they’re making the problem even worse.

“The Monday opener was a well-loved tradition. Hunters could spend time with family and friends during the Thanksgiving holiday, support small businesses on Small Business Saturday and still have time to get to deer camp in time for the opener. The move to Saturday meant hunters would be in the woods on Small Business Saturday, rather than supporting local shops. Family time was cut short because the evening of Thanksgiving had to be spent preparing to leave for camp.

“The Game Commission claims the change to push the opener to before Thanksgiving would allow hunters to ‘enjoy opening weekend without competing with the Thanksgiving holiday.’ That’s true, but it would still force hunters to choose between hunting and family time during the holiday. In addition, the earlier deer season would start a domino effect on bear hunting. The firearms bear season would shift one week earlier, while the early bear muzzleloader, archery and special firearms seasons would decrease to a single weekend.

“The Game Commission is once again forcing hunters to choose between family time and time in the woods. I support a move of the current deer season opener, but it should be a move back to the Monday after Thanksgiving, where it belongs.”

Representative Brian Smith
66th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
www.RepSmith.com/Facebook.com/RepBrianSmith