The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners is preparing for what could be one of the most significant changes to the state's hunting calendar in years. At their upcoming January meeting, commissioners will weigh two competing proposals that would fundamentally alter when thousands of hunters take to the woods each fall.
The meeting, scheduled for January 23-24, 2026, at the Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters in Harrisburg, will tackle a long-debated question: Should the firearms deer season open before Thanksgiving or stick with tradition?
Two Paths Forward
The Board has laid out two distinct options for consideration. The first proposal would shift the firearms deer season opener to the Saturday before Thanksgiving, marking a departure from decades of established practice. The second would maintain the current structure, keeping the opener on the Saturday following the holiday.
Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith explained the reasoning behind the potential shift. "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," Smith said. "Opening the season earlier could improve access for hunters and continues the Board's focus on structuring seasons in ways that maximize participation."
The proposal isn't just about moving a date on the calendar. If commissioners approve the earlier start, it would trigger a cascade of other adjustments throughout the hunting season. The firearms bear season would also move up by one week. Additionally, the early bear muzzleloader, archery, and special firearms season would be condensed from its current length down to a single weekend.
These changes reflect a broader effort by the Game Commission to address participation trends and accommodate the realities of modern hunting. Travel time, work schedules, and family obligations all factor into when people can actually get out into the field. By separating opening weekend from a major holiday, the proposal aims to remove one barrier that might keep hunters home.
Turkey Season Gets Sunday Consideration
Deer season isn't the only item on the agenda that could reshape Pennsylvania hunting. The Board will also consider allowing Sunday hunting during the 2027 spring gobbler season, a change that would add seven additional days of opportunity for turkey hunters throughout the spring.
However, this expansion comes with a tradeoff. To prevent potential overharvest that could result from the additional hunting days, the proposal recommends limiting the spring gobbler bag limit to just one bird. Under this plan, hunters would no longer have the option to purchase a second spring turkey tag for the 2027 season.
This balancing act reflects the careful wildlife management decisions that go into setting hunting regulations. More days in the field means more pressure on the game population, and adjusting bag limits is one tool commissioners use to maintain healthy wildlife numbers while expanding opportunity.
A Packed Agenda
While season dates and bag limits will draw the most attention from hunters across the state, the January meeting covers far more ground. The Board will review preliminary hunting seasons and bag limits for the entire 2026-27 license year, though final approval won't come until the April 11, 2026 meeting.
Other significant topics scheduled for discussion include changes to Pennsylvania's elk application process, ongoing Chronic Wasting Disease response efforts, updates to the Certified Hunter Program, and approved trapping methods. The Board will also consider regulations regarding fluorescent orange requirements on game lands for non-hunters during fall hunting seasons and potential changes to baiting rules in Special Regulation Areas.
The two-day meeting follows a specific format designed to balance public input with administrative business. Friday's session begins at 1 p.m. and features staff presentations on various wildlife management topics, including detailed looks at elk and turkey management along with other key agency initiatives. The public won't have an opportunity to comment on Friday.
Saturday morning is when hunters and other interested parties get their chance to speak. The session starts at 8:30 a.m., with public comment operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration opens at 7:45 a.m. in the headquarters lobby. Each speaker gets five minutes to address the Board, though PowerPoint presentations aren't permitted during the comment period.
After public input concludes, the Board moves into its regular agenda and new business items. The complete agenda is posted on the Game Commission's website under the "About Us" and "Public Meetings" sections for anyone wanting to review the full scope of topics in advance.
Getting Involved
For those interested in attending, the meeting takes place at Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters, located at 2001 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg. The building sits just off Exit 69 (Progress Avenue) of Interstate 81, making it accessible from most parts of the state.
Hunters who can't make the trip to Harrisburg still have options for following the proceedings. The Game Commission streams the entire meeting live on their YouTube channel, allowing anyone with an internet connection to watch the discussions and votes as they happen.
Executive Director Smith recently discussed the potential deer season change on an episode of the agency's podcast, Call of the Outdoors, giving hunters a preview of the reasoning and considerations behind the proposals.
What Comes Next
Regardless of which direction the Board takes on these proposals, the January meeting represents a preliminary step. The commissioners will review the options, hear public comment, and discuss the merits of each approach. Final seasons and bag limits for the 2026-27 license year are scheduled for adoption at the April meeting, giving hunters several months to prepare once decisions are made.
The proposals reflect ongoing efforts by the Game Commission to adapt hunting regulations to changing times while maintaining healthy wildlife populations. Whether it's adjusting season dates to accommodate family schedules, adding Sunday opportunities, or fine-tuning bag limits to balance harvest with conservation, each decision involves weighing multiple factors.
For Pennsylvania's hunting community, the January meeting could mark the beginning of significant changes to traditions that have shaped the fall hunting experience for generations. The question now is whether commissioners believe the time has come to write a new chapter in Pennsylvania hunting, or if the current structure still serves hunters best.
Anyone planning to attend the meeting or watch online will want to check the Game Commission's website for any last-minute updates or additional agenda items that might be added before the January 23 start date. With so much on the table, these two days in Harrisburg promise to be among the most consequential for Pennsylvania hunting in recent memory.
