Times Observer file photo The Pennsylvania Game Commission has released a study showing broad support for the movement of the opener of firearms deer season from Monday to the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The decision to move the start of firearms deer season from the Monday to the Saturday after Thanksgiving was not without its detractors.

But recently polling by the Pennsylvania Game Commission indicates that 60 percent support the change and only 27 oppose. Twelve percent had no preference.

Firearms deer season for decades began on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The shift to Saturday is now three years old.

According to the PGC, the change was “welcomed warmly by hunters who otherwise would have missed the opener due to work or school obligations, but now could participate. Others — especially if they travel to camp to hunt — said they liked the traditional Monday start better.”

The study adds some data to the debate. The PGC commissioned the study that required a hunter to have hunted at least once under the Saturday and Monday openers.A total of 2,009 hunters were surveyed and the results come with a 95 percent level of confidence.

Some conclusions from the report were that the Saturday opener was more popular among hunters 54 and younger as well as for those hunters who have children that hunt.

“The top reasons cited by hunters who support a Saturday opener are that they have work obligations on Monday, that a Saturday opener provides increased hunting opportunities for themselves and others, and convenience with their child’s school schedule,” a PGC statement explained. “Conversely, opposition to the Saturday opener is higher among hunters 55 and older, and among those who hunted from a hunting camp on opening day, compared to those who did not.”

The most common opposition was rooted in tradition and the fact that “their set up and enjoyment of hunting camp was rushed with the earlier start date.”

“One fact that has never been in question is that Pennsylvania hunters are passionate about deer hunting,” PGC Executive Director Bryan Burhans said. “And over the past three years we have heard from numerous hunters expressing good points on both sides of this issue, therefore it was necessary to conduct an independent, scientific survey to allow the board to know where hunters stand after three years of a Saturday opener.

“Without hard data, it would be impossible to know the degree to which hunters might support or oppose the change. With this survey, that question now has been answered.”

The PGC said that license sales increased in 2019-20 “a year when most states experienced decreased sales.” An increase was also seen in the 2020-21 season.

However, the PGC noted that “the shift to a Saturday opener didn’t impact deer hunting for most,” citing the survey that showed 62 percent of hunters said the change did not alter their hunting.

The Game Commission had undertaken an internal study looking specifically at those who had not purchased a license for a year or more and did buy in 2020. That report found 53 percent of hunters agreed to hunt again in 2020 because of the change.