Regarding the letter “Time to move deer hunting opener back to Monday” (March 19, TribLIVE): Twenty or 30 years ago I might have agreed with you. Back then, there were still a lot of hunters traveling north to hunt. We have a family hunting camp in Potter County, and we have watched hunting decline since the introduction of concurrent buck and doe seasons and antler restrictions. This was well before the move to a Saturday opener.
Why not introduce a bill to move Thanksgiving? We could move it to August — there are no holidays in August, and the weather is more suitable to travel. Then November would be free for a Saturday opener, with no holidays in the way. Or you could make the most of it and get creative. Have turkey dinner at camp if Thanksgiving means that much to you.
I was against the antler restrictions, but we had that forced down our throats. I am against concurrent buck and doe season and again, forced on us. Religious people are against Sunday hunting, and I’m sure they feel as though it was forced on them.
A Saturday opener helps hunters who have to miss opening day because of work. I was disciplined enough to save vacation for buck season.
Why not just let it be? You are not going to recapture the magic of buck camp; there ain’t enough hunters anymore. If you’ve hunted since the first day was moved, then you adapted, and a few years from now it will be a tradition.
Thomas Wian
Hempfield