My name is Rebecca Latini. I am a 26-year-old female born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We have a hunting camp in the mountains of Benezette, PA also known as “Elk County”. That camp has been in our family since 1969. I am reaching out to you trying to spread awareness for a very unfortunate situation happening in Pennsylvania regarding our opening day.
I am just asking for you to read, and if you feel comfortable, provide your opinion.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has failed many hunters in the state of PA. The biggest and perhaps most controversial issue that has divided hunters in the entire state was the change of the opening day of rifle season.
For over 60+ years, the opening day has always been on a Monday. It was about comradery, tradition, and the memories made. My dad always says “it has very little to do with the kill.
It is about the memories made and the moments to look back on”. We would arrive at our camp on a Friday, making sure we would stop and support the local businesses, especially the local mom & pop shops, taverns, grocery stores, and restaurants. We provided a ton of business and the opening weekend was what brought a large majority of their money for the year.
We would spend Saturday hanging stands, scouting the land, and making sure we were “shooting straight.” On Sundays, we would enjoy a large dinner, and spend the evening with fellow hunters, neighbors, and friends, rekindling old memories of years past, telling hunting stories, and anticipating Monday, like a child on Christmas Eve.
This was where as youth hunters, we learned from our elders and spent so much time together. It was a way of life.
In 2019, The Pennsylvania Game Commission decided to change the opening day to the Saturday after Thanksgiving for “more opportunity.” This, in return, meant everyone had to rush from their holiday with family, to get to camp and frantically get ready.
A local gun shop in Clearfield County, PA has suffered a DRASTIC loss in sales in the last 4 years. No one has time to stop in any restaurants, or grocery stores and many establishments closed their doors.
It caused an economic decline in the state for these small businesses not to mention they were hit with COVID-19 starting that same year.
I traveled 3-1/2 hours to Harrisburg, PA on Saturday, January 28th, 2023 to show support for bringing back the Monday opener. What happened in that meeting was appalling. I saw men, well into their mid-80s with tears in their eyes, crying and pleading for tradition back as commissioners yawned, texted, and sat stone-faced with 0 expressions or empathy. Their reasoning for changing the date of the opening day was for “more opportunities” and an “increase in license sales.”
I am trying to reach out to conservationists, far and wide to please understand, we need as much support as we can get. We are making our way to the legislature to try and spread our word. I would be grateful for any reply, whether it is for or against my views. I am able to respect everyone’s feelings, but if I can reach one person and get fellow hunters to see what is happening in the state of Pennsylvania, I will feel that I am doing my part in the fight to bring back tradition!
Attached below my signature are 2 articles to help you understand this situation much better!
Thank you for taking the time to read this email, and I hope to be in touch!
Respectfully,
Rebecca Latini
BeccaLatini917@gmail.com
(412) 297-1936