In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation directing the Pennsylvania Game Commission to establish a Youth Antlered Deer Hunting Day(s) prior to the regular firearm season each year. This new opportunity may overlap with the existing youth antlerless season.
 
It is extremely important to encourage, educate, and involve our youth in Pennsylvania’s outdoor heritage—including hunting, trapping, and wildlife conservation. By designating a dedicated day or days for young hunters to pursue antlered deer early in the season, we can provide a unique and memorable introduction to hunting that fosters future generations of responsible sportsmen and women.
 
Benefits for Youth and Families
 
We all know how important it is to get our children outdoors. Studies show that time in nature reduces depression and stress, improves focus and overall well-being, and encourages healthy habits that last into adulthood. Children who learn to hunt, fish, and trap are far more likely to remain connected to the outdoors as adults, reaping lifelong mental and physical health benefits. These traditions offer structured, skill-building ways to get kids outside, moving, and learning respect for wildlife, habitat, and safety. Expanding the current youth programs to include an opportunity to harvest antlered deer prior to the regular season is a special but practical, high-impact step to encourage, educate, and involve youth in our outdoor heritage.  
 
Mentor and Junior Hunters
 
Pennsylvania currently has two pathways for young hunters:
         •        Mentored Youth Hunters (ages 7–12 and eligible 12–16 unlicensed hunters), and
         •        Junior (minor) Licensed Hunters (ages 12–16).
 
This bill would provide both groups with additional antlered opportunities and tags prior to the regular season. To be specific, each licensed mentored youth hunter and licensed junior hunter would be eligible for one tag to be used in the new Youth Antlered Season in addition to their existing tag during the regular season. 
 
Safety and firearm education
 
More mentored and youth-focused opportunities also increase safety instruction and supervised experience with firearms. Pennsylvania’s own data show hunting-related shooting incidents have declined by nearly 80% since hunter education began in 1959, a trend attributed to hunter-education and safe-practice culture.  
 
The Role of Mentors
 
Mentor hunting is the best way to pass down ethics, safety, and conservation values to the next generation. Giving mentors and young hunters this additional opportunity early in the season will help foster confidence, skill, and a lifelong respect for the outdoors.
 
Conservation and Deer Management
 
Our Commonwealth faces significant deer overpopulation challenges, resulting in crop damage, vehicle collisions, and property loss. Allowing our youth to have an extra chance at harvesting antlered deer contributes to sound wildlife management while also giving them a safe, supervised introduction to the responsibilities of hunting.
 
 
I invite you to join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to promote youth outdoor involvement, enhance firearm safety education, strengthen conservation, and benefit communities across Pennsylvania.