Two years after Sunday hunting was introduced into Pennsylvania, some hunters are still grappling with the necessity for those additional hunting days as fall hunting nears.

One thing is certain though — Sunday hunting will be underway this fall. The state Game Commission announced earlier this summer Sunday hunting will take place on Nov. 13, 20 and 27.

“Hunters in nearly every other state in the whitetails’ range are able to hunt on Sunday. Pa. is one of the last states to provide this opportunity to its hunters,” said Kip Adams, chief conservation officer and certified wildlife biologist with the National Deer Association.

He added, “The vast majority of our members are happy to hunt on those Sundays.”

Adams’ family has also embraced Sunday hunting.

“My nephews used to only hunt one or two Saturdays. Now, it almost doubles their time to hunt. They can’t take any time off from school because they are student athletes,” Adams said.

Cheryl Johnson, who is a mother and a hunter for over three decades, agreed with Adams.

“Kids don’t have to take school off and I love it because I don’t have to miss work. You can fill those tags and the freezer quicker,” she said.

Johnson noted that her grandmother is not as thrilled with Sunday hunting because it interrupts the family’s traditional Sunday dinners.

“That was the one day during hunting season that the family would get together,” Johnson said.

Sunday dinner isn’t the only tradition altered due to Sunday hunting.

“There is one Sunday a year that I wish they would leave alone, which is the weekend right after Thanksgiving. It ruins a lot of cabins,” said Heath Heller, a hunter since he was a child.

He added, “Everyone has their opinion and this is my opinion. I am in favor of Sunday hunting. Just not that one.”

For Jim Rupert, he can empathize with both sides of the debate. The lifelong hunter was sitting in his Waterville hunting cabin preparing for the upcoming season when he shared that he was 60% in favor of Sunday hunting and 40% against it.

Rupert said, “I can see what the game commission wants to do. They are trying to get younger people interested in the sport. Kids in school or younger people in the workforce don’t get time off.”

Rupert explained he is a traditionalist and enjoys having the extra time to prepare for the hunt by putting up deer stands and clearing trails. He does concede though that since he is a retiree, he can do that any time now.

For Heller, he is concerned about the impact Sunday hunts have on local businesses. He cites one volunteer fire company that had a Sunday breakfast for 35 years. They ceased the tradition, which was crucial to raise needed funding.

“There are country restaurants and bars that rely on that economic boost and fire companies that hold big Sunday breakfasts. And now they don’t do it because everyone is in the field. It has an economic toll on local businesses,” Heller said.

State Rep. Jeff Wheeland (R-Williamsport) is also concerned about the economic impact but was specific about that impact from the Saturday deer season opener.

“I don’t know if it hurts businesses. I have nothing to verify that,” he said and added that he would like to see an economic impact study executed by the state Game Commission.

One clear economic benefit is the added opportunity to bag dinner. With food prices on the rise and more consumers who eat clean, venison helps with meal planning for now and later.

Johnson said, “We need enough to make jerky, bologna, steaks, roasts, and we can do it because we have a big family.”

As a hunter, hiker and politician, Wheeland clearly understands the conflict hunters and others have with Sunday hunting. For instance, hikers, bikers and runners have traditionally wanted that Sunday for themselves.

“It’s easier to vote with the majority of what your constituents want. People you thought would be for it were against it. In its original form, they were talking about every Sunday and people objected to that more so than the limited number of Sundays. That cinched it for me. So, I voted for it,” Wheeland said.

What seemed to raise hunters’ ire more was the Saturday opener of deer season.

“It seems we struck a balance that satisfied almost everybody. I got more objections about changing the opening day of antlered deer season because of tradition than hunting on Sundays,” Wheeland said, who added he will not propose any legislation to change Sunday hunting.

Adams believes the controversy with Sunday hunting may die down soon.

“As soon as you hunt for a year with those regulations, there is less reaction. As soon as you get a few years in, there is less discussion and it becomes part of the tradition,” he said.

And we might be hitting that tipping point soon.

“It’s one more day to create memories,” Johnson said.