The Pennsylvania Game Commission held a meeting on January 25, 2025, focusing on the significant decline in hunting license sales and the demographic changes affecting the state's youth population. The meeting featured a presentation highlighting data from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which revealed alarming trends in the state's population dynamics over recent decades.

The speaker emphasized that Pennsylvania's youth population, aged 0 to 19, has decreased from a peak of over 4 million in 1970 to approximately 2.98 million in 2022, marking a loss of over 1.1 million residents in this age group. This decline correlates with a significant drop in hunting license sales, which fell from 1.3 million in 1982 to about 850,000 in 2023—a decrease of 35%. The speaker pointed out that the peak in hunting license sales occurred 12 years after the peak youth population, indicating a direct relationship between youth demographics and hunting participation.

Further analysis revealed that rural areas have experienced even steeper declines, with youth populations in rural counties down by 34.4%, compared to 22% in urban areas. Specific counties, such as Sullivan and Cameron, reported declines of 58% and 44%, respectively. The speaker noted that 55 out of 67 counties in Pennsylvania have seen a decrease in youth population, suggesting that fewer young people will inevitably lead to fewer hunting licenses sold.

Despite these challenges, the speaker acknowledged that recent changes in licensing opportunities from 2018 to 2023 have helped slow the decline in youth license sales. While there was a loss of 28,000 youth licenses from 2013 to 2018, the subsequent period saw a much smaller decrease of 4,634 licenses.

The meeting also addressed the aging population in rural Pennsylvania, with a reported 23% increase in seniors from 2010 to 2020, while youth numbers declined by 11%. Projections indicate that 176,000 more rural residents will reach age 65 by the end of 2028, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of hunting participation as the demographic shifts continue.

The speaker concluded by noting that neighboring states are experiencing similar trends, with declines in youth populations and hunting license sales. The meeting underscored the need for the Game Commission to adapt to these demographic changes to ensure the future of hunting in Pennsylvania. The discussions highlighted the importance of addressing these issues proactively to maintain engagement in hunting activities across the state.