Dear Tim Murphy,
I'm aware that the Monday opener didn't start until 1963. I'd say the rural economy survived on agriculture and logging, the same as it is today.
But even way back when hunters would supplement local economies. Down state hunters would rent rooms from the locals up north. I remember my great-grandfather talking of driving to Potter County in the 1940's or 30's and renting a room. Even as far back as just after the War between the States people would ride the trains from the cities and rent rooms from the locals to hunt. One example that comes to mind is a group from Lancaster would ride the train to McVeytown and rent off a farmer who's land is now part of the Tuscarora State Forest. That Lancaster group then started the oldest deer camp on the state forest.