A widely anticipated ban on the use of deer-hunting rifles in the Lehigh Valley may not happen as soon as expected, a Pennsylvania Game Commission official said Sunday.

A preliminary vote on the rifle ban — which would expand Southeastern Pennsylvania’s shotgun-only area to include virtually all of Lehigh and Northampton counties and a significant portion of Berks County — is scheduled for Tuesday.

But Commissioner Gregory Isabella of Philadelphia, whose district includes the Lehigh Valley, said sportsmen have raised a number of concerns that may require more consideration before the measure moves forward. Additional discussion could take place today during the commission’s work session.

‘‘Quite honestly, this was a culture shock to a lot of the hunters in that area,’‘ said Isabella, adding that he isn’t certain what changes, if any, will be made to the proposal. ‘‘We’re going to listen to what the staff reports here [today] and go from there.’‘
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