No limits on Sunday hunting proposed for Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking another look at making hunting a seven-day-a-week activity, when in season.

State Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, this week introduced Senate Bill 67 to fully repeal Pennsylvania’s prohibition on Sunday hunting. It builds on Act 107 of 2019 that permitted hunting on three Sundays.

A similar bill during the 2023-24 legislative session passed the Senate and the House Game and Fisheries Committee but did not garner final approval to be sent to Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Laughlin in a news release on his reintroduction of the measure Monday touted support for Sunday hunting from the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

“For eight years, I have fought to remove this outdated prohibition and expand opportunities for hunters,” Laughlin stated. “Through open dialogue and collaboration, we’ve built a consensus. I am pleased that the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau now fully supports this effort and is calling for its passage.”

According to Andy Bater, director of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau State Board and chairman of the bureau’s Wildlife and Fisheries Committee: “Delegates representing Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members voted to remove their opposition to Sunday hunting, contingent upon the implementation of significant statutory and regulatory changes addressing crop damage from wildlife and hunting management on farmland.”

According to the release from Laughlin’s office, Bater says this shift in policy “has fostered unprecedented collaborative efforts between Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and statewide hunting organizations.”

Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman, in the release, stated: “Pennsylvania Farm Bureau proudly supports Laughlin’s bill, a key piece of legislation developed in collaboration between wildlife groups and the agricultural community to improve wildlife management and address deer overpopulation.

“These measures will help farmers better control deer populations, protect their crops, and support the long-term sustainability of agriculture in our state.”

Senate leadership referred SB 67 to that chamber’s Game and Fisheries Committee. The committee had no upcoming meetings scheduled as of Tuesday.

Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman Travis Lau on Tuesday responded to an inquiry from lehighvalleylive.com on what a schedule of Sunday hunting may look like if the legislation becomes law, saying:

“We have long supported the agency having the ability to fully regulate Sunday hunting. Legislation is needed to accomplish that. If and when that happens, our Board of Commissioners would begin discussing new Sunday hunting opportunities.”

For many, Sunday is the only day open to hunting, according to Laughlin.

“I want to give the needed latitude to the Game Commission to increase hunting and trapping opportunities and rebuild interest in hunting, which will benefit all Pennsylvanians,” Laughlin stated. “This is about modernizing our laws, supporting conservation, and ensuring hunting remains a strong tradition for future generations.”