LETTER TO PGC COMMISSIONERS - SUNDAYS TO SEASONS IN VIRGINIA ARE BENEFICIAL - NAYSAYER CONCERNS NOT REALIZED

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

         Dear Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners,

Please find attached a letter I was provided some time ago regarding the impact of adding Sundays to hunting seasons.  I thought this would be good information for all of you to have in preparation for your upcoming meetings as you look at how/when to implement Sunday hunting here in Pennsylvania.  Please feel free to share as you feel appropriate.

 

I've taken the liberty of highlighting what I felt were the important comments contained in the letter, which was sent from Executive Director Bob Duncan of the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation in 2016.  This was written after the Virginia Sunday hunting inclusion had been in place for about 2 years.

 

Executive Director Duncan stated the following:

 

Virginia elected to largely leave hunting seasons in place as they had existed previously.  They also elected to not change bag limits.

 

Sunday hunting had no detrimental impact upon their deer herd.  And he went on to write that average deer harvests for Sundays more closely approximated the averages for weekdays and far less than Saturdays.  He details that archery and muzzle loader Sundays realized about 50% of a Saturday harvest.  And the Sunday harvest in rifle season in Virginia was roughly 20% of a typical Saturday.

 

He also stated that turkey harvests on Sunday approximated weekday averages.

 

Also included in his comments are Virginia's findings regarding law enforcement activity.  Many had/have concerns about the undue burden Sunday hunting opportunity might have on law enforcement.  In Virginia, those fears were not realized.  Hunting related calls to law enforcement dispatch on Sundays were similar to an average weekday, and in fact only increased modestly from the amount of calls that were received on Sundays prior to the change.  Hunting related arrests trended similarly as well.

 

He closed by stating "In Sum, I can say that Virginia's experience so far with Sunday hunting is that of additional opportunities for sportsmen and women in the field without unacceptable impacts upon our wildlife resources, notable increases in citizen complaints, or other serious law enforcement concerns."

 

I would like to close by saying thank you to each of you for your sacrifice and dedication to conservation.  The efforts each of you put into your position as a PGC Commissioner are appreciated by so many of us Pennsylvania hunters.  Thank you!

 

Kindest Regards,

 

Harold Daub

HUSH Legislative/PGC Advisor

PA SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITIVE BLUE LAW WILL END WITH GOVERNOR SHAPIRO'S SIGNATURE

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting Applauds Passage of House Bill 1431 by Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting (HUSH) commends the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for passing House Bill 1431, introduced by Representative Mandy Steele (D–Allegheny County), by a concurrence vote of 142 YEA to 61 NAY. The bill now moves to Governor Josh Shapiro for his signature.

Upon the Governor’s approval, HB 1431 will repeal the outdated “blue law” that has prohibited hunting on Sundays for over three centuries. The legislation grants the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) full regulatory authority to manage hunting seasons and bag limits seven days a week, consistent with the Commonwealth’s commitment to science-based, resource-first wildlife management under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

"This bill puts wildlife management back where it belongs in the hands of the trained professionals at the Pennsylvania Game Commission," said Kevin B. Askew, Executive Director of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting. "The PGC's mission is clear: to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations."

A New Era for Pennsylvania Hunting

The PGC, with its team of biologists and wildlife managers, oversees all 480 species of wildlife in Pennsylvania, serving both consumptive (hunters and trappers) and non-consumptive (birdwatchers, hikers, photographers) users. While the 2025–2026 hunting seasons and bag limits have already been set, the new law will allow Sunday hunting to be implemented in full beginning with the 2026–2027 season.

“This marks the end of a 343-year-old restriction and concludes a 50-year fight to modernize Pennsylvania’s hunting laws,” Askew continued. “Governor Shapiro’s signature will not only keep Pennsylvania aligned with modern wildlife management standards, it will also bolster the outdoor recreation economy.”

Recognizing Legislative Champions

Askew emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in passing HB1431:

“Much work has been done to get to this point. As one of the lead organizations on this issue, we would be remiss not to acknowledge those who made it possible. Without Representative Mandy Steele’s tenacity and her willingness to work across the aisle with Senator Dan Laughlin, who helped break the Sunday hunting barrier with Act 107 of 2019, this legislation may never have reached the Governor’s desk.”

Respecting Choice and Access

Askew concluded with a reminder that expanding access does not mandate participation:

“There has been nothing lost by offering hunting on both Saturdays and Sundays. As with any other activity in life, if you don’t want to take part, you don’t have to, regardless of the day of the week.”

About Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting (HUSH) is a leading advocacy organization committed to promoting equitable hunting access and sound wildlife management policy in Pennsylvania. For nearly a decade, HUSH has been a driving force behind the movement to repeal the Sunday hunting ban and expand outdoor opportunities for all residents of the Commonwealth.

18 YEA's REPEALING SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITION IN PENNSYLVANIA - HB1431 PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE.

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/DISTRIBUTION 

YEA VOTE FOR REPEALING SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITION IN PENNSYLVANIA - HB1431 BY PA HOUSE GAME AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE. 

  

The Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee on June 3, 2025, advanced PA House Bill 1431, Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania, with a vote of 18YEA, 8NAY.

The vote was consistent with the Democratic majority voting favorably, along with four Republican minority members supporting.  

View the PA House Game and Fisheries Committee meeting and voting here. The advancement of this legislation is important in helping hunters and farmers.  Over the past years, hunter-conservation identified their number one issue as removing the prohibitive blue law restricting hunting on Sunday.  Agriculture identified its number one issue as being economic, locally and as a whole, through losses associated with crop damage.  

HB1431:

• Removes the blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday and provides the Pennsylvania Game Commission with full regulatory authority to set seasons and bag limits seven days a week. 

• Provides for a member of the Board of Pennsylvania Game Commissioners who represents the interest of agricultural commodities that pertain to normal agricultural operations and wildlife. That applicant will now have to meet the criteria of being knowledgeable in the area of wildlife management as well as actively engaged in a normal agricultural operation as defined in the Right-to-Farm Law.

• Directs the labeling of natural deer urine for the use of hunting.  The urine must have adequate labeling and testing to ensure they are free of Chronic Wasting Disease. 

• Guides the reporting of harvested animals for crop damage. 

• Strengthens private property trespass rules. 

Statement from Kevin Askew, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting:

“ Hunter-citizens of Pennsylvania have been asking for an update to the blue law for over 50 years.  I would like to thank legislators for demonstrating their trust in the Pennsylvania Game Commission to do as they are charged and manage PA’s wildlife resources for generations now and future.  Your ongoing courage to change and remove the archaic blue law that prohibits hunting on Sundays will have a lasting effect for current and future hunters.”

“I want to also recognize the efforts of our partnerships with Hunter Nation-PA, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Representative Mandy Steele (D), Allegheny Co.  Without legislative cooperation, we would not be at the point of ending the 343-year-old blue law and the 50-year benign seven-day-a-week hunting issue.”   

HB1431 will now move to the Pennsylvania House for a full floor vote.  

For more information about this topic, please contact Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Executive Director Kevin Askew at 717-350-6741 or email at huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com.  View our Blog - https://huntersforsundayhunting.blogspot.com/ 

HUSH Mission Statement - Remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law through education, and influence legislatures to change the law accordingly.

###

  

NO SUBSTANCE, NO VALUE, NO PURPOSE. SAY NO TO THE 16 AMENDMENTS FOR THE STEELE DEAL

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

Correspondence For:

Rep. Joanna E. McClinton

Rep. Matthew D. Bradford

Rep. Dan L. Miller

Rep. Bryan Cutler

Rep. Timothy J. O'Neal

My name is Kevin Askew, I am the executive director of Hunters United for

Sunday Hunting, the lead organization working to end the archaic blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday.  I am addressing you as the decision makers and leadership team for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  First, I recognize the tough and stressful task you all have in navigating, deciding, and tabling quality legislation for a vote.  It has to be a daunting duty.  This brings me to the subject at hand The Steele Deal of HB2106, HB2107, HB2108, and the 16 irrelevant and ridiculous amendments that have been introduced for consideration and inclusion.  These amendments have no substance or value and serve no purpose being added to The Steele Deal.  They just don’t.

This has been a nearly 53-year process getting to this current position and point of removing the blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday bringing PA into the 21st Century societal standards.  Rep. Mandy Steele has done a tremendous job, one that could not be done in all those years of bringing all the stakeholders of hunter-conservation, agriculture, Pennsylvania Game Commission, law enforcement, and legislators to the bargaining table with the common goal of penning a fair deal for all, The Steele Deal. 

Take a moment and put all the politics and emotions aside.  Simply and frankly The Steele Deal provides everything needed not everything wanted.  HB2106 removes the archaic blue law deemed unenforceable in 1976 by the PA Supreme Court.  HB2106 also strengthens trespass laws something that agriculture and hunter-conservation have both wanted. HB2107 provides a tool that will connect hunters and agriculture to assist with the crop damage issues being experienced throughout the commonwealth by farmers. HB2108 is a hunter-conservation and agriculture mission multiplier when viewed and interpreted correctly.  It quantifies and qualifies what has existed for at least a decade on the PGC commissioner board as an agriculturist. That applicant will now have to meet the criteria of being knowledgeable in the area of wildlife management as well as actively engaged in a normal agricultural operation as defined in the Right-to-Farm Law. 

This legislation is not about Rep. Mandy Steele and what she wants.  It’s not about politically punishing or controlling the PGC.  It’s not about any individual politician's idealogy. It’s not about one political party versus another.  It’s not about your personal feelings as a leader.  What The Steele Deal is all about is doing the right thing and ending this 53-year benign fight to remove the blue law while benefiting agriculture and updating the long-needed trespass laws.   This is about allowing free people to be free people as stated in the PA Constitution  “All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.”

French philosopher and author Jean-Paul Sarte wrote “Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” I implore you as leaders to do the right thing. Do not molest The Steele Deal with any of the 16 irrelevant amendments.  They are of no value and do no good for the quality piece of legislation presented by Rep. Mandy Steele and sponsors. All stakeholders have worked on and agreed to The Steele Deal.  Do not allow those who are not rowing the boat to only rock it.

You as leaders are on the cusp of history.  It is time to end the stupidity and get this done.  Five decades is long enough.  Don’t be the leaders that make it six decades.

Thank you for your time.  Please do not hesitate to contact me for further

discussion on this issue.  

///Kevin B. Askew///

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Reference: 

The outdoor industry [including hunting/shooting/trapping] added more value to

our commonwealth’s gross domestic product than all of Pennsylvania’s farms,

all of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas wells, and even all of Pennsylvania’s lawyers. 

2021 Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce.

PA House Bill 2106 

PA House Bill 2107

PA House Bill 2108

Steele Deal 16 Amendments

Pennsylvania Constitution

Misc:

Western Pennsylvania farmers support Sunday deer hunting legislation

Hunters Celebrate More Than 25 Percent Surge Over Past Five Years