Monday, June 30, 2025

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

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741


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Upon the Governor’s approval, HB 1431 will repeal the outdated “blue law” that has prohibited hunting on Sundays for over three centuries.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.


Tuesday, June 3, 2025

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

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741
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.



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