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Upon the Governor’s approval, HB 1431 will repeal the outdated “blue law” that has prohibited hunting on Sundays for over three centuries.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

LETTER TO PA LEGISLATORS - I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER 20 YEARS

 Submitted by Randy Stevens

Had a great couple of days hunting with the kids, Derrick Stevens Lyndsey Marie, and Brett Rote. It's been 20 years since Derrick, Lyndsey, and I spent time together hunting in Penns Woods.

Thanks for rekindling memories of the past and look forward to more time with you hunting in 

Penns Woods.

Thank you to the legislature for the passage of Senate Bill 147 but now it is time to pass Senate Bill 607. It just so happened that one of my kids, my son, only has off two weekends a month and if the opening weekend for whitetail here in Pennsylvania would not have opened when it did and he would've had to work, the opportunity for me to hunt with my son would've never happened.

I do not want to have to wait another 20 years of my life to have the ability to hunt with my kids and extended family members. It is time to get rid of this archaic blue law that prohibits hunting on Sunday with just a few exemptions in Pennsylvania.  It’s time to stop placating to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and start listening to hunters on this issue.  It is time for the legislature to pass Senate Bill 607 and let the Pennsylvania Game Commission manage all of the 480 wildlife species here in Pennsylvania seven days a week every week of the year.

The opening weekend of whitetail deer rifle season was the best weekend for me in the last 20 years. Without the season opener on a Saturday and the ability to hunt on Sunday, I would not have been able to hunt with two of my kids. One is a schoolteacher and the other one only has off work two weekends a month. The corporate and labor workplace schedules are not commonplace Monday through Friday schedules in today's world.

If the opener for whitetail still would've been on Monday two of my kids and my son-in-law would not have had the opportunity to hunt together.  It just so happened that the opening day and the one Sunday of rifle season fell on my son’s scheduled weekend off.  I also had the ability to hunt with my son-in-law who is an electrician and very rarely does he have the ability to get off work because of his company's scheduled jobs.

Needless to say, I myself am self-employed and am an Allied health provider so it is very difficult for me to get off work. I used to have to take off work to hunt on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, which would mean three days of not seeing patients and creating more of a backlog where my patients would have to wait.  But this year because of me being able to go back to work on Tuesday I only had to take off one day of not scheduling patients.

It is difficult for guys like me to understand what the problem is with passing a simple law like SB607.  We live in a society that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week conducting and participating in everything from politics to mail service.  But for some reason having the ability and opportunity to hunt on Sunday is something that you as the legislature believe you must control.  I and many others just don’t get it.  It is time to move SB607 and get it passed into law for guys like me and the many others out there.

Randy Stevens

Find your legislator here

NO DAMPER ON ENJOYMENT OF OUTDOORS

Submitted, not printed in response to: York Dispatch, May 31, 2019 OP-ED: Sunday hunting wouldn't be the economic boon proponents suggest

Mr. Wayne Campbell, Pennsylvania State Grange,

Thank you for the economic information involving outdoor activities nationwide.  These statistics are extremely telling of how all users of the outdoors interact through the money they spend on the sport they enjoy.  There is a definite financial benefit that can’t be denied. All across the nation, in all 50 states, people are enjoying their time outside.   If they weren’t they would not be spending this type of money. 

It is refreshing to see and know that boaters, fishermen, fisherwomen, campers, hikers, bikers, hunters, wildlife watchers, outdoor outfitters, the trail sports of motorcyclists, ATV riders, horseback riders, and all others are all coexisting all days of the week in the pursuit of what they enjoy and spending money doing it.  This for some reason is something that people do not understand. 

But, these verifiable economic figures proves just that. There is no damper on the enjoyment of the outdoors.  Regardless of the activity people are willingly spending money and are taking to the outdoors without fear, concern or regard to what others are doing while sharing the great resource of nature our country provides. 

Thanks for making these figures available and clearing showing the $30.8 billion seven day-a-week monetary benefit of everyone recreating as they wish.  One can only hope that the Pa. Legislature will fast track lifting the Sunday hunting blue law with the national financial information provided by the Pennsylvania State Grange all the while knowing that 47 other states don’t discriminate when it comes to outdoor users.

Again, thanks Wayne Campbell and Pa. State Grange for your contribution in this effort to get this archaic law lifted. 

Kevin Askew, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting 

THE PA GAME COMMISSION HAS A ROBUST PROCESS

The PA Game Commission has a robust process in developing regulations.

Section 2102 of PA Title 34 Game Law states: Pa Game Commission shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary and appropriate concerning game or wildlife and hunting or furtaking in this commonwealth, including regulations relating to the protection, preservation and management of game or wildlife and game or wildlife habitat, permitting or prohibiting hunting or furtaking, the ways, manner, methods and means of hunting or furtaking, and the health and safety of persons who hunt or take wildlife or may be in the vicinity of persons who hunt or take game or wildlife in this commonwealth.

The Process:  All agency regulations are voted on by an eight-member board of commissioners.  The board of commissioners is nominated by the governor and approved by the Pennsylvania Senate.  These commissioners are solely responsible for all agency regulation setting.

The Game Commission’s regulation setting process collects public comments for consideration by the board of commissioners in a number of different ways:

•    Comments are received through email and distributed to the board of commissioners.

•    Letters received by PGC are forwarded to the board of commissioners for review.

•    The public has the opportunity to make public comments at the agency’s commission meetings.

As referenced above; Pa. Game Commission is responsible for all wildlife in the commonwealth and those hikers, bikers, horseback riders and all others that come in contact with hunters.  This regulation setting process is completely transparent and open to all.  The process is designed to take comments from all citizens of Pennsylvania, not just hunters, and trappers, but all stakeholders, no one or group is excluded.  In addition, and as part of the commission’s regulation setting process, a press conference is held at each commission meeting to allow the press to ask questions about regulation proposals and use this information to help better inform the public.

Any regulation which the agency proposes is presented at a commission meeting.  Any proposal must be voted on by the board of commissioners at two public commission meetings before the regulation is adopted, or rejected if a “no” vote prevails. 

The agency also uses, where appropriate, scientifically-based surveys to better understand the attitudes and preferences as part of the process.  Often, individuals opposed to a specific regulation proposal are more inclined to voice their opinion as opposed to individuals who support a proposal.  Science-based public surveys are critical to evaluating actual public opinion.  The results help the board in their decision-making process for particular regulations. 

Pa. Game Commission Process At Work:

Recently, the Pennsylvania legislature authorized the Game Commission to regulate the use of semiautomatic rifles in hunting.  After surveying wildlife agencies in various other states, it was clear that semiautomatic rifles have been used safely without issue, even for big game.  However, when Pa. Game Commission sent a survey to hunters and reviewed all public comments, it became clear that the use of semiautomatic rifles was not supported by hunters, landowners, and other citizens.  As a result, the board of commissioners decided to not allow semiautomatic rifles for big game at this time.  This example reaffirms the agency’s robust regulation decision-making process in considering all comments from the public, and in using valid surveys to better evaluate the opinions of segments of our state’s citizens.

In closing, if given the ability to regulate hunting on Sundays.  It will go through this very same process prior to implementation in order to make the best decision possible.  Please be assured that Pa. Game Commission regulation setting process works and can be trusted.  We have been able to accomplish many wildlife management goals with it.   The task of hearing, considering, developing and implementing regulations is not taken lightly.   All eight commissioners understand their duty to the citizens of the commonwealth and its wildlife.   

Sincerely, 

////Signed////

Bryan Burhans

Executive Director

  

Read Signed Letter: The PA Game Commission has a robust process in developing regulations.

EDUCATION SERIES 6 OF.... SECTION 2102 TRANSPORTATION, SALE, DISTURBANCE OF GAME/WILDLIFE

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 6 of……

§ 2102.  Regulations

Many people do not understand or have the time to read what is in PA Title 34 Game Law.  

So let's examine the law as it pertains to wildlife management and the issue of removing the barrier to hunting opportunities in Pa.  

On page 43 you will find what the Pa. Game Commission can do in the interest of wildlife and hunting. 

PA Title 34 Game Law link:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/34/34.HTM

Pa. Title 34 Game Law

§ 2102. Transportation, sale and disturbance of game or wildlife.

The commission shall promulgate regulations concerning the transportation, introduction into the wild, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale or purchase of game or wildlife or the disturbing of game or wildlife in their natural habitat.

EDUCATION SERIES 3 OF..... SECTION 2101 ADMINISTRATION OF TITLE

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 3 of……

Section 2101.  Administration of title.

Many people do not understand or have the time to read what is in PA Title 34 Game Law.  

So let's examine the law as it pertains to wildlife management and the issue of removing the barrier to hunting opportunities in Pa.  

On page 43 you will find what the Pa. Game Commission can do in the interest of Pa. wildlife and hunting.

PA Title 34 Game Law link:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/34/34.HTM

Pa. Title 34 Game Law

§ 2101.  Administration of title.
The commission shall have the authority to administer and enforce this title and all laws of this Commonwealth relating to the encouragement, promotion and development of game or wildlife conservation interests and the protection, propagation, distribution and control over game or wildlife.