Pennsylvania: Hearing on Sunday Hunting to Occur this Thursday

This Thursday, June 9, the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee will hold a public hearing to consider ending the prohibition on Sunday hunting.  This hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive in Seven Springs.

The prohibition on Sunday hunting is an old blue law left on the books in just a handful of states.  Hunters pump millions of dollars into habitat restoration and conservation and they are primarily responsible for healthy ecosystems throughout Pennsylvania. 

Many hunters cannot introduce their children or friends to hunting because Saturday is their only opportunity, and they are competing with the numerous organized sports and other activities.  Many hunters - be it young or old, novice or experienced - stop hunting because of the lack of opportunity, both in time and accessible land.  The addition of an extra day in the field increases a person’s available time to enjoy our hunting heritage.  This will invigorate essential hunter recruitment and retention efforts.

Sunday hunting will also bring a much-needed economic boost to rural areas.  Every day that hunters are in the field, they spend money on gasoline, food, lodging and the dozens of other incidentals that go along with a day’s hunt.  The ripple effect of this spending can have a major impact on a rural town or county.  Comprehensive research from the National Shooting Sports Foundation shows that allowing hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania would generate a total annual economic impact estimated at $764 million and create more than 8,000 jobs.  This legislation will clearly help advance and preserve the Keystone State’s rich hunting traditions, while enhancing biodiversity and wildlife populations.

Please attend this hearing and voice your support for ending the Sunday hunting prohibition in Pennsylvania.  Also, please contact members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee and urge them to support expanding Sunday hunting.  Contact information for this committee can be found here.