Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has officially authorised a law abolishing the prohibition on hunting activities on Sundays.
In a significant move, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has signed House Bill 1431 into law, effectively repealing the longstanding ban on Sunday hunting. This historic shift in Pennsylvania's hunting regulations has wide-ranging implications.
The repeal of the Sunday hunting ban empowers the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to set hunting seasons that include Sundays, thereby expanding hunting opportunities for residents and visitors alike. This change is particularly beneficial for working families and helps attract new hunters, preserving the state's sporting heritage[1][2][3].
The bill also addresses unlawful hunting activities and trespassing on private property while hunting. It repeals provisions relating to the prohibition of Sunday hunting without written permission, implying a modernization in how Sunday hunting is regulated with respect to private lands[5].
Allowing more days for hunting on Sundays provides hunters with greater opportunities to participate in wildlife population control. The PGC highlights that hunters play a valuable role in managing wildlife, which can improve conservation outcomes[1][2].
Economically, the new law is expected to strengthen rural economies across Pennsylvania by boosting outdoor recreation and associated spending. Governor Shapiro noted that this change would benefit the state's economy while honoring hunting traditions[2][4].
The legislation had broad bipartisan support in the state legislature and was backed by key stakeholders including the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and sportsmen's groups, reflecting widespread approval from the hunting community[1][2].
House Bill 1431 modernizes Pennsylvania's hunting laws by removing the Sunday hunting ban, expands hunting access, supports wildlife management and conservation efforts, respects private property concerns with updated trespassing rules, and is anticipated to provide economic benefits to rural areas while helping to sustain hunting traditions for future generations. The PGC now has the authority to implement Sunday hunting opportunities as it sees fit[1][2][5].
[1] Pennsylvania Game Commission. (2025). House Bill 1431: Sunday Hunting. Retrieved from https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Hunting/SundayHunting/Pages/default.aspx [2] Pennsylvania Legislature. (2025). House Bill 1431. Retrieved from https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BillText/activeBillText/hb1431/0/0/ [3] National Shooting Sports Foundation. (2025). Pennsylvania Removes Sunday Hunting Ban. Retrieved from https://www.nssf.org/press-releases/pennsylvania-removes-sunday-hunting-ban/ [4] Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. (2025). Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Applauds Repeal of Sunday Hunting Ban. Retrieved from https://www.pfb.com/news/pennsylvania-farm-bureau-applauds-repeal-of-sunday-hunting-ban [5] Pennsylvania Hunters and Trappers Association. (2025). Pennsylvania Sunday Hunting Ban Repealed. Retrieved from https://www.pata.org/news/pennsylvania-sunday-hunting-ban-repealed
In light of the repeal of the Sunday hunting ban, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) now has the authority to establish hunting seasons that embrace Sundays, potentially benefiting sports by creating more opportunities for residents, visitors, and new hunters. This modernized regulation also addresses illegal hunting activities and private property concerns, ensuring a balanced approach to Sunday hunting while preserving Pennsylvania's rich general-news heritage.