Hunters across the state soon could find themselves afield — legally — on almost any Sunday.
Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday signed a bill that lifts the state’s age-old ban on Sunday hunting, opening the door for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to build hunting seasons that include Sundays.
“The Pennsylvania Game Commission could not be more excited to celebrate this long-awaited moment,” Executive Director Steve Smith said. “This landmark law effectively will contribute to keeping hunters engaged and performing the valuable public service they provide in helping manage our wildlife populations and ensuring the future of wildlife conservation.”
State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, who sponsored the bill to lift the ban, hailed the signing as long-awaited by hunters.
“This new law totally repeals the prohibition on Sunday hunting, which marks a truly historic win for the current and future generation of Pennsylvania hunters,” said Steele. “Hunters have been working on this issue for decades, to allow them more time in the woods, and it’s been an honor to lead on this issue in the House.
“Families are busier than ever, work and social schedules are demanding as ever, and this new law provides more opportunity for hunters to participate in one of America’s oldest traditions and be on the front line of conservation here in the Keystone State.”
Smith said the Game Commission plans to implement new Sunday hunting opportunities as early as this fall, but the law can’t take effect for at least 60 days, meaning no Sundays could be added before then.
The Game Commission will review the options available to add new Sundays to the established 2025-26 hunting seasons, and is working to determine how soon they could occur, Smith said.
The Game Commission plans to announce changes to the adopted hunting seasons when the information is available.
Currently, state law provides for only three Sundays of hunting per year.