WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PA — In a historic move, Governor Josh Shapiro on Wednesday signed House Bill 1431, officially repealing Pennsylvania’s centuries-old ban on Sunday hunting. The bipartisan legislation, hailed as a major win for hunters and rural communities, empowers the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to set hunting seasons that include Sundays and bolsters conservation efforts statewide.
Speaking at the Blue Ridge Sportsman Club in Dauphin County, Governor Shapiro described the law as a victory for personal freedom and family traditions. “This new law is about real freedom: the freedom to hunt, the freedom for families to pass down traditions to the next generation, and the freedom for the Pennsylvania Game Commission — the experts who know our hunters and our wildlife best — to set hunting seasons that work for today’s Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said.
The repeal marks the end of one of the last remaining “blue laws” in the state, some of which date back to the 17th century. Previously, hunting on Sundays was restricted to just three designated days each year. Under the new law, the PGC now has full authority to determine which hunting seasons may include Sundays, using biological data and feedback from hunters to guide decisions.
The expanded access is expected to boost the state’s $1.6 billion hunting economy, which supports over 15,000 jobs and generates millions in tax revenue. Officials believe the change will attract more hunters from inside and outside Pennsylvania, increasing spending in local businesses and reinforcing funding for wildlife conservation efforts.
The law also includes stronger protections for private property, ensuring that landowners’ rights are respected as hunting access expands. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding noted that more hunting days can help mitigate crop damage from overabundant wildlife, providing a critical benefit to farmers across the state.
House Bill 1431 passed the House by a vote of 142-61 and the Senate by 34-16, reflecting strong bipartisan support. Identical legislation had been introduced in the Senate by Senator Dan Laughlin.
Representative Mandy Steele, who sponsored the House bill, praised the measure as a “historic win for Pennsylvania’s forests and for generations of hunters to come,” while Senator Laughlin highlighted it as an example of commonsense reform driven by shared values.
The law will take effect on September 7, 2025, after which the Game Commission will begin setting new season dates and bag limits to accommodate expanded Sunday hunting opportunities.
With this change, Pennsylvania joins the majority of states that already allow hunting on Sundays, marking a significant cultural and economic shift for the Commonwealth’s nearly 850,000 licensed hunters.
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