Two States Rejoice as Sunday Hunting Bans are Lifted

Last year, a WILDFOWL Magazine Conservation Corner column topic took a closer look at the idea of "The Sunday Hunting Ban Conundrum."

Specifically, the CC column dove into the details of a topic that was controversial to many hunters in some states, while at the same time being a yawning and non-existent threat to hunters in many other states across the country.

What was all of the fuss about? As that 2024 column noted, "As many hunters might know, Sunday hunting restrictions were put into place in many North American locations during the 1800s in an effort to honor the Sabbath Day and to encourage church attendance. A part of the so-called "Blue Laws" that have prohibited such things as opening a retail store for business, selling alcohol, and even tilling a field down through the years, most spots had such laws once upon a time."

A closer look at the controversial topic was taken in the state of Pennsylvania, how the Commonwealth got to where it had been historically, what was happening on the ground and behind the scenes, and the possibility of change in the months and years lying ahead.

Well, that possibility is now on-the-ground reality and waterfowlers in Pennsylvania—and in nearby Connecticut, as will be explained—are rejoicing at the news.

After years of attempting to bring about change, hunters in Pennsylvania and Connecticut are celebrating legislative victories that will change the way hunting vacation days are spent.

That comes last week as news comes that longstanding bans against Sunday hunting in both states will change now that two bills have passed that remove most statutory restrictions against the practice.

Hunter’s in the waterfowling and wetland conservation world are certainly cheering the news. Officials with Delta Waterfowl also joined their CSF colleagues for the recent legislative success.

“We’ve worked hard over the last two years with partners and colleagues around the conservation community as well as leadership within the Pennsylvania Game Commission to provide support for any legislators with specific questions about waterfowl hunting on Sundays,” said Cyrus Baird, senior director of government affairs for Delta Waterfowl, in a news release. “It’s a big win for duck and goose hunters in Pennsylvania.”

Baird also added that these two political victories by hunters in both states will help increase opportunity.

"Most people work or go to school Monday through Friday, and many have other activities on Saturdays, so Sundays are the only free day they have,” he said. “Opening up Sundays to hunt doubles the weekend hunting opportunities. It’s especially important for young people and new waterfowl hunters who only have weekends to hunt.”

In Pennsylvania, long a battle ground state where organizations like the Sportsmen’s Alliance have led the fight to open up hunting on Sundays, the news last week brought joy and relief even as the organization turns to fighting other battles threatening the rights of hunters and anglers nationwide.

“Since 2020, sportsmen have been able to hunt on three designated Sundays,” noted the SA website. “HB 1431 completely removes the prohibition of hunting and fur taking on Sunday throughout the state.

“This new law takes effect on September 7, 2025. After that date, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will be able to set new season dates that can include Sundays.”

In Washington, D.C., officials with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation were celebrating the win in Pennsylvania, and substantial progress in Connecticut.

“The back-to-back wins in both Connecticut and Pennsylvania open the door for new Sunday hunting opportunities on nearly 30 million acres,” said Brent Miller, Vice President of Policy for the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, in a news release.

“These recent victories add to an unquestionable record of success on this issue between CSF and the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses we support – a record which now includes more than 20 pro-Sunday hunting bills being enacted in 9 states over the last 11 years.

"Moving forward, we will continue the fight in the increasingly fewer states that still have these draconian restrictions in place until all remaining Sunday hunting bans are a thing of the past.”

In Pennsylvania, House Bill 1431 (introduced by Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Rep. Mandy Steele) removed the Commonwealth’s Sunday hunting prohibitions. That bill was signed into law this week by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

In lifting all remaining statutory prohibitions through the enactment of HB 1431, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) will now "...have the full authority to establish and regulate season dates, bag limits and enforcement for the hunting of all game species in the Commonwealth on Sundays" according to CSF.

"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 Representative Mandy 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.

"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.”

In Connecticut, the CSF notes that House Bill 7231 (HB 7231) was also signed into law in recent hours. And thanks to that legislation, for the first time in over a century, most Connecticut hunting opportunities will soon be available on Sundays during regulated seasons on private land in the state.

Officials with CSF note that this tremendous milestone was driven by CSF, alongside the Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and in-state partners.

The win by hunters in Connecticut doesn't represent total victory since the CSF reminds hunters that the hunting of migratory birds, and deer hunting with firearms on property with fewer than 10 acres, will remain prohibited on Sundays.

Archery deer hunting on private land (regardless of acreage) will continue to be available to Connecticut hunters, since this was authorized by a CSF and Caucus-driven bill over a decade ago.

“While I am not a hunter, I respect the rights of those who choose to go to the woods rather than the grocery store to fill their freezers with food," said Representative Patrick Callahan, ranking member on the Connecticut Environment Committee, who praised Governor Ned Lamont for signing the bill.

"The ban on Sunday hunting was an antiquated blue law, the last in CT, and allowing hunters to enjoy this activity on private land is a right that has now been returned to them. Hunters are conservationists that clean up litter and are the eyes in the environment who are often the people who report issues to DEEP and the Environment Committee in Hartford."

Needless to say, these two political wins for hunters in two northeastern states was drawing an enthusiastic response.

"The back-to-back wins in both Connecticut and Pennsylvania open the door for new Sunday hunting opportunities on nearly 30 million acres,” said Brent Miller, Vice President of Policy for CSF, in the group's news release. “These recent victories add to an unquestionable record of success on this issue between CSF and the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses we support – a record which now includes more than 20 pro-Sunday hunting bills being enacted in 9 states over the last 11 years.

“Moving forward, we will continue the fight in the increasingly fewer states that still have these draconian restrictions in place until all remaining Sunday hunting bans are a thing of the past.”

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