Pennsylvania hunters will soon have more freedom in the field following Governor Josh Shapiro’s signing of House Bill 1431, a new bipartisan law that repeals the Commonwealth’s longstanding ban on Sunday hunting.
The law, signed during a ceremony at the Blue Ridge Sportsman Club in Dauphin County, gives the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) full authority to set hunting seasons that may include Sundays. It eliminates one of the last remaining “blue laws” in the state and aims to strengthen conservation efforts, support rural economies, and expand access to hunting opportunities.
Schuylkill County’s delegation in Harrisburg was split on this legislation. Reps. Tim Twardzik, Joanne Stehr, and Jamie Barton were all opposed to HB 1431, while Rep. Dane Watro voted in favor of it. The bill passed the House by a 142-61 vote.
Sen. Dave Argall voted in favor of the bill in a 34-16 Senate vote.
“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 says. “By repealing this outdated ban on Sunday hunting, Pennsylvanians can spend more time outdoors, with more chances to share traditions and a stronger future for conservation.”
Since 2020, Pennsylvania hunters were limited to three designated Sundays of hunting per year. The PGC reported that even limited access had helped maintain engagement among the state’s 850,000 licensed hunters, bucking national trends of declining participation. With full control over the hunting calendar, the PGC is now expected to expand Sunday hunting further, using biological data and public feedback to inform its decisions.
“For years, we heard from hunters across Pennsylvania frustrated by the Sunday hunting ban — from young hunters with school obligations to folks working two jobs and parents balancing family time on weekends, all wanting more time outdoors,” Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith says. “By making hunting more accessible for everyone, this new law isn’t just a win for hunters — it’s a win for conservation.”
The law also addresses landowner concerns by strengthening protections against trespassing on private property. Farmers are expected to benefit as well, with the additional hunting days helping to reduce crop damage caused by overabundant wildlife.
“The passage of Sunday hunting is a meaningful step forward for Pennsylvania’s farmers, too,” Agriculture Sect. Russell Redding says. “Crop damage from overabundant wildlife continues to take a real toll on farms across the Commonwealth. Giving hunters more days in the field helps protect livelihoods, especially in areas hardest hit.”
The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Mandy Steele and passed with bipartisan support — 142-61 in the House and 34-16 in the Senate. Identical legislation was also introduced in the Senate by Sen. Dan Laughlin.
“Repealing the archaic ban on Sunday hunting is a historic win for Pennsylvania’s forests and for generations of hunters to come,” said Steele. “This new law creates more opportunities for hunters to participate in one of America’s oldest traditions and be on the front line of conservation here in the Keystone State.”
Sen. Laughlin added, “With the signing of HB 1431, we’re showing that commonsense reform is possible when we focus on shared values.”
The law will take effect on September 7, 2025. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will announce updated season dates and bag limits before then.
Photo: PA Governor’s Office
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