House passes Steele’s Sunday hunting bill
Rep. Mandy Steele June 12, 2025 | 2:11 PM
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved a bill introduced by state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, that would repeal the ban on Sunday hunting.
The bill would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to approve general Sunday hunting. Currently the PGC may only designate three Sundays of every year for hunting. Additionally, Sunday hunting would be allowed on private property only with the owner’s written permission.
“This is a groundbreaking collaboration that is supported by the Game Commission, farmers, wildlife biologists, forest ecologists, and families across the Commonwealth,” Steele said.
“Sundays are often a busy family’s only free day of the week. This bill will allow us an opportunity to educate our children about the great American tradition of protecting wild places, and the deep connection to the land that comes through responsible and respectful hunting.
“Additionally, our farmers are being financially crippled by crop damage. Our wildlife biologists are telling us that this legislation is needed to promote herd management. And our forest ecologists are telling us that our great Pennsylvania woodlands are being decimated due to too large of a herd across the state. This legislation is a commonsense bill, and it is far overdue that we allow our hunters across Pennsylvania the opportunity to connect so intimately with the land, especially on a day where so many people have the day off.”
The bill also would require at least one member of the PGC to represent the interests of agriculture and wildlife.
The bill (H.B. 1431) now goes to the Senate for consideration.