Last week the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation that would permit hunting on three Sundays: one within the archery deer season, one within the firearms deer season, and one on another Sunday selected by the Game Commission.

The state Senate now needs to pass the bill its final form, which seems likely, and a vote on it is scheduled for Nov. 18. Once okayed by the Senate, the bill will have to be signed by the governor, followed by a 90-day waiting period, for it to take effect.

Even if this legislation finds smooth sailing through the rest of the process, however, the first Sunday hunting opportunities in Pennsylvania will not happen until sometime in 2020.

Three Sundays aren’t likely to have that much impact on hunting overall, but extra opportunities are always welcome. More important, this token gesture might be enough for some to realize that Sunday hunting will not cause the collapse society as we know it in Pennsylvania.

Most other states have long allowed Sunday hunting. Maybe, just maybe, Pennsylvania will finally enter the twentieth century sometime before the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century by permitting general Sunday hunting a few years down the road.

Pennsylvania’s prohibition on Sunday goes back to so-called blue laws. These archaic and unnecessary statutes have their origins in colonial times when the lawmakers of that era attempted to legislate morality by banning many businesses and forms of recreation on Sundays.

That’s why legalizing Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania would require an act of the state legislature to repeal the ban. Many of the old blue laws, such as retail sales and the sale of alcohol on Sunday were phased out decades ago. It’s probably worth mentioning that Sunday fishing was also prohibited in Pennsylvania until 1937 when legislation was passed allowing it.

I’ve watched the Sunday hunting question debated for decades. Frankly, I’m tired of all the arguing and deliberating. We should have general Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania simply because there are really no good reasons not to.

If hunting is a socially acceptable, moral and worthwhile activity six days of the week, it can or should be nothing less on the remaining day of the week. And some Sunday hunting has long been permitted in Pennsylvania. Foxes can be hunted on Sunday four months of the year, crows can be hunted on Sunday nine months of the year, and coyotes can be hunted day or night every day of the year.

Many folks who don’t support Sunday hunting are older or retired. They say they like the forced day off, in many cases because they have the luxury of being able to hunt the rest of the week.

Sunday hunting wouldn’t be mandatory, far too many selfishly oppose Sunday hunting because they don’t like the idea of fellow hunters being out there getting “their” game while they are attending church, watching football or doing whatever else they do on Sundays during the fall.

Many working folks or parents with school-age children can only hunt the weekends. Sunday hunting would double their opportunities. Not allowing them that opportunity is simply narrowminded, selfish and unfair.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to Sunday hunting has long been the perceived threat that many farmers and private landowners will post their land if Sunday hunting is allowed. My family owns land that we have always left open to hunting and fishing. As a landowner, I have never appreciated the fact that I or my friends could not hunt on my own land on Sunday. I find it hard to believe that so many landowners embrace the idea of the state dictating what they can or can’t do on their property, even just for one day of the week.

Despite the current prohibition of Sunday hunting, a considerable amount of private property and farms are now closed to hunting compared to just a few decades ago. And more land gets posted each year. While I thoroughly respect the rights of any landowner, prohibiting Sunday hunting on all private and public lands because a few more might post their land is a bit ridiculous.

If Sunday hunting is a real deal breaker for any landowner who currently allows hunting, we can simply allow individual landowners to post against Sunday hunting if they wish to maintain the status quo on their property.

I’m also a part owner in 1.5 million acres of hunting land, and so is anyone else who has ever purchased a Pennsylvania hunting license. I’m referring, of course, to our vast system of state game lands that have been purchased with hunting license dollars for the specific purpose of public hunting and wildlife management.

In Pennsylvania, we also have 2.1 million acres of state forests, most of which is also open to public hunting. Just as with private land, prohibiting Sunday hunting on our prolific public lands here in Pennsylvania is archaic, overly restrictive and unfair.

Hopefully, the limited Sunday hunting opportunities will become law next year and pave the way for general Sunday hunting throughout Pennsylvania. It just makes sense.