There used to be five seasons in Pennsylvania — winter, spring, summer, fall and hunting. But the number of hunters heading into the woods has been falling, exacerbating problems with crop damage by deer and animal-vehicle crashes on state roads.

State officials estimate there could be as many as 1.5 million deer in Pennsylvania — three times more than there were before European settlers arrived. Proponents say ending the state’s restrictions on Sunday hunting could be pivotal to reversing the problematic trends by making it easier for hunters to find time to engage in the sport.

Effort to repeal ban came close in 2024

Last year, both chambers of the General Assembly approved different bills that would have ended the state’s partial ban on Sunday hunting. Neither measure got final approval in the other chamber, leaving the issue unresolved at the end of the legislative session.

This year, lawmakers are trying again and identical bills have been introduced in both chambers. The House Game and Fisheries Committee has set a vote for Tuesday on House Bill 1431. Its companion bill is Senate Bill 67.

A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission said the agency supports the bills.

“Hunting takes time, and a lack of time is one of the biggest reasons cited by hunters who stop hunting,” the Game Commission’s Executive Director Steve Smith said when SB 67 was introduced in March. “Repealing the Sunday hunting ban and allowing the Game Commission to fully regulate Sunday hunting is an opportunity to provide hunters more time, which will help keep them engaged and carrying out their vital role in managing key wildlife populations. This legislation is beneficial to hunting’s future and the future of wildlife management in the Commonwealth.”

Three Sundays a year scheduled right now

Since 2019, Pennsylvania has allowed the Game Commission to schedule Sunday hunting on three weekends. Pennsylvania is one of just 11 states that limit hunting on Sunday.

In a memo seeking support for his bill, Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, said the three weekends of Sunday hunting have proven to be “extremely successful and exceptionally safe.”

But license sales data shows that the number of hunters has continued to fall.

The number of hunting licenses sold dropped 3.5% from 2020 to 2023. Deer hunting season begins the weekend after Thanksgiving. Through Nov. 30, the number of licenses sold in 2024 was lagging the 2023 total by almost 4%.

Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, is the prime sponsor of HB 1431. She says that opening the door for more Sunday hunting will attract more hunters, both from in and outside the state, by allowing hunting all weekend.

Critics say state should keep limits

However, moves to fully repeal the Sunday hunting ban have faced resistance over the years from the farming community and from groups representing other outdoor enthusiasts.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau dropped its opposition to the Sunday hunting proposals but some lawmakers maintain that many farmers prefer having a day free from encounters with hunters.

Other outdoor groups remain opposed.

“We believe hunting on Sundays creates conflicts with the serenity and safety of a Sunday hike in Penn’s Woods,” Brook Lenker, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association said. “We hope there will be reluctance to end the tradition of having Sundays as a peaceful and safer day to explore and enjoy our trails.”

A spokeswoman for the Humane World for Animals said the organization has not taken a formal position on Sunday hunting.

However, she said it would make sense for the state to continue preserving one day a week for non-hunters.

“With hunters already having access six days a week, it does seem only fair that hikers, birdwatchers, and families have at least one day to safely enjoy our shared public lands without the presence of gunfire or hunting activity,” said Kristen Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director for the group. “It’s no secret that non-consumptive users far outnumber hunters and contribute significantly to local economies and conservation funding. Setting aside one day a week is a way to honor all outdoor enthusiasts and ensures the Commonwealth’s outstanding natural resources remain welcoming and accessible to everyone.”