Hunter Nation Press RElease
Hunter Nation commends PA House Committee for Sunday Hunting Bill Advancement
Harrisburg, PA – Hunter Nation applauds the advancement of HB1431—a bill to repeal Pennsylvania’s outdated ban on Sunday hunting—out of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. The legislation, championed by Rep. Mandy Steele, marks a major step toward restoring outdoor freedom for the state’s working hunters and rural families.
“There’s no excuse for blue laws that lock hunters out of the woods on Sundays,” said John Bingaman, Pennsylvania State Director for Hunter Nation. “This bill gives the Game Commission the authority to use Sundays to manage wildlife. And more importantly, it gives working families more time to hunt. That’s a win for conservation and common sense.”
Hunter Nation submitted a formal letter of support to the committee prior to today’s vote. While no public testimony was heard, legislative insiders expect the bill to proceed to the full House floor in the coming weeks. The vote follows growing bipartisan momentum behind ending Pennsylvania’s last-in-the-nation Sunday hunting restrictions.
“This is about doubling weekend access,” added Dan Sneath, Hunter Nation’s Legislative Director in Pennsylvania. “Hardworking hunters can’t always take off during the week. This gives them more opportunity to spend time outdoors with their kids, teaching them skills that matter.”
The Path Forward
HB1431 now heads to the full House for consideration. While exact timing for a floor vote remains unclear, the identical Senate version of the bill could help expedite the process. Hunter Nation will continue to monitor amendments and coordinate with partner organizations to push the legislation across the finish line.
“This is the same bill in both chambers,” said Sneath. “That’s not just symbolic—it’s strategic. With momentum on both sides, we’re closer than ever to repealing this archaic ban.”
For additional quotes or legislative updates, please contact:
Dan Sneath, Hunter Nation’s Legislative Director in Pennsylvania | dan@hunternation.org
John Bingaman, Pennsylvania State Director for Hunter Nation | john@hunternation.org
The Fight for Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania Just Took a Big Step Forward
In a state where whitetail hunting is a way of life, Pennsylvania hunters have waited decades for their Sundays back. Now, thanks to a major vote in Harrisburg, they just might get them.
On June 3rd 2025, the House Game and Fisheries Committee passed House Bill 1431, a landmark piece of legislation that would give the Pennsylvania Game Commission the authority to allow hunting on Sundays. If enacted, it would end one of the last remaining blue laws in the country—an outdated restriction that’s kept generations of families out of the woods every seventh day.
For Hunter Nation, this vote marks a breakthrough in a long-standing battle for access, fairness, and opportunity.
Why Sunday Hunting Matters
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about a single day. It’s about doubling access for working-class hunters—plumbers, teachers, welders, truckers—who can’t afford to take off on a Wednesday to get outdoors.
It’s about helping rural families pass down hunting traditions to the next generation. It’s about better wildlife management, with the Game Commission able to set scientifically sound seasons without one hand tied behind its back.
And it’s about restoring rights that never should have been taken away in the first place.
A Coalition Backed This Bill
Hunter Nation submitted formal support for HB1431 and previously testified in favor of the measure before the same committee. This year, the organization has worked alongside groups like the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting (HUSH), and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists (PFSC).
"This coalition isn’t just hunters," said Dan Sneath, Legislative Director for HN Pennsylvania. "It’s landowners, farmers, conservationists, and parents. People who understand that more access means more opportunity—not more conflict."
What’s Next?
HB1431 is expected to move quickly to the full House for a vote. After that, it’s on to the Senate, where the identical bill already has supporters.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed. There will be delays. There may be amendments. And anti-hunting voices will likely try to water down or stall the legislation at every turn. But for the first time in years, the momentum is with the hunters.
Hunter Nation will be watching—and pushing.
Sunday hunting isn't a radical idea. It's common sense. The majority of U.S. states have adopted more permissive Sunday hunting laws, but Pennsylvania remains among the few with significant restrictions. More time outdoors. More days afield. More freedom to live out the traditions that built this state.
It’s not about changing hunting. It’s about protecting it.
Keith Mark
Founder, Hunter Nation
📧 Info@HunterNation.org
📞 (913) 933-6544 option 2
Kristi Brown
Public Affairs, Hunter Nation
📧 Kristi@HunterNation.org
📞 (901) 848-4560
Hunter Nation is the nation’s leading grassroots hunting advocacy organization that stands for the traditional values of God, Family, Country, Hunting and the Constitution. Hunter Nation works to promote science-based conservation and access to habitat, while preserving our country’s hunting heritage. It was founded and is based in Mission, Kansas.