PA House Bill 1431 - Repeal ban on Sunday Hunting

[Tater86]

The last weekend of rifle is pretty much the hardest weekend of the year to find deer in our area, they have been hammered for two weeks and are either holed up where nobody hunts or are tucked into the nastiest cover they can find.

Before the Saturday opener we used to stay up until Wednesday night but now we head back Tuesday afternoon. By then we have typically shot a bunch of deer and done a bunch of drives and spent hour butchering so the guys are ready to button it up and head home.



We hunted bear season in the past but don’t have a ton of bears in our area of 4A. I shot our camps first bear in 2019 on the first Saturday opener since they opened the extended bear season that year. It weighted 475 pounds and after the effort it took to get it out of the woods none of our small 4 person group seemed particularly interested in doing it again without the extended 14 person crew we have during rifle deer season. Since most of those guys hunt bear elsewhere I’ve taken up bird hunting that weekend instead.

I used to hunt archery but have pretty much dropped that in favor of the early muzzleloader season and pheasant hunting the rest of the time between muzzleloader and rifle. Might give dove hunting a try this year as well to tie me over till muzzleloader.

4A you say, haha. That's my area as well. Used to hunt 3B a lot but never saw a bear in 10 years. First year I hunted 4A (2018) I got one and then my buddy got one in 2020 on the First Sunday for Bear.

 

[PMcGee]

Oh, I don’t specifically have one. I come from out of state and it’d be better for me.

Doesn’t mean I can’t agree with some arguments against it too. It’s not all about what I want. Nor does it mean I’ll automatically hurrah personal attacks on those who put forth a dissenting opinion.

Were I a resident, I’d be looking into this situation more fervently:

Senate Bill 720 Information; 2017-2018 Regular Session - The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

View the status of PA General Assembly bills including history, text, co-sponsorship memos, summaries, actions, fiscal notes, and statute references. Download legislation in HTML, PDF, or Word.

www.palegis.us

That’s from 2017?

 

[CMP70306]

4A you say, haha. That's my area as well. Used to hunt 3B a lot but never saw a bear in 10 years. First year I hunted 4A (2018) I got one and then my buddy got one in 2020 on the First Sunday for Bear.

In the 20 years I’ve hunted there I’ve seen 4 in the woods, the first one I shot in 2019, the second and third I bumped heading in that Monday morning and the 4th I saw the last day of rifle in 2020. Never saw any while hunting before or since and the entire camp has had maybe a dozen sightings in the last 20 years with me making 4 of them in two years.

We are mostly AG properties so we get them moving through but very few residents.

 

[plebe]

That’s from 2017?

Yes, https://legiscan.com/PA/text/SB720/2017.

 

[Jpsmith1]

You sir, beat me to the punch bowl. Paints him in the picture of a lot of PA hunters. Where the motto is, as long as it's good for me, and it's my way, then everyone else can pound sand.

The pancake breakfast crowd. That's why small town America is falling apart. The Saturday opener and Sunday hunting. Nobody can go to camp and drink themselves into a stupor all weekend and have pancakes then stumble into the woods....

/sarcasm

 

[Jpsmith1]

It officially passed the Senate today, but needs to go back to the house before being signed by the Governor. What I think is funny is everyone thinks it could increase their opportunity but in reality in could reduce their days. For example, Rifle season is 13 days long, starts and ends on a Saturday with one Sunday. If they determine it needs to stay at 13 days, adding in the missing Sunday means you are cutting out the starting Saturday or the last Saturday. Don't think it will happen, but it could.....

Firearms deer likely won't change. I'm not sure why people are hung up on those 2 weeks and ignore the close to 6 weeks of increased opportunities in the archery woods.

That is a big part of why I want Sundays. More flexibility in when I'm able to hunt and reducing conflict in the home

 

[Jpsmith1]

Back to the House for concurrence, and then off to Shapiro's desk for signature. Done deal. Bout time. PGC Comms Directors even said that it's possible to have additional Sunday opportunity this season.

I think seasons are set and licenses are bought for 25/26.

We won't see opportunities until 26/27

 

[Jpsmith1]

I have a camp in a prominent area of 2g by prominent I mean it’s a place you have definitely heard of. The seasons there are a ghost town archery or rifle it doesn’t matter. There is a lot of land there though. I started hunting in 02 at the age of 12 and the pressure has steadily fallen from then till today. It makes me sad but idk or I don’t have the answers on how to get people in the woods. I suspect my generation is the last generation to see what hunting once was. The younger kids don’t care and the old are either in to bad of shape or don’t care anymore. Can’t say I blame the old but it’s sad to say the least

I grew up near Wharton PA. My house was deer camp back in the 70s and 80s. I'd give an awful lot to have another hunt with Dad or Bucky or Lantzy or Ol Bert.

That said, the world has moved on and hunters need to adapt. Too many people trying to pretend that nothing has changed anywhere and its still 1987.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Well, when I worked, I was given vacation and personal days. So, you guys that say you work, you do not get vacation or time off? Or do you use the time off for other activities.

Many don’t. Or don't get 'enough' to cover sick days, holidays and any kind of vacation.

 

[Hopapa]

Wow didn't think one of my first posts would take off like this haha. Lots of good (and some less so) discussion about this issue. Glad to see it passed the senate and is headed back to the house!

 

[Jpsmith1]

Streamlined version of Pennsylvania Sunday hunting bill awaits governor's signature

The Pa. House of Representatives approved a final version of a Sunday hunting bill that removes several proposals related to the farming industry. Here's what's planned and how it could affect 2025 fall hunting.

www.goerie.com

Figured I'd nudge this thread. I haven't done a full read of this but it sounds like a clean bill, no extras just went to Shapiro's desk

 

[Tater86]

Firearms deer likely won't change. I'm not sure why people are hung up on those 2 weeks and ignore the close to 6 weeks of increased opportunities in the archery woods.

That is a big part of why I want Sundays. More flexibility in when I'm able to hunt and reducing conflict in the home

Most people are hung up on those dates, because I would say more than 50% of hunters still only hunt those two weeks or that is at least their main focus.

Me personally, I hunt pretty much every weekend and during the week when I can starting in October through January. I have the ability to already hunt Sunday's in MD and I also have over 5 weeks of vacation at work (Also, less than 40 years old for those thinking I might be over 60 )

 

[summs]

Now I just need NJ to follow suit and while were at it Maine too.

 

[MallardSX2]

Wharton PA.

I have been in that bar. Many times. lol

 

[Jpsmith1]

Wharton PA.

I have been in that bar. Many times. lol

Many, many years ago, my grandmother ran the place.

1980s..

 

[dave2288]

Getting time during the work week to go out is harder and harder every year, especially as the family grows. Sunday hunting would be huge

 

[CMP70306]

Gov. Shapiro signs new law lifting ban of Sunday hunting in Pa.

WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP — After decades of debate between lawmakers, sportsmen, farmers and other outdoor recreationalists, Pennsylvania’s longstanding near-total ban on Sunday hunting has been lifted.

lancasteronline.com

Well it’s official now, PGC moved their meeting from July 12th to July 28th to allow for comments and prepare an outline for implementation in the 25/26 season.

 

[roadrunner]

No you insinuated that stores were going to have to be open because of hunting on Sunday.

No, you assumed. Stores are already open because people would rather engage in commerce than sit in a church. Fine. Whatever. Just keep in mind, those people are making those who would rather sit in a church not be able to.

Idiotic, really, for someone to sit there and say they don't want people to say what they can and can't do on Sunday and then turn around and tell people what they have to do on Sunday.

Like Shaq shooting free throws another air ball.

I can't understand it for you...

I’m not the one telling people what they should be doing on Sundays………

Neither am I...

 

[roadrunner]

Now the first part is Ironic!!

You keep moving those goals posts

What are you talking about? Making things up as you go along, my hell...

 

[KurtR]

No, you assumed. Stores are already open because people would rather engage in commerce than sit in a church. Fine. Whatever. Just keep in mind, those people are making those who would rather sit in a church not be able to.

Idiotic, really, for someone to sit there and say they don't want people to say what they can and can't do on Sunday and then turn around and tell people what they have to do on Sunday.



I can't understand it for you...



Neither am I...

They don’t have to do anything. Places of employment are chosen .