There was a moment of doubt, for sure.
But it looks as if expanded Sunday hunting is coming to Pennsylvania in 2020.
On Oct. 31, members of the House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 147 by a vote of 144-54.
That vote came one day later than expected. Supporters expected a vote Oct. 30, but lawmakers delayed things for 24 hours amidst a flurry or calls and emails from people for and against the change poured in.
In the end, though, they approved the bill, albeit with some additional changes.
Originally sponsored by Sen. Dan Laughlin, an Erie County Democrat, the bill provides for Sunday hunting on three days. One is a Sunday in the statewide archery season, another a Sunday in the statewide firearms deer season, and a third a Sunday to be chosen by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
It also strengthens trespass laws and increases fines.
Last week, members of the House game and fish committee amended that to also require hunters to get written permission before hunting any private land on a Sunday.
The version of the bill the full House voted on Wednesday ultimately included three additional amendments.
One allows the commission’s executive director to ask local police departments for help in enforcing trespass. A second says hunters who go onto private property on a Sunday to retrieve a wayward hunting dog can’t be cited for trespass. And the third says the law goes into effect 90 days after Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature, rather than immediately.
That last one is especially minor, as Game Commission officials have said there’s no time to incorporate Sundays into seasons before 2020.
Instead, commissioners will take up the issue at their January meeting. That’s when they preliminarily approve seasons and bag limits for 2020-21. They give final approval to those seasons in April.
That’s assuming, of course, the bill gets through the Senate and the Governor signs it.
But those are considered formalities. The Senate approved the bill back in spring; it just has to do so again because of the amendments. That could come as soon as Nov. 18, the next day the body is in voting session.
Gov. Wolf has expressed no opposition to the bill either.
Sportsmen – who fought for 20 years to get to this point — are applauding the vote on social media and elsewhere.
“Thank you all for your hard work and getting out those phone calls!” reads a post on the Hunters United for Sunday Hunting Facebook page. “Now it’s back to the Senate for one last vote, and then the Governor’s desk.”
“What a great day for hunting and conservation in Pennsylvania,” added Harold Daub, executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists. “It is great to see so many of our legislators participating in making this historic change in Pennsylvania.
He also called the bill’s movement “a lesson for all of the conservation community.” The latest push to get rid of Pennsylvania’s “blue law” against Sunday hunting starred less than two years ago, he noted.
Their combined voices carried the day, he said.
“I’m encouraged for the future of conservation in Pennsylvania, as we come together our voice will be heard and we will continue to improve our wildlife management and ensure we have clean water.”
Bob Frye is the Everybody Adventures editor. Reach him at (412) 216-0193 or bfrye@535mediallc.com. See other stories, blogs, videos and more at EverybodyAdventures.com.
