Pennsylvania hunters seek Sunday prey time

Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states that ban hunting on Sundays, but sportsmen are pushing hard to get the chance to hunt at least a few Sundays per year.

The Senate Game & Fisheries Committee heard from both sides recently, and, at the end of their hearing,  Sen. Sean Wiley, D-Erie, said while he came into the room opposing the idea, he is coming around to the thought that a compromise can be found.

“I think there’s an opportunity to sit down and talk about some of the specifics because I have to say there is a large contingency of sportsmen across this commonwealth that are very, very passionate about this particular issue,” said Wiley.

Lawmakers heard support for Sunday hunting from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, NRA and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.

Opposition groups include the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania Equine Council.

“I would ask you to think about potential compromises. When I think about Sunday hunting, and it’s just me, I think maybe three Sundays. Three Sundays out of the whole year. That’s my version. It could be seven, but that’s where you negotiate,” said Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny, the committee chairman.

If lawmakers do open up Sundays for hunting, it is likely to be only a handful of them each year.