An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in game or wildlife protection, further providing for regulations; and, in hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited and to hunting on Sunday without written permission.

PRINTER'S NO. 1931
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1614
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAVANZO, BERNSTINE, GUENST, HAMM, SMITH AND
STAATS, JUNE 16, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, JUNE 16, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in game or wildlife protection, further providing
for regulations; and, in hunting and furtaking, repealing
provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited and to
hunting on Sunday without written permission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2102(b)(2) of Title 34 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 2102. Regulations.
* * *
(b) Seasons, possession, bag limits and devices.--
* * *
(2) If in any year the commission fails to establish
seasons or bag limits or fails to establish other hunting or
furtaking regulations under authority of this title, the open
seasons and bag limits for game or furbearers, [Sundays
excepted,] unless otherwise provided by this title, and all
other hunting or furtaking regulations adopted under
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authority of this title, shall be the same as set by
regulation of the commission for the previous license year,
and all seasons shall open and close one calendar day earlier
than the previous license year. In the event the commission
fails to establish seasons and bag limits for a license year
beginning in a leap year, the seasons shall open and close
two calendar days earlier than the previous license year.
* * *
Section 2. Sections 2303 and 2315 of Title 34 are repealed:
[§ 2303. Hunting on Sunday prohibited.
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer
or game on Sunday.
(b) Construction of section.--This section shall not be
construed to prohibit:
(1) The training of dogs.
(2) The participation in dog trials as provided for in
this title.
(3) The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from
traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.
(b.1) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) The hunting of foxes.
(2) The hunting of coyotes.
(3) Any hunting which occurs on noncommercial regulated
hunting grounds holding a valid permit under section 2928(b)
(2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds permits).
(4) Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as
follows:
(i) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by
the commission during the deer rifle season.
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(ii) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted
by the commission during the Statewide deer archery
season.
(iii) One day of Sunday hunting as determined by the
commission shall be instituted by the commission.
Authority to hunt on any Sunday instituted by the commission
under this paragraph shall not apply to any person required
to secure a hunting license who attempts to hunt on private
land without obtaining written permission of the landowner,
an agent of the landowner or lessee.
(c) Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary
offense of the fifth degree.
§ 2315. Hunting on Sunday without written permission.
(a) General rule.--A person required to secure a hunting
license to hunt commits an offense if, while engaged in hunting
on Sunday under section 2303(b.1)(4) (relating to hunting on
Sunday prohibited), the person enters private land without
obtaining written permission of the landowner, an agent of the
landowner or lessee.
(b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a
summary offense of the third degree.]
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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