An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for organization of commission, providing for prohibition and further providing for accountability; in hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited, providing for temporary Sunday hunting authorized and for hunting and training on Sunday, repealing provisions relating to trespass on private property while hunting and to hunting on Sunday without written permission, providing for the offense of trespass on private land while hunting or furtaking and for the offense of hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without written permission and further providing for training dogs on small game; in special licenses and permits, further providing for field dog trials; imposing penalties; and making an editorial change.

PRINTER'S NO. 881
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 851
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY STEELE, PROBST, GIRAL, HADDOCK, PIELLI, KHAN,
HILL-EVANS, WEBSTER AND GREEN, MARCH 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, MARCH 10, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for
definitions; in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further
providing for organization of commission, providing for
prohibition and further providing for accountability; in
hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to
hunting on Sunday prohibited, providing for temporary Sunday
hunting authorized and for hunting and training on Sunday,
repealing provisions relating to trespass on private property
while hunting and to hunting on Sunday without written
permission, providing for the offense of trespass on private
land while hunting or furtaking and for the offense of
hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without written
permission and further providing for training dogs on small
game; in special licenses and permits, further providing for
field dog trials; imposing penalties; and making an editorial
change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 102 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 102. Definitions.
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
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used in this title shall have the meanings given to them in this
section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Lobbying." As defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03 (relating to
definitions).
"Lobbying firm." As defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03.
"Lobbyist." As defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03.
* * *
Section 2. Section 301(a) of Title 34 is amended and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 301. Organization of commission.
(a) Composition.--[The] Subject to subsection (b.1), the
independent administrative commission known as the Pennsylvania
Game Commission shall consist of nine competent citizens of this
Commonwealth who shall be well informed on the subject of
wildlife conservation and restoration and who shall be appointed
by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of a
majority of the elected members of the Senate.
* * *
(b.1) Additional consideration.--The Governor shall ensure
that at least one member of the commission is:
(1) knowledgeable in the area of wildlife management;
and
(2) actively engaged in a normal agricultural operation,
as defined in section 2 of the act of June 10, 1982 (P.L.454,
No.133), referred to as the Right-to-Farm Law.
* * *
Section 3. Title 34 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 305. Prohibition.
The commission may not hire or be represented by a lobbyist,
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lobbying firm or political consultant to engage in lobbying or
otherwise influence the decision-making process of another
Commonwealth entity or agency, including the General Assembly or
a member of the General Assembly. A violation of this subsection
shall be deemed to be a violation of 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A07
(relating to prohibited activities).
Section 4. Section 328 heading and (a) of Title 34 is
amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
read:
§ 328. Accountability and ethics.
(a) Relationship with public.--The commission shall
implement policies and programs to improve its relationship with
the general public and with its licensees in accordance with its
strategic plan. The policies and programs under this subsection
shall incorporate the ethics policy under subsection (g).
* * *
(g) Ethics policy.--The commission shall adopt and
periodically review an ethics policy applicable to members of
the commission, the director and employees of the commission,
which shall include material about the ethical obligations under
State law and to emphasize the importance for members of the
commission, the director and employees of the commission, to
maintain respect for sportsmen in this Commonwealth.
Section 5. Section 522(b)(2) of Title 34 is amended to read:
§ 522. Appropriation and audit of moneys.
* * *
(b) Audit and report.--
* * *
(2) No later than January 31 of each year the commission
through its executive director shall submit an annual written
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report to the Game and Fisheries Committee and the
Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the Game and
Fisheries Committee and the Appropriations Committee of the
House of Representatives which shall include the complete
budget for the current fiscal year and for the next fiscal
year. The commission shall meet with the specified committees
of the General Assembly to receive oral testimony in relation
to the annual written reports and to examine the commission's
compliance with section 328 (relating to accountability and
ethics) when so requested.
* * *
Section 6. Section 2303 of Title 34 is 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
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follows:
(i) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by
the commission during the deer rifle season.
(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.]
Section 7. Title 34 is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 2303.1. Temporary Sunday hunting authorized.
(a) Authorization.--
(1) Subject to sections 2316 (relating to trespass on
private land while hunting or furtaking) and 2317 (relating
to hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without
written permission), an individual may, subject to commission
regulations, lawfully hunt for furbearer or game any day of
the week, including Sunday.
(2) Sunday hunting shall not be permitted on lands
designated as a State park.
(3) An individual may participate in Sunday hunting if
the individual:
(i) has a valid hunting license; and
(ii) if the land is private land, obtains written
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permission to hunt on the private land from the owner, an
agent of the owner or a lessee of the private land or
another authorized person.
(b) Expiration.--This section shall expire June 30, 2029.
§ 2303.2. Hunting and training on Sunday.
(a) General rule.--Beginning on July 1, 2029, it shall be
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) Except as provided under subsection (d), 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.
(c) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) The hunting of foxes.
(2) The hunting of coyotes.
(3) Hunting that occurs on noncommercial regulated
hunting grounds on which a valid permit has been issued under
section 2928(b)(2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds
permits).
(4) (i) Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as
follows:
(A) One day of Sunday hunting shall be
instituted by the commission during the deer rifle
season.
(B) One day of Sunday hunting shall be
instituted by the commission during the Statewide
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deer archery season.
(C) One day of Sunday hunting as determined by
the commission shall be instituted by the commission.
(ii) Subparagraph (i) shall not apply to a 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.
(d) Limitation on training dogs on small game.--
(1) Beginning on July 1, 2029, it shall be unlawful to
train dogs on private land on Sunday.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to:
(i) National or State forest land.
(ii) State game lands.
(iii) Private land when the consent of the person in
charge of the private land is first obtained.
(e) Limitation on trials for raccoons.--Beginning on July 1,
2029, it shall be lawful to hold trials or meets where dogs may
work on drags or live raccoons at any hour, if permission is
obtained to use privately owned land when the meet or trial is
to be held on Sunday.
(f) Penalties.--A violation of subsections (a) and (d) is a
summary offense of the fifth degree.
Section 8. Sections 2314 and 2315 of Title 34 are repealed:
[§ 2314. Trespass on private property while hunting.
(a) General rule.--A person, while engaged in hunting or
furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that the person is not
licensed or privileged to do so, the person:
(1) enters or remains on any land of another without
authorization to do so, when the land is posted in a manner
prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the
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person's attention or is fenced or enclosed in a manner
manifestly designed to exclude trespassers; or
(2) enters or remains on any land of another without
authorization and defies an order not to enter or to leave
that has been personally communicated to the person by the
owner of the land or other authorized person.
(b) Applicability.--This section shall not apply to an
unarmed person who enters onto posted property for the sole
purpose of retrieving a hunting dog.
(c) Penalty.--An offense under this section shall be graded
as follows:
(1) A person who violates subsection (a)(1) commits a
summary offense of the third degree.
(2) A person who violates subsection (a)(2) commits a
misdemeanor.
(3) A person who commits a second or subsequent
violation of this section within a seven-year period commits
a misdemeanor, and the second or subsequent violation shall
result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or
wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth for a period of
one year.
(d) Enforcement.--The director shall authorize the police
department of each municipal corporation to assist in the
enforcement of this section as necessary, in addition to those
under section 903 (relating to delegation of enforcement
powers).
§ 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
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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 9. Title 34 is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 2316. Trespass on private land while hunting or furtaking.
(a) Offense defined.--An individual, while engaged in
hunting or furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that the
individual is not licensed or privileged to do so or using dogs
for the hunting or furtaking, the individual enters or remains,
without authorization to do so, on private land:
(1) posted in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably
likely to come to the individual's attention;
(2) in defiance an order not to enter or an order to
leave that has been personally communicated to the individual
by the owner, an agent of the owner or a lessee of the
private land or another authorized person;
(3) that is fenced or enclosed in a manner manifestly
designed to exclude trespassers; or
(4) where notice against trespass is given by the
placement of identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts
on the private land as prescribed by 18 Pa.C.S. § 3503(b)(1)
(vi) (relating to criminal trespass).
(b) Grading.--
(1) For a first violation:
(i) An individual who violates subsection (a)(1),
(3) or (4) commits a summary offense of the second degree
and may be subject to the forfeiture of the privilege to
hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere in this
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Commonwealth for a period of one year.
(ii) An individual who violates subsection (a)(2)
commits a summary offense of the second degree and may be
subject to the forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or
take game or wildlife anywhere in this Commonwealth for a
period of two years.
(2) For a second violation:
(i) An individual who violates subsection (a)(1),
(3) or (4) for a second time commits a summary offense of
the first degree and may be subject to the forfeiture of
the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere
in this Commonwealth for a period of two years.
(ii) An individual who violates subsection (a)(2)
for a second time commits a summary offense of the first
degree and may be subject to the forfeiture of the
privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere in
this Commonwealth for a period of three years.
(3) For a third or subsequent violation:
(i) An individual who violates subsection (a)(1),
(3) or (4) for a third or subsequent time commits a
misdemeanor and may be subject to the forfeiture of the
privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere in
this Commonwealth for a period of three years.
(ii) An individual who violates subsection (a)(2)
for a third or subsequent time commits a misdemeanor of
the second degree and may be subject to the forfeiture of
the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere
in this Commonwealth for a period of four years.
(c) Enforcement.--The director shall authorize the police
department of each municipal corporation, in addition to any
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person described under section 903 (relating to delegation of
enforcement powers) to assist in the enforcement of this section
as necessary.
(d) Penalties cumulative.--The penalties prescribed under
this section shall be in addition to any other penalty
prescribed by law.
(e) Applicability.--Subsection (a)(4) shall not apply in a
county of the first class.
§ 2317. Hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without
written permission.
(a) Offense defined.--An individual commits an offense if
the individual enters or remains on private land while engaged
in the hunting, trapping or taking of game or wildlife, by any
means or manner or device, including the use of dogs, and fails
to:
(1) possess written permission of the owner, an agent of
the owner or a lessee of the private land or another
authorized person to use, occupy or access the property; or
(2) produce the written permission described under
paragraph (1) upon request to the owner, an agent of the
owner or a lessee of the private land, another authorized
person or an officer or other person whose duty is to assist
in the enforcement of this title.
(b) Grading.--An offense under subsection (a) constitutes a
summary offense of the third degree.
Section 10. Sections 2382(c) and 2943(c) of Title 34 are
amended to read:
§ 2382. Training dogs on small game.
* * *
[(c) Sunday limitation.--It is unlawful to train dogs on
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privately owned property on Sunday. This limitation shall not
apply to:
(1) National or State forest land.
(2) State game lands.
(3) Privately owned property when the consent of the
person in charge of the land is first obtained.]
§ 2943. Field dog trials.
* * *
(c) Trials for raccoons.--It is lawful to hold trials or
meets where dogs may work on drags or live raccoons at any hour,
if permission is obtained to use privately owned land [when the
meet or trial is to be held on Sunday]:
(1) During the period of the year when dog training is
permitted by this title.
(2) During the period of the year when dog training is
prohibited by this title if a raccoon dog field trial permit
is obtained.
* * *
Section 11. The following shall not affect any fine or other
penalty imposed for a violation under this title that was
committed before the effective date of this section:
(1) The repeal of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303, 2314 or 2315.
(2) The addition of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303.1, 2316 or 2317.
(3) The amendment of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2382(c) or 2943(c).
Section 12. The addition of 34 Pa.C.S. §§ 2316 and 2317
shall apply to an offense committed on or after the effective
date of this section.
Section 13. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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