Why It Matters: It is no secret that the Mid-Atlantic region (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) can be challenging when it comes to protecting and promoting our sporting heritage. IIn 2025 the region saw just about an equal number of pro-sportsmen’s bills (15.6%) and anti-sportsmen’s bills (16.8%). The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues to work with legislators to introduction of pro-sportsmen legislation to get ahead of any anti-sportsmen trends. Will the legislative sessions in 2026 resemble those in 2025?
Highlights:
- During the 2025 Legislative Sessions, the Mid-Atlantic saw anti-sportsmen legislation regarding banning lead ammunition for hunting and a plethora of anti-hunting firearm legislation. On the pro-sportsmen legislation side we saw the repeal of Sunday hunting restrictions for all game species and increasing penalties for trespassing on private property.
- Legislation that doesn’t pass within the required timeline of a legislative session can resurface in future years.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) works closely with the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) and the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) to encourage the protection and promoting of hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting.
During the 2025 Legislative Sessions, the Mid-Atlantic states (DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV) produced some permanent and some temporary victories when it comes to protecting and/or promoting our sporting heritage. For example, alongside the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, CSF successfully killed House Bill 741 and Senate Bill 634 which contained a provision that would have ultimately banned the use of lead hunting ammunition for all species in the “Old-Line State”. In the “Old Dominion State”, GSC Member, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed multiple pieces of legislation that would have impacted legal ownership of modern sporting rifles and hunting platforms.
Additionally, it is no secret that there are still some Sunday hunting restrictions in the Mid-Atlantic region, despite the monumental victory we secured in Pennsylvania last session which turned full regulatory control over Sunday hunting to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. CSF intends to work with members of the region’s Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucuses and fish and wildlife agencies to repeal the remaining prohibitions in the years ahead.
For the rapidly approaching 2026 Legislative Sessions, you should expect to see the return of the attempt to ban lead hunting ammunition in Maryland in addition to the return of legislation that attempts to remove the remaining prohibitions and restrictions on Sunday hunting. You will likely see moreanti-firearm legislation across the entire region, specifically in Viriginia following the vetoes from Governor Youngkin in 2025. CSF is also working to have legislation reintroduced in Virginia and West Viriginia that would reimburse their fish and wildlife agencies for free and/or discounted hunting and fishing licenses. As for Delaware, sportsmen and women should expect to see an omnibus sportsmen’s package that removes the remining Sunday hunting prohibitions in the First State (small game), legalize the use of the FireStick’s in Muzzleloaders, correct an administrative oversight during deer season, and expand calibers for the pistol-caliber rifles that can be used for deer hunting.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation looks forward to continuing to work with each state’s bipartisan legislative sportsmen’s caucus to encourage the protection and promotion of our beloved pastimes.
