Sunday Hunting legislation (H.B. 1237) was reported out of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, January 22, by a vote of 12-10. Introduced by Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, this provision would allow for hunting on private property on Sundays, provided the hunter has written permission of the landowner. Hunting within 200 yards of a place of worship or an accessory structure would remain prohibited, as would hunting deer with dogs on Sundays.
Currently, Virginia is one of 11 states that restricts or outright bans hunting on Sundays. This prohibition harms Virginia’s economy and threatens the very future of our hunting heritage by discouraging hunter recruitment and retention.
As a member of the Sunday Hunting Coalition, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation stands firmly in its opposition to such bans. In Virginia, Sunday hunting has the potential to bring an additional $296 million and approximately 4,000 jobs to the state’s economy. This bill is an important step forward to helping states realize the potential recruitment/retention and economic force of Sunday hunting.
To read more about Sunday Hunting, click here.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
