Why It Matters: On November 28, 2023, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted testimony in support of a suite of House and Senate Bills sent to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that attempt to offer compromise Sunday Hunting roll backs to outright repeal of the ban . A suite of House and Senate Bills, HB 800, HB 912, HB 920 – authored by MA Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. David Vieria, and SB 500 As one of two remaining states in the country with outright prohibitions on Sunday Hunting, the passage of these Bills would allow Massachusetts’s sportsmen and women the long overdue opportunities and enjoyment of full weekend hunting, should they pass.. Meanwhile, in October of this year, the Maine Supreme Court took up a filed lawsuit challenging Maine’s Sunday Hunting ban based on the argument that Maine’s “Right to Food” amendment is violated by the prohibition, during an educational Court Tour at high schools across the state.
Highlights:
- On November 28, 2023, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation submitted testimony in support of a suite of House and Senate Bills sent to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that attempt to offer compromise Sunday Hunting roll backs to outright repeal of the ban.
- Currently, hunters are the only constituency in Massachusetts and Maine prohibited from participating in their pursuits on Sundays. All other outdoor enthusiasts are permitted to access public and private lands for their enjoyment to include anglers and recreational shooters.
- HB 800 – An Act Authorizing the Use of Bow and Arrows for Sunday Hunting, seeks to permit Sunday Hunting with the use of archery equipment.
- HB 877 – An Act Relative to Sunday Hunting would repeal Section 57 of chapter 131 of the Massachusetts General Laws. A full repeal of the Sunday Hunting prohibition.
- HB 912 – An Act Authorizing Deer Hunting on Sunday, if passed, allows for deer hunting specifically, on Sundays.
- HB 920 – An Act Relative to Outdoor Heritage authored by MA Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. David Vieria, would accomplish a number of issues in the Bay State. The reduction of discharge distances from 500 feet to 250 feet while archery hunting from an elevated position, would add cross bows to archery equipment, and would permit the hunting of deer on Sunday with the use of archery equipment.
- SB 500 – An Act Relative to Outdoor Heritage, addresses Sunday hunting with the use of archery equipment, hunter harassment laws, as well as damage and vandalism to hunting equipment.
- A Readfield, Maine couple, Virginia and Joel Parker, filed a lawsuit against Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MEIF&W). The suit argues the ban violates the Right to Food amendment to the Maine Constitution passed by Maine voters in 2021.
- The Maine Supreme Court took up the case. No decision was rendered at the time, but the seven justices will render a decision later in a written opinion.
Outright Sunday Hunting bans remain in two states in the country, Massachusetts and Maine. HB 800, HB 877, HB 912, HB 920, SB 500 all address the issue of Sunday Hunting in the Bay State and as one of two remaining states in the country with outright prohibitions on Sunday Hunting, the passage of these Bills will allow Massachusetts’s sportsmen and women the long overdue opportunities and enjoyment of full weekend hunting. The hunting community is the only constituency specifically discriminated against with a Sunday Hunting ban. Anglers, birders, water sports enthusiasts, hikers, recreational shooters, and many other outdoor recreators are permitted to enjoy Sundays for their outdoor pursuits, the hunters of Massachusetts and Maine should enjoy the same opportunities. Sunday hunting is seen as a key component of providing the citizenry, particularly the youth, with more opportunities to engage in the sport, which will ultimately lead to more hunters in the years to come. In Maine, should the high court side with Virginia and Joel Parker of Readfield, the ban on Sunday Hunting could be repealed completely based on a Constitutional violation.
CSF looks forward to working with our Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus in supporting these and other proposals that would positively impact Bay State sportsmen and women. CSF looks forward to Maine’s high court’s decision in the hopes Maine hunters will once again enjoy Sundays afield as they did before 1833.
