SB 154, sponsored by Senator Phillip Puckett, and cosponsored by 16 other senators, including members of the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor after being reported out of the Senate Agriculture Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on January 30 by a vote of 9-4.
SB 154 would open up Sunday hunting on private lands throughout the state, provided the hunter has written permission of the landowner. Additionally, waterfowl hunting on public waters will be allowed, though hunting within 200 yards of a place of worship as well as hunting deer and bear with dogs would be prohibited. The companion bill, HB 1237, passed the House of Delegates by a strong bipartisan vote of 71-27 on January 28.
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?
