In this feature episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice, Fred sits down with Steve Smith, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Game Commission, to discuss Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania and the years-long and ongoing push to pass landmark legislation to remove the remaining restrictions.
Then, Fred is joined by CSF Vice President of Policy Brent Miller to dive deeper into the the complexities surrounding Sunday hunting legislation across the United States as a whole (a subject Brent actually wrote his thesis on!). They explore the historical context and theories of Sunday hunting bans (hint, it’s not what people think), the incremental approach to changing these laws, and the various arguments for and against Sunday hunting, including safety concerns, discrimination against hunters, the opposition from professional guides and landowners, the importance of youth hunting opportunities and the bipartisan efforts to advance hunting rights.
Key Takeaways:
- Historical Context Is Everything: Discrimination against hunters is evident in Sunday hunting laws. Diving into the history of these bans can reveal the potentially classist, and possibly even racist roots of Sunday hunting bans, while safety concerns regarding hunting on Sundays are largely unfounded.
- Longstanding Priority In The Keystone State: The push for Sunday hunting has been a long-standing priority for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Legislative momentum is building, with a majority of hunters now supporting Sunday hunting.
- Stakeholder Updates: The Farm Bureau’s support for Sunday hunting marks a significant shift in stakeholder perspectives, along with the support of hunters themselves
