Next week, the state Farm Bureau will hold its annual meeting at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center from November 14 to 16. A topic of discussion at this meeting will be a county resolution to support House Bill 1760, Sunday hunting legislation.
The prohibition on Sunday hunting is an old “blue law” remaining in only six states. The addition of this extra weekend day in the field dramatically increases a person’s opportunity to enjoy our hunting heritage. This will invigorate essential hunter recruitment and retention efforts. Some are concerned that allowing Sunday hunting will lead more land owners to prohibit all hunting. This did not occur in other states that have lifted these archaic bans and it won’t happen here.
Sunday hunting will also bring a much-needed economic boost to rural areas. Comprehensive research from both the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shows that allowing hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania would generate a total annual economic impact estimated at $800 million and create approximately 8,000 jobs.
For more than a decade, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has opposed Sunday hunting for little reason. To date, the Bureau’s leadership continues to be unwilling to even sit down to discuss a compromise with lawmakers, despite the increased level of support within the farm community. Because of their reluctance, the Bureau has effectively alienated many farmers who support the concept of Sunday hunting. That’s why it’s so important that the true story be told to the farming community. As sportsmen, we believe private land owners as well as farmers should decide how to manage their land for hunting – Seven Days a Week.
We need your help to awaken the Farm Bureau’s silent majority who want to be free to choose how they manage their land for hunting. Please contact your