HB 1614 — An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in game or wildlife protection, further providing for regulations; and, in hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited and to hunting on Sunday without written permission.

PRINTER'S NO.    1931

                       THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           HOUSE BILL
                           No. 1614
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY DAVANZO, BERNSTINE, GUENST, HAMM, SMITH AND
        STAATS, JUNE 16, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, JUNE 16, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in game or wildlife protection, further providing
 3      for regulations; and, in hunting and furtaking, repealing
 4      provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited and to
 5      hunting on Sunday without written permission.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.      Section 2102(b)(2) of Title 34 of the
 9   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
10   § 2102.    Regulations.
11      * * *
12      (b)    Seasons, possession, bag limits and devices.--
13             * * *
14             (2)   If in any year the commission fails to establish
15      seasons or bag limits or fails to establish other hunting or
16      furtaking regulations under authority of this title, the open
17      seasons and bag limits for game or furbearers, [Sundays
18      excepted,] unless otherwise provided by this title, and all
19      other hunting or furtaking regulations adopted under
 1      authority of this title, shall be the same as set by
 2      regulation of the commission for the previous license year,
 3      and all seasons shall open and close one calendar day earlier
 4      than the previous license year. In the event the commission
 5      fails to establish seasons and bag limits for a license year
 6      beginning in a leap year, the seasons shall open and close
 7      two calendar days earlier than the previous license year.
 8      * * *
 9      Section 2.        Sections 2303 and 2315 of Title 34 are repealed:
10   [§ 2303.    Hunting on Sunday prohibited.
11      (a)     General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
12   title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer
13   or game on Sunday.
14      (b)     Construction of section.--This section shall not be
15   construed to prohibit:
16            (1)   The training of dogs.
17            (2)   The participation in dog trials as provided for in
18      this title.
19            (3)   The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from
20      traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.
21      (b.1)    Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
22            (1)   The hunting of foxes.
23            (2)   The hunting of coyotes.
24            (3)   Any hunting which occurs on noncommercial regulated
25      hunting grounds holding a valid permit under section 2928(b)
26      (2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds permits).
27            (4)   Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as
28      follows:
29                  (i)    One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by
30            the commission during the deer rifle season.

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 1                 (ii)    One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted
 2             by the commission during the Statewide deer archery
 3             season.
 4                 (iii)    One day of Sunday hunting as determined by the
 5             commission shall be instituted by the commission.
 6      Authority to hunt on any Sunday instituted by the commission
 7      under this paragraph shall not apply to any person required
 8      to secure a hunting license who attempts to hunt on private
 9      land without obtaining written permission of the landowner,
10      an agent of the landowner or lessee.
11      (c)    Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary
12   offense of the fifth degree.
13   § 2315.    Hunting on Sunday without written permission.
14      (a)    General rule.--A person required to secure a hunting
15   license to hunt commits an offense if, while engaged in hunting
16   on Sunday under section 2303(b.1)(4) (relating to hunting on
17   Sunday prohibited), the person enters private land without
18   obtaining written permission of the landowner, an agent of the
19   landowner or lessee.
20      (b)    Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a
21   summary offense of the third degree.]
22      Section 3.       This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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