HARRISBURG -- Going hunting this weekend? You’ll have an extra day to make it happen.
Pennsylvania’s new law repealing the state’s previous ban on Sunday hunting has taken effect, and the resulting new opportunities kick off this weekend on Sunday, Sept. 14.
“This weekend is one for the history books,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “Pennsylvania hunters finally have an opportunity to hunt on a Sunday under the newly enacted law, and I couldn’t be more excited to ring-in Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania in 2025. Hunting is a proud tradition for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, and with Sundays adding more time to the hunting calendar, there’s more incentive for hunters to stay engaged, pass that tradition on to future generations, and ensure the future of our state’s wildlife populations. The future is bright, this fall and beyond.”
Sunday marks the second day of Pennsylvania’s squirrel hunting season, and hunters taking to the fields and forests on Sunday also will be able to pursue woodchucks, coyotes, antlerless deer on Ag Tag properties, crows and bobwhite quail. As the weeks pass, and additional hunting seasons open for the year, a greater assortment of Sunday hunting opportunities will be available.
A total of 13 Sundays have been approved for 2025. From Sunday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Dec. 7, Sunday hunting is permitted within any established hunting season, except for migratory game bird seasons. Canada geese, doves, rails and gallinules – all of which are in season now – may not be hunted on Sundays. In state parks, Sunday hunting is only permitted on the three Sundays initially approved for the 2025-26 hunting seasons – Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. Additionally, the previously approved Sundays for foxes, coyotes and crows remain in place.
The new law allowing for more Sunday hunting follows the passage House Bill 1431, introduced by Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny. Gov. Shapiro signed the bill into law July 9 as Act 36 of 2025. The new law took effect Sept. 7.
Following the bill’s signing, the Game Commission revisited the already-approved 2025-26 hunting seasons, adding new Sunday hunting opportunities to many seasons this fall.
To keep hunters up to date on changes, an alert bar was placed at the top of the homepage at www.pa.gov/pgc. Clicking on it leads to a Sunday hunting page with complete information about the changes. A new edition of the 2025-26 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest that includes new Sunday hunting days is available to view and download.
Smith said providing new Sunday hunting opportunities wouldn’t have been possible without the wealth of support behind the initiative.
“While hunters long asked for expanded Sunday hunting, and the Game Commission recognized the meaningful impacts Sunday hunting could have for the future of conservation in the Commonwealth, state law had to change before any new opportunities could be added,” Smith said. “A broad coalition of support came together to make it happen. On behalf of our hunters, I’d like to thank Representative Mandy Steele, who sponsored the legislation that brought Pennsylvania more Sunday hunting; all supporting members of the General Assembly, including Senator Dan Laughlin, who long has championed Sunday hunting expansion; and Governor Shapiro, whose leadership in signing Act 36 ensured these opportunities became reality. I’d also like to thank the countless sportsmen’s groups who care deeply about wildlife; the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; and especially, the hard-working staff of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and our Board of Commissioners. Without them, this weekend would contain just another Sunday.”