Our Governor just signed it into law.

As it should be.

Awesome news.Still just Maine and Mass.

I don't think we'll ever get Maine's Sunday ban repealed, certainly not with that witch as our Governor. I long for the days of LePage!

That's a win.

Love my relative Paul LePage.Sad thing is the state of Maine won't even let the people of the state vote on it.

Good deal for yall. Was glad when it happened here years ago.

Been loosely following it on Facebook and super glad it passed! Opens up more hunting opportunities for me, as my wife and kids love fall activities, which are always Saturdays, so now I can keep the wife happy and still be able to hunt!

I'm glad it happened finally but the timing isn't great with the 2025-26 seasons and bag limits already set.

It is my understanding that the PGC will hold a meeting July 28th to hear public comment and propose expanded Sunday hunting opportunities beyond the three days we've had for the past five years.

I might go there to hunt now. Great job to everyone involved in getting it passed!!!

The bill was sponsored by a democrat (State Representative Mandy Steele) and signed into law by a democrat governor (Josh Shapiro).

What in the wide world of sports is going on here? LOL

Glad to hear it.

I know the waterfowl folks are going to be mad because their seasons will include Sundays and be shorter now.

Here in Pa?? You gotta be kidding me!! I can't believe that!!!!

Why would it be shorter?

Governor is already campaigning for reelection
Wolf did the same thing with semi's for big game

I honestly don't think the Game Commission is going to give anything but small game Sundays a maybe turkey
Remember, they alone set the Regs and seasons

it certainly will NOT be every Sunday in every season.

I'm betting you'll still need written permission from private landowners to hunt those properties on approved Sundays.

still, a step in the right direction.

Federal guidelines for the Atlantic flyway is 60 days for ducks and 30 days for Canada geese.

With Sundays being added, Sundays count as a day now. So, it’s 60 consecutive days. They are permitted to do three splits in the season. But, it’s still 60 days and Sundays count toward that. So it feels shorter.

Same amount of days though, just includes Sundays .

It's true JK. Shapiro just signed the bill into law today.

Oh yeah, permission for private wouldn’t change. We allow Sundays down here, but I have a couple properties I can’t hunt on Sundays because the landowner doesn’t want it. So, no hunting on Sundays there.

We started it as not every Sunday for deer only. and after a couple years they realized it wasn’t a big problem and opened every Sunday. Last season they added game birds.

Forgot to add fur bearers, squirrels and rabbits. They are changing that next year. lol

Bunch of heathen,,,,,, Go to sevells post and read the Gospel by Wilber…….

Lol

Nah, not worth it. Better hunting in Michigan.

But, if you do come. I’d head over to the far west side of the state. Definitely would stay away from 5B or 5C.

It was great on the folks that worked hard to pass it. I know how hard it is to get things changed and it is frustrating.

Governor big on publicity stunts to keep his name in the news.

Hunter numbers in southwest almost non-existent compared to the eighties. I travel everyday, see almost no hunters in any season. Small numbers turkey, small numbers bow, not much of increase rifle buck. Rarely small game, almost never. I'm on the road twenty mile radius from home in several different directions. Hunters numbers almost non existent.

Publicity stunt, which will make no difference.

I think it will make a difference to the half-million-plus hunter who bought licenses this year.

As for lack of hunters, I think they must have migrated from your area to southeast and north central PA because there's no shortage of them in those areas in all seasons.

I agree that almost anything a politician does in front of a camera is political theater and this certainly won't change my vote from R to D.

Lugnut I disagree with you, we are seeing a lot less hunters and less fishermen too. Bear season it is lonely up on the hills now. And some people above posted that it is not legal yet as the game dept did not approve it yet? that still surprised me to read this.......jk

I'm gonna have to start hunting your guys areas where there are no crowds! LOL

You are right that it's not been approved by the PGC yet. It became law after the current license year so seasons and bag limits have already been set. The PGC is planning a meeting on July 28th I think to hear public comment. I don't know if they will add Sundays to this current license year or wait until the next one.

Likely due to the fact waterfolwl seasons are set by number of potential harvest days. The number of harvest days wont be shortened, but adding in Sundays will shorten the timeframe on the calendar for getting those days in.

Lug I am traveling 40 miles round trip a day during season, in multiple directions. Outside of first day, which is not busy either. I might go several days and not see a hunter, not in the woods or in a truck.

I don't know what game commission reports for deer kill around here or licenses sold, but I would assume they are lying about both.

Do you remember when Wolf signed the law making semiautomatic rifles legal for big game
Has the Game Commission approved that law yet ?
Don't get me wrong, I've wanted Sunday hunting for 30+ years
I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am

1st day its crowded around here. After that alot less people. Father inlaw hunts perry county state land. He says not many hunters out. Cabins used to be packed, now some are empty. But there are not many deer in the state land now. He may see 3 or 4 deer all season.

Interesting reaction. Years ago on this forum this same topic came up. I was surprised to learn there was no hunting allowed in Pennsylvania on Sundays. I expressed my surprise and suggested PA folks try to change that.

Big mistake. I was soundly scolded and told to mind my own business. Apparently trappers at the time didn't want hunters out there messing with their traps and fur. Couldn't figure out how they dealt with the other six days of the week, but the message was clear.

And now . . .

Lot of guys are tagged out by "deer season".

Half the harvest happening in one day was a
special thing but long gone.
Processor records show this best.

I'm happy for the students and working folks.

I bet the hunting forums are abuzz.

Does it go into effect this hunting season?

The PGC delayed their Board of Directors meeting that was scheduled for July 11 or 12 until July 28. That is so they can hear public comment and then decide whether or not they are going to add any more Sundays to this current license. That according to the PGC website. It sounds like they might, but we won’t know until for sure until after the meeting on the 28th.

Yep. Same with the Saturday rifle season opener. I have this thing called work I go to during the week. My son has school. So extra days to hunt are good with me.

Maybe make a guy legal to shoot woodchucks on Sunday too, how about it? Long overdue blue law gone, considering the less wholesome activities already legal on Sunday in this state. The PGC should have full regulatory control like this without any input from legislators, they can't keep up with the stuff they should doing let alone waste time on game management, which is not their job to begin with.

Our CT Gov. Lamont (D), just signed into law Sunday hunting. All weapons, all species. PRIVATE land only. We already have Sunday bowhunting on private. Still no public land hunting on Sunday.

I do most of my hunting around my camp in Potter County (north-central PA near the NY state line). I hunt a 3,500 acre timber company lease and the adjoining 7,000 acre SGL. There are two SGL's nearby, one 4,000 acres and the other almost 10,000 acres. Three of these four properties are public. Two of the SGL's are stocked with pheasants.

Starting in early archery season I see numerous hunter's trucks parked everywhere. When small game season hits the SGL parking lots are full and there's guys and their dogs all over the place. We get 60-70 guys hunting the timber company the first half of the first week of rifle season and the game lands are more crowded than that.

It dies down after that but gets crowded again during spring gobbler season.

Here at home I hunt a 6,000 acre area that is stocked with pheasants and it also gets very crowded during the regular small game season. The farms around my house always have trucks parked along the roads in the mornings and evening during archery seasons.

One farm of about 80 acres near me gives out permission forms that you have to fill out to hunt there. He cuts it off at 45 forms and always gives them all out.

I'm envious of you guys and your lack of hunters.

I do remember and we did get limited use of semi-autos approved by the PGC. It's limited to groundhogs, squirrels, rabbits and furbearers.

The more posted ground, the more you're going to see hunters there Lug. Its the same around here.

As a Pennsylvania trapper I never opposed Sunday hunting. As a PA hunter I don't really care. It's good for those with limited time to hunt but I never had that problem. I'm self-employed and my boss is really cool about letting me take off to go hunting.

I sort of enjoy having one day a week where I don't have to feel guilty about not being out on my deer stand. Now that excuse is gone. LOL

How long do that take Lugnut? And the Bill Wolf signed was for all animals
I'm all for Sunday hunting, unfortunately I don't see much in the way of change coming anytime soon
Those opposed to this bill will come out in mass, I'll be at the meeting on the 28th along with a few friends to voice support

I hate the Saturday rifle opener! I get that it makes hunting the first day easier for some working guys and kids but most of my camp members and a lot of guys I know are working guys and they have always made time for the Monday opener and usually at least half the first week. Been that way since I was a kid. And schools gave the first day of rifle (when it was Monday) off.

Now, instead of making the drive to camp and spending a leisurely weekend sighting in rifles, fixing up stands and catching up with good friends neighboring camp guys, most camp owners/members have to make a long drive Friday evening rush to open camp, get unpacked and get ready to be up at the crack of dawn the next morning. It sucks!

It was about the time the PGC changed the opener to Saturday that I started to notice an increasing number of camps sitting empty the first week.

You think adding extra Sundays is going to cause more posted land hippie?

Good on you for getting to the meeting wetdog. Like I said above, I don't really care if we get a bunch of extra Sundays or not as it doesn't much effect the way I hunt.

I suspect you are right though, there will be vocal opposition and I doubt we'll get more than a few extra Sundays.

Hard to say, I know some that won't allow Sunday hunting.

I too despise the Saturday opener!!!

It sure ruined Deer Camp didn't it?

Yep

Do you know what the reasoning is behind this? I'd like to know because it sure makes no sense to me.

not sure I understand the objection to the Saturday opener...

if you don't want to hunt until Monday...don't.

Yeah, you definitely don't understand.

The Saturday opening day has ruined years of tradition in the PA hunting camps in northern PA and also wiped out the best weekend of commerce locally aka restaurants,bars and supermarkets.

My fav.
Shoot the biguns and let the runts breed.
Science ya know. Brilliant.

In my view tradition left long before Saturday.

Deers are trouble. Whaaaah lol

too many deer ARE trouble...unless it doesn't impact YOU.

an awful lot of timber (probably MOST of it!) in Pennsylvania is harvested in this manner.

how many of y'all agree to "14 and up"?

I know.
Hope your baby trees got enough rain.
Look real good over here.

14?

cut 14 inches (dbh) and up.

they'll call it a "selective cut", but the contract reads that you're selling everything 14 inches in diameter and up.

Same mentality.
The 12 inchers can be same age as the bigger
just inferior seed or strain.
Logger showed this when I was a pup.
But the suit n tie guys know better right.

from my experience, the "suit and tie" guys (in forestry) get it right; and most of the ground-pounders are more concerned with immediate dollars and the ease of the harvest...it doesn't take a lot of thought: "is it 14 inches or better? cut it."

Why not get suit and tie off his hyner and mark the trees?
Just jaggin ya.

My all time favorite stand (not mine)
changed ownership.
Holding my breath but guess what.
I can't do or say a dang thing.

I wont argue that forest management is a mess.

We cruised Collins. That looked good "to me".
It's not ALL wrecked.

Now go run over some deer lol.

Marlin what's up with these spruce trees?
Just the Norways or all spruce dyeing?

Collin Pine/Kane Hardwood is a big operation. They own and manage something like 120,000 acres of forest land.

A lot of it is open to public hunting.

I'd have to do some checking...I'm not up on that.

hope the norways die off, though...never liked them.

??????????????????? From Sunday hunting to tree farms?

We call that high grading here in NY. Most stands have been high graded to death, only the junk remains.

Sounds like some peoples hunting camp is just like a holiday weekend.

Here we go where you can hunt without worrying about property lines.
Used to hunt AEP lands, which are now THE WILDS and state public hunting areas.
We would get to the area to hunt, on Friday , scout a little after setting up camp, then scout a lot on Saturday.
Would stock up on food for the week at local shops.
Have a final sight in at a pit away from where we were hunting, and rest and eat a big meal of last years venison loin chops.
Everyone knew where and how to get to their chosen stand.
100% Everyone had a shot on opening day on Monday.

Used to be that way in PA until they changed the opener from Monday to Saturday.

Honest question Lugnut. With the opener going Saturday, is that stopping you from doing all that stuff on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then starting on Monday?

In my opinion, because the half million-plus deer hunters we have in this state will have killed a large number of deer on the opener and on the second day. By the time Monday rolls around, the deer that aren’t dead, have gone completely nocturnal and are hiding in the thickest, nastiest or inaccessible areas, like peoples back yards.

Opening day is opening day, and that is when the majority of the deer are going to be killed.

I’m may miss the tradition of spending time in camp with good friends on the weekend before the rifle opener, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to throw away my best chance to shoot a deer.

Yes,

Folks use to start arriving on Saturday, getting camp in order. Sunday was a day to pre-cook some food for quick meals through out the week, unpack and claim a bunk, Visit other local camps and stop in at some landowners, ect.

The other complicating factor is that bear season runs from the previous Saturday-Tuesday. So if you're a serious bear hunter and travel to camp, you'll be gone Friday-Tuesday/Wednesday. Come home for Thanksgiving on Thursday. Kick your traveling family out of the house and run back to camp on Friday night to be ready for Saturday opener.

Makes sense I suppose

We don’t have a bear season, so don’t need to worry about that.

Our opener has always been the second Friday before Thanksgiving

I also hunt about 1000 acres of private land that is divided between two locations so my properties aren’t really affected by opening day of firearms. I guess if you have a bunch of folks coming in and hunting it that would suck to show up two days later.


Of course, we also hunt it early for crop damage and archery and muzzleloader season. So it gets pressure. But we are pretty selective about when and how the stands are hunted.

Maybe they’ll change it back if everyone decides to just wait till Monday!

Ohio had a two day weekend hunt for does only in mid October a few years ago.
I loved it, as my health couldn't take the cold very well any more.
It lasted two years, because it interfered with bow hunters for two days, while they have a 4+ month season.
There's always a Karen that messes up everything.
The rut is the hardest/strongest the first 10 days of November here.
SMH.

I imagine the people in favor of the Saturday open are mostly hobby hunters that never have experienced a deer camp.

by far, most hunters in PA do NOT hunt out of a deer camp.

"hobby hunters"?

very few hunters here could make a living hunting deer.

That is probably accurate white marlin. The Pennsylvania Deer Camp tradition has been dwindling for decades.

Back in the 50's and through the 80's it was the opposite. A large majority of PA deer hunters hunted out of camps.

Many factors contributed to that decline; hunters aging out (I've lost two out of my camp in recent years), a lack of recruitment of younger hunters to replace their numbers, changing regulations and changes in the state deer herd structure are a few.

The change to a Saturday opener might have been the final nail in the coffin.

Short story about deer camp about 15 years ago. The deer camp next to our farm, opening Monday the grandfather's grandson got a buck first thing in the morning, and he told his grandfather he wanted to go home. Grandfather told him they were there for the whole week and there was plenty of work for him: help drag deer, gut deer, hang deer, get firewood etc. Grandson could not see the whole picture, get mine and go!

nothing personal, my Friend; but I don't believe the majority of PA deer hunters EVER hunted out of camps. I can understand why you'd think that, based on your home location. I'd agree that the majority of southeastern PA-based hunters did.

Agree with the dwindling numbers and the reasons you state. I'll add what I consider the two bigger reasons: single mom households and the extended archery/crossbow seasons that spread out the harvest over a LONG period of time.

Then came Alt shot the trad here.
How is the lumber mill at Endeavor?
Or Weyerhaeuser at Knox?

Use the hunters and their money to exterminate deer.
Hunters are dumb and can't hunt.
We got baby trees but less mills, stupid deer.

Hi Marlin

Or it could be guys with regular 9 to 5 jobs that would like to not have to use all their vacation or don't get PTO.

Or high school and college kids.

Why would people let a regulation effect their deer camp? We always had Saturday openers and were in a deer camp too. It was a lot of fun.

they COULD show up at camp like they USED to do; and do all the same things they USED to do, on the same EXACT timetable, but they won't do that because other folks will hunt "their" deer on the Saturday opener.

it's the same argument that trappers use to complain about a late October opener, because furs aren't prime yet. I say if you don't want to trap until November or December, no one is forcing you to set earlier than that...it's a choice that YOU are making.

You may have a point there. I know back in the day there was always a mass migration of hunters from southeast PA to the northeastern and especially the north central counties of the state right before the rifle deer opener.

I can't find any stats on the percentage that hunt from home vs. those that hunt from a camp and I doubt they exist. So I guess we'll never know for sure.

Even today, the majority of the camp owners I meet are from southeast PA.

Heck, we COULD wait until the second weekend and just pretend that's opening day couldn't we? There'd be no First Day excitement or anticipation, there'd be far fewer deer since the majority were harvested in the first hours of the first day, the hunting would be very slow and uneventful because there'd be no hunters out there moving the deer that were left, there'd be no catching up with neighboring camp owners and visiting to see their harvests because they'd all have left for home, It would suck, but we COULD do it.

We COULD do it, but why on earth would we?

I'm guessing you've never experienced a traditional Pennsylvania Deer Camp.

Hope youns two are in PTA politics.
Look forward to hearing the after 28th
meeting.

It's kinda hard to explain it to those that haven't, Lug. It was the same in western NY where I grew up. Anticipation was a huge part of it. Especially when young. You'd wait for months for opening Monday. School wasn't an issue because every school in the area closed that day.. they didn't say it was for hunting, they listed it as being conferences or something, but it was for hunting. I remember being at camp the day before the opener... we usually ate a steak dinner that night that we cooked. The day before the opener was usually spent cutting and stacking firewood and doing other chores around the camp. I remember standing outside the cabin at night, in the cold, looking up at the stars, breath puffing out in white clouds and just being so excited for the next morning. All the men in my family had blue collar jobs, but all of them could at least take off the opener, and usually a couple days beyond that.

I suppose though, that instead of taking off the opener, people could start taking off the Thursday and Friday before the Saturday opener, instead.... to try to make it like it used to be. It seems strange to take off work to NOT hunt, but I guess it would work. The kids would just have to miss school though, as the schools wouldn't be closed then....

because you were complaining about the timeline changes (voluntary, it seems); changes in "tradition"...etc.

what you WEREN'T complaining about (but what I suspect is the crux of the matter) is that holding yourself to your own traditions would decrease your chances of filling a tag. fwiw, I agree that it WOULD. fewer deer available by Monday.

but you were complaining about the TRADITIONS that are lost. the only thing that would necessarily be different if you chose to honor your traditions is your chances of filling tags.

that's the REAL reason you aren't happy about it.

You couldn't be more wrong.

All you have to do is drive by all the empty camps to see the tradition of "going to hunting camp" has been killed.

Now granted, they started to die when all the doe were killed with the promise of big bucks, this was just the last nail in the coffin, so to speak.

I've been wrong before.

but I still don't see the problem...everyone is free to continue their traditions, if they choose to.

more than Saturday Openings that killed the Camp Culture.

Folks that have experienced a traditional Pennsylvania Hunting Camp, or in Yotetrappers case, a New York Camp, understand that hippie.

Businesses use to close two days, schools closed and stores , especially outdoor mom and pop shops, made their year the weekend before the opener.

There must be alot of negative feedback since they considered changing it back to Monday.

Anyhow, I digress, it is what it is.

I heard something about the PGC considering moving the opener back to Monday. I’m not holding my breath though.

It was considered but shot down for now I read somewhere.

With bow hunting being anywhere from 3 to 4 months or longer, many just bow hunt any more.
Opening day is just another day it seems, as there's no pressure to move the deer.
Everyone wants those big racks , and bait, and lease up land and land lock it.
Hard to hunt like we used to years ago.
I love it when I hear stories about bow hunters land locking up hundreds of acres, baiting and spending thousands of dollars on leases.
And a farmer butting up to their lease getting deer damage permits, and killing the big bucks during the summer.
I was and am a meat hunter, big racks are nice, but you can't eat them.