Signed by Governor Tom Wolf

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that establishes hunting regulations and restrictions concerning Sunday hunting.

Highlights:

• Prohibits hunting on Sunday except under the following circumstances (Sec. 2):

• 1 day of Sunday hunting will be instituted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission during the deer rifle season;

• 1 day of Sunday hunting will be instituted by the Commission during the statewide deer archery season; and

• 1 day of Sunday hunting will be determined by the Commission will be instituted by the Commission.

• Specifies that any person found in violation of this title or any regulations under this title, and who in addition is found to be trespassing, will be in violation of this section (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that (Sec. 3):

• A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree; and 

• A second or subsequent violation of this section within a 7-year period is a summary offense of the fifth degree and will result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere within the state for a 1-year period. 

• Specifies that a person, while engaged in hunting or furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that they are not licensed or privileged to do so, the person (Sec. 3):

• Enters or remains on any land of another without authorization to do so, when the land is posted in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the person’s attention, or is fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude trespassers; or

• Enters or remains on any land of another without authorization and defies an order not to enter or to leave that has been personally communicated to the person by the owner of the land or other authorized person. 

• Specifies that a person who commits the first violation under the first sub-highlight of the previous highlight commits a summary offense of the third degree (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a person who commits a second violation under the second sub-highlight of the previous highlight commits a misdemeanor (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a person who commits a second or subsequent violation within a 7-year period commits a misdemeanor, and the second or subsequent violation will result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere within the state for a 1-year period (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a person required to secure a hunting license commits an offense if, while hunting on Sunday, the person enters private land without obtaining written permission of the landowner, an agent of the landowner, or lessee (Sec. 4).

• Establishes that a violation of this section is a summary offense of the third degree (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes hunting regulations and restrictions concerning Sunday hunting.

Highlights:

• Prohibits hunting on Sunday except under the following circumstances (Sec. 2):

• 1 day of Sunday hunting will be instituted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission during the deer rifle season;

• 1 day of Sunday hunting will be instituted by the Commission during the statewide deer archery season; and

• 1 day of Sunday hunting will be determined by the Commission will be instituted by the Commission.

• Specifies that any person found in violation of this title or any regulations under this title, and who in addition is found to be trespassing, will be in violation of this section (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that (Sec. 3):

• A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree; and 

• A second or subsequent violation of this section within a 7-year period is a summary offense of the fifth degree and will result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere within the state for a 1-year period. 

• Specifies that a person, while engaged in hunting or furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that they are not licensed or privileged to do so, the person (Sec. 3):

• Enters or remains on any land of another without authorization to do so, when the land is posted in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the person’s attention, or is fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude trespassers; or

• Enters or remains on any land of another without authorization and defies an order not to enter or to leave that has been personally communicated to the person by the owner of the land or other authorized person. 

• Specifies that a person who commits the first violation under the first sub-highlight of the previous highlight commits a summary offense of the third degree (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a person who commits a second violation under the second sub-highlight of the previous highlight commits a misdemeanor (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a person who commits a second or subsequent violation within a 7-year period commits a misdemeanor, and the second or subsequent violation will result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere within the state for a 1-year period (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text