PRINTER'S NO. 345
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
67
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN AND ROBINSON, FEBRUARY 21, 2023
REFERRED TO GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 21, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions
relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited, providing for
hunting on Sunday and further providing for hunting on Sunday
without written permission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2303 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is repealed:
[§ 2303. Hunting on Sunday prohibited.
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer
or game on Sunday.
(b) Construction of section.--This section shall not be
construed to prohibit:
(1) The training of dogs.
(2) The participation in dog trials as provided for in
this title.
(3) The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from
traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.
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(b.1) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) The hunting of foxes.
(2) The hunting of coyotes.
(3) Any hunting which occurs on noncommercial regulated
hunting grounds holding a valid permit under section 2928(b)
(2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds permits).
(4) Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as
follows:
(i) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by
the commission during the deer rifle season.
(ii) One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted
by the commission during the Statewide deer archery
season.
(iii) One day of Sunday hunting as determined by the
commission shall be instituted by the commission.
Authority to hunt on any Sunday instituted by the commission
under this paragraph shall not apply to any person required
to secure a hunting license who attempts to hunt on private
land without obtaining written permission of the landowner,
an agent of the landowner or lessee.
(c) Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary
offense of the fifth degree.]
Section 2. Title 34 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 2303.1. Hunting on Sunday.
(a) General rule.--The commission may institute Sunday
hunting by regulation promulgated in accordance with section
2102 (relating to regulations).
(b) Applicability.-- Authority to hunt for big game on any
Sunday instituted by the commission under subsection (a) shall
not apply to any person required to secure a hunting license who
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attempts to hunt on private land without obtaining written
permission of the landowner, an agent of the landowner or a
lessee.
(c) Lawful hunting.-- It shall be lawful for a person to hunt
for any furbearer or game on Sunday on and after the publication
of the final regulation under subsection (a).
Section 3. Section 2315(a) of Title 34 is amended to read:
§ 2315. Hunting on Sunday without written permission.
(a) General rule.--A person required to secure a hunting
license to hunt commits an offense if, while engaged in hunting
on Sunday under section [2303(b.1)(4) (relating to hunting on
Sunday prohibited)] 2303.1 (relating to hunting on Sunday), the
person enters private land without obtaining written permission
of the landowner, an agent of the landowner or lessee.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect as follows:
(1) The repeal of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303 shall take effect on
the publication of regulations by the commission under 34
Pa.C.S. § 2303.1.
(2) This section shall take effect immediately.
(3) The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60
days.
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