By Don Rank HARRISBURG, PA, July 9, 2025 – This morning, at a small ceremony near the state capital, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law House Bill 1431. At last the ban on Sunday hunting has been lifted in Pennsylvania – a hard-earned victory for which Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and its Pennsylvania Chapter should take pride. History The inability to hunt on Sundays in Pennsylvania dates to the days when Ulysses S. Grant was president. Back then, it was one of many “Blue ...

Pennsylvania BHA leaders and members - and all of our conservation organization allies - were hopeful earlier this year when there was not one, but two bills, one each in the Senate and House, that would finally do away with the ridiculous prohibition on Sunday hunting in the Keystone state. We have watched with dismay as the Sunday hunting bill in the senate has been sullied with an unnecessary and dangerous addition that would alter the makeup of the Pennsylvania Board of Game ...

Legislative Update Our efforts in Harrisburg on behalf of our members continues. With the legislature moving into summer recess, here is an update on the bills we are following.   Support SB 67 (Laughlin) Sunday Hunting – Removes the prohibition on Sunday Hunting. This is our top legislative priority. This bill awaits action in the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee.   SB 344 (Gebhard) aims to include full-time, out-of-state college students in Pennsylvania’s great hunting and fur taking ...

The Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers has had another busy year advocating for our members in Harrisburg. Our board members have regularly visited the capitol to meet with legislators and we’ve used chapter funds to hire Policy Advisor John Kline, giving BHA a constant presence working on our behalf in Harrisburg. We are the only BHA Chapter with a full-time lobbyist. These efforts have allowed us to build relationships with partners, legislators and leaders in our ...

The Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers joins the National Deer Association in calling for the regulatory oversight of the 723 captive deer shooting facilities to be transferred to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). The presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the Pennsylvania’s deer herd is a threat to the future of hunting in Pennsylvania and the $1.6 billion in economic output generated by hunting that supports many jobs and businesses. CWD was first found in ...