According to Field & Stream, hunters in Pennsylvania and Connecticut have something big to celebrate–both states just repealed long-standing Sunday hunting bans after years of lobbying by conservation groups like Delta Waterfowl and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Pennsylvania’s full repeal takes effect September 7 and ends a colonial-era “blue law” that restricted Sunday activities for religious reasons. Connecticut’s new law also opens up most hunting on Sundays for the first time in over a century. Supporters say it’s a major win for working folks and young hunters who only have weekends to get outside. With nearly 30 million more acres now available for Sunday hunting, this double victory has sportsmen hopeful more states will soon follow suit.
Here in Montana, we’re lucky to have wide-open access, but it’s a good reminder that in many places, hunters are still fighting for time in the field.