Brewster: Sunday Hunting Bill Clears Senate

Brewster: Sunday Hunting Bill Clears Senate

Harrisburg – June 26, 2019 – Legislation to permit hunting on three Sunday’s throughout the year passed the Senate today on a 36-14 vote according to Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), one of the bill’s prime sponsors.

“This is an incredibly important piece of legislation for sportsmen and women in Pennsylvania,” Brewster said.  “Opening up selected Sundays for hunting will spur interest in the sport, increase the number of hunters, retain in-state hunters and attract men and women from other states.”

The legislation specifies that hunting will be on three days including: one day during deer rifle season, one day during deer archery season and another day selected by the Game Commission.  

Brewster said the measure would generate additional revenues for the commission.  He said these revenues will help shore up finances and promote new initiatives. 

The bill also includes new provisions to ensure to address trespassing.  The lawmaker said that organizations representing farmers were engaged to help craft language. 

Brewster teamed up with Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) to sponsor the measure.   Brewster applauded Laughlin for his work and leadership on the bill. 

“Senator Laughlin did an excellent job working through issues, finding common ground and moving the legislation forward,” Brewster said. 

Brewster said that one of the greatest assets we have are state game lands.  The game lands were paid for by hunters and help maintain open spaces for hunting and recreation. 

“As a life-long sportsman, I have a tremendous appreciation of Pennsylvania’s natural resources,” Brewster said.  “We have to do more to preserve natural habitats, promote conservation and safe wildlife management practices.”

There are nearly 1.5 million acres of state game lands owned and maintained by the Game Commission.

“Our hunters have supported conservation efforts in the past and we need to find ways to encourage more hunters to adopt the sport,” Brewster said.  “Sunday hunting is an excellent way to spur interest in hunting and engage more young people.”

The bill now goes to the state House of Representatives for its consideration.

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Brewster Applauds Approval of Sunday Hunting Bill

Brewster Applauds Approval of Sunday Hunting Bill

Legislation will be brought to a vote in the Senate

Harrisburg – June 20, 2019 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) applauded the passage of his Sunday Hunting Bill (Senate Bill 147) out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The legislation, which would authorize the Game Commission to allow Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania for up to three Sundays, will be brought to the Senate floor for a vote.

“I am happy the Appropriations Committee realized the benefits of allowing Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania,” said Brewster. “Increased tourism to our state game lands, increased revenue from hunting licenses, and providing working hunters a little extra time to enjoy their sport are all positive impacts of SB147.”

Brewster authored the legislation with Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) to start a dialogue on the number of established hunting days, the process of managing public lands, protections for farmers and their crops, and how to combat chronic wasting disease that effects Pennsylvania’s deer herd. The way the bill will be amended would permit hunting on three Sundays throughout the year.

“We set out to start a conversation and I believe the approval of the bill is a positive sign that the conversation has been successful,” said Brewster. “If we are going to be a state that values the environment and conservation efforts to protect it, allowing Sunday hunting is a revenue stream that we must tap into.”

Brewster is confident that allowing the Game Commission to open state game lands for three Sundays per year will combat the decrease in hunting license sales, encourage Pennsylvania hunters to hunt in-state, and attract out-of-state hunters for weekend trips. These three aspects will bring increased revenue for conversation initiatives championed by the Game Commission and support rural communities near state game lands.

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