With the next vote expected Monday, October 28, in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, hunters may be closing in on some additional Sunday hunting.

But, if Senate Bill 147 is approved by the full House on Monday, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau will continue on its way to gaining even more from a legislative process that began its latest edition in February, when the Senate approved the original bill.

If the bill is approved by the House and then by the Senate, in its amended form, and then signed by the governor, hunters next year will be permitted to hunt on 3 Sundays: 1 in archery deer season, 1 in firearms deer season and 1 on a Sunday selected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The Farm Bureau insisted on those 3 dates as part of its offer to take a neutral position on the bill, previous versions of which it had successfully opposed for many previous years.

SB 147, in its original form, entirely removed Pennsylvania’s centuries-old prohibition on Sunday hunting and would have allowed the commission to decide the Sundays to be opened to hunting.

But the Farm Bureau presented a lengthy list of conditions it wanted added to the bill before it would remove its blockade.

The final condition, which was added to the bill by amendment in the House Game and Fisheries Committee earlier this week, will require hunters to get written permission before hunting on private land on Sundays. Violation of that part of the law would carry a fine of $250-500.

Another concession won by the Farm Bureau as SB 147 moved along was increased trespass law enforcement and penalties.

But the 20 hunting organizations that pulled together under the Hunters United for Sunday Hunting umbrella see themselves as closer to their objective than they’ve been in 20 years and are urging their members to contact legislators to express their support for SB 147.

And a couple statewide organizations remain opposed to additional Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Grange expressed “deep disappointment” in the passage of the bill by the House Game and Fisheries Committee.

“The Pennsylvania State Grange believes that the vote was short-sighted because while Sunday hunting is hailed as a panacea to end the decade-old slide in hunting licenses, proponents have never documented that claim.

“Problems facing hunting are deeper than simply adding Sundays. A cultural shift, less young people being familiar with recreational hunting and other causes need to be explored by an independent body like the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget & Finance Committee before there is a legislative rush to judgement about the solution.”

And, the Keystone Trails Association said SB 147 “threatens to intrude on the recreation opportunities of hikers, backpackers, horseback riders and everyone else who enjoys peaceful Sundays in Penn's Woods.

“The bill would allow for hunting on Sundays, disturbing the day of peace and quiet in the woods that so many depend on.

“KTA has opposed Sunday hunting the many times that proponents have tried to push it forward before, and we will continue to oppose it on behalf of our members. We are committed to preserving the peace of mind that countless Pennsylvania families and tourists enjoy one day a week in our great outdoors.”

Currently Pennsylvania is one of about 7 states that prohibit most types of hunting on Sunday. Only crows, coyotes and foxes may be hunted on Sunday. Existing law bans Sunday hunting and exempts those 3 animals.