Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 23 - Hunting and Furtaking
Section 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.
(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.
(Dec. 17, 1990, P.L.724, No.180, eff. 60 days; June 22, 1994, P.L.356, No.53, eff. imd.; Nov. 27, 2019, P.L.739, No.107, eff. 90 days)

2019 Amendment. Act 107 added subsec. (b.1)(4).
Cross References. Section 2303 is referred to in section 2315 of this title.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 34 - GAME

Chapter 23 - Hunting and Furtaking

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 2301 - Prima facie evidence of hunting

Section 2302 - Interference with lawful taking of wildlife or other activities permitted by this title prohibited

Section 2303 - Hunting on Sunday prohibited

Section 2304 - Ownership of carcass of game or wildlife

Section 2305 - Retrieval and disposition of killed or wounded game or wildlife

Section 2306 - Killing game or wildlife by mistake

Section 2307 - Unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife

Section 2308 - Unlawful devices and methods

Section 2309 - Unlawful removal of game or wildlife from place of refuge

Section 2310 - Unlawful use of lights while hunting

Section 2311 - Restrictions on recreational spotlighting

Section 2312 - Buying and selling game

Section 2313 - Investigation and seizure of game or wildlife

Section 2314 - Trespass on private property while hunting

Section 2315 - Hunting on Sunday without written permission

Section 2321 - Unlawful killing or taking of big game

Section 2322 - Prohibited devices and methods

Section 2323 - Tagging and reporting big game kills

Section 2324 - Parties hunting big game

Section 2325 - Cooperation after lawfully killing big game

Section 2326 - Excess kill of big game

Section 2327 - Subsequent kill if big game unfit for human consumption

Section 2328 - Shipping or transporting big game

Section 2329 - Additional penalty for poaching (Repealed)

Section 2341 - Possession and transportation of small game

Section 2361 - Unlawful acts concerning taking of furbearers

Section 2362 - Permitted acts

Section 2363 - Trapping exception for certain persons

Section 2364 - Penalties

Section 2381 - Dogs pursuing, injuring or killing game or wildlife

Section 2382 - Training dogs on small game

Section 2383 - Dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game

Section 2384 - Declaring dogs public nuisances

Section 2385 - Destruction of dogs declared public nuisances

Section 2386 - Penalties