Across the country, lawmakers are revisiting longstanding “blue laws” that prohibit or limit hunting on Sundays. Initially rooted in religious or cultural norms, these restrictions are increasingly seen as outdated by advocates who argue for more flexibility in outdoor recreation. In response, states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are introducing or advancing Sunday hunting legislation that would expand opportunities for hunters while maintaining oversight through licensing, safety, and landowner consent. Below is a look at recent state-level efforts to modernize hunting access.
Connecticut Expands Sunday Hunting on Private Land
A new law approved during Connecticut’s 2025 legislative session significantly expands Sunday hunting legislation in the state. Substitute House Bill 7231 permits hunting on private land on Sundays using any legal hunting implement, as long as the hunter obtains written permission from the landowner and carries it while hunting. The law maintains a buffer zone, prohibiting Sunday hunting within 40 yards of public trails, including Connecticut’s blue-blazed and federally designated trails. Hunting migratory birds on Sundays remains prohibited.
The bill also grants the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) broader authority to manage wildlife on Sundays. Under the new provisions, DEEP may approve wildlife removal efforts by municipalities, homeowner associations, or nonprofit landowners, provided those activities align with professional wildlife management practices and receive prior approval. The new Sunday hunting legislation, which Governor Ned Lamont has indicated he will sign, is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.
Massachusetts Proposes Sunday Bow Hunting Access
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering targeted Sunday hunting legislation that would permit the use of bows and arrows on Sundays. House Bill 941, filed by Representative Paul K. Frost and co-sponsors, would amend current state law by lifting the ban on archery hunting while keeping the prohibition on Sunday shotgun hunting in place.
If passed, the bill would allow licensed hunters to pursue birds or mammals with a bow and arrow on Sundays. The legislation does not alter licensing or season regulations. However, it focuses solely on removing the restriction on archery hunting one day per week. The bill was under review by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
New Jersey Lawmakers Consider Broader Sunday Hunting Permissions
Multiple bills have been introduced in New Jersey to broaden Sunday hunting legislation to encompass state, private, and federal lands. Assembly Bill 184 and its Senate counterpart, S1858, would authorize Sunday deer hunting with firearms or bows on state wildlife management areas, private property, certain federal military lands, and the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic County. Hunters would need to hold a valid firearm, archery, or “All Around Sportsman License” and follow all applicable State Fish and Game Code regulations.
A separate measure, Assembly Bill 2736, introduced separately, focuses specifically on federal military land. It would allow Sunday deer hunting on these properties, provided proper authorization is obtained from federal military authorities. Collectively, these bills aim to expand access, harmonize New Jersey’s rules with those of federal and neighboring states, and offer more flexibility for licensed hunters.
Pennsylvania Advances Repeal of Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Pennsylvania’s House Bill 1431, approved by the House Game and Fisheries Committee and later by the full House in June of 2025, seeks to repeal the state’s longstanding ban on Sunday hunting. This proposed Sunday hunting legislation would eliminate statutory restrictions, allowing hunting and furtaking on Sundays under the same framework as any other day.
The bill also updates several provisions within Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. These changes include revised trespassing rules, updated procedures for reporting and processing harvested game, and new requirements to ensure agricultural representation on the Game Commission. The measure is a companion to Senate Bill 67 and builds on earlier efforts, such as the 2019 law signed by then-Governor Tom Wolf that authorized Sunday hunting on three specific dates annually (one during rifle season and one determined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission).
From The Experts
Expert insights from the authors at Duane Morris Government Strategies.
Ryan Stevens
States across the Northeast are reexamining Sunday hunting laws to expand access for hunters while balancing landowner rights, public safety, and wildlife management.
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