Travis Olander 01.17.24
Back in the 19th century, Americans were subject to some laws that widely prohibited activities on Sundays. Called “blue laws,” these statutes prohibited working, drinking, traveling, and generally engaging in any sort of recreational activities on Sundays. And, of course, this included hunting. Today, most states have rid themselves of these archaic laws, allowing us to enjoy our Sundays the way they were intended with morning cruises, beer drinking, and deer hunting. But ten states still restrict Sunday hunting, and two may finally reverse their laws to allow the practice.
Hunting Coverage on AllOutdoor
Total Bans: Maine and Massachusetts
Currently, just Maine and Massachusetts cling to their Blue Laws that completely prohibit Sunday hunting. But that may finally change.
Maine
Maine’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case stemming from a lawsuit asking whether the 19th century law violates an amendment in Maine’s Constitution – a “right to food” clause which, the plaintiffs argue, is being infringed upon by the restriction passed in 1883. Maine’s Supreme Court has heard arguments, but the case has yet to be decided, according to Andy Schmidt, an attorney for the couple who filed the suit.
A spokesman for a group specifically dedicated to overturning the law, Maine Hunters United for Sunday hunting, leaned into supporting the couple’s case. Jared Bornstein said allowing hunting on Sunday would give people the rightful means to harvest their own food in a state dotted with poor and rural communities, many of which don’t have access to affordable groceries.
“I’m not saying that Sunday hunting is going to save the world economically, but I’m saying for a group of people, there’s more of an objective benefit to it,” Bornstein said. “It’s a generation’s last vestigial attempt to control the working class.”
Massachusetts
The Mass Sportsmen’s Council proposed in 2014 to the state legislature that Massachusetts’ Sunday hunting ban should be repealed. The state’s law dates even further than Maine’s, with some records indicating 18th century Puritans are responsible for the longstanding prohibition. Massachusetts lawmakers in November 2023 finally heard public testimony on bills that would allow deer hunting on Sunday – and, beyond Constitutionalism, there is plenty of practical reason to reverse the arcane law: The state now reports a deer population of more than 100,000, with a density of between 12 to 18 and 30 to 50 deer per square mile. Conservationists and farmers are calling the overpopulation a silent environmental crisis, with 77% of the state’s residents in support of lifting the Sunday hunting ban to help quell the exploding number of cervids.
States With Partial Sunday Hunting Bans
Nine other states retain at least partial bans on Sunday hunting.
Connecticut
Sunday hunting in Connecticut is only allowed with bows on licensed, private shooting reserves and in regulated dog training areas with permission from local authorities. Hunting on public land is prohibited, as is all hunting with firearms. But in March 2023, lawmakers met to consider a bill that would eliminate all restrictions for Sunday hunting in the state. During receipt of public comments, written testimony showed that 70% of more than 200 respondents supported eliminating the restrictions.
Pennsylvania
All hunting except for fox, cow, and coyote hunting is illegal on Sundays in Pennsylvania, with limited exceptions for regular hunting on Sundays falling on certain weekend (usually on Sundays surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday). At publication, no bills that would eliminate Sunday hunting restrictions currently reside with the state legislature.
New Jersey
Currently, New Jersey only allows bowhunting for deer on Sundays, but only on private land and in particular state wildlife management areas. Hunting with firearms for any game is prohibited. Oddly, an exception is carved out wherein residents can hunt raccoons and opossums between 12:01AM and sunrise, but only when they’re otherwise in season. Two bills, Assembly Bill 1699 and Assembly bill 1713, were referred to the state’s legislature in 2020 to expand Sunday hunting rights to allow for deer hunting with firearms. Both bills failed to secure the necessary votes for ratification.
Delaware
State law only allows for Sunday deer hunting on private land and on some designated publicly owned lands. Sunday hunting for all other species is prohibited on public and private land.
Maryland
Maryland has plenty of oddly specific laws governing Sunday hunts:
- Those with Falconry permits may hunt certain game birds and mammals.
- An unarmed person may participate in an organized fox chase.
- Some captive-raised game birds may be hunted in regulated shooting areas.
- Deer, turkey, and small game hunting is restricted to certain designated areas, which includes private land.
North Carolina
It was only in 2015 that North Carolina did away with its total ban on Sunday hunting. The passage of the Outdoor Heritage Act did away with total prohibition enacted in 1868. Sunday hunting is now allowed with just a few prohibitions in effect:
- Hunting is restricted between 9:30AM and 12:30PM
- No hunting shall occur within 500 yards of a church
- Deer cannot be tracked with dogs while hunting
West Virginia
Sunday hunting was also recently expanded in West Virginia, with legislation in 2018 passed to allow for statewide hunting on private and public land. The only restriction that remains is time-based: Hunting is restricted after 5:00PM on public land.
Virginia
Virginia first only allowed Sunday hunting on private land but, in July 2022, public land management agencies allowed hunting on properties managed by them. Using dogs to track while hunting deer or bear with guns is still prohibited, as is hunting within 200 yards of any church.
South Carolina
On May 26, 2023, South Carolina’s legislature voted to allow Sunday hunting on eight Wildlife Management Area properties and in two National Forests from October 15 to January 31, ending a longstanding Blue Law that enacted total prohibition. The new law provides access to most public game lands, though 30% of that territory remains prohibited from use on Sundays.
