This week, the Virginia House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources passed a bill to open the state to Sunday hunting on private land.
House Bill 1237, sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), would authorize Sunday hunting with written permission on private land and Sunday hunting for waterfowl on public lands subject to approval by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The 12-10 vote now sends the bill to the full Virginia House of Delegates.
“Opening Sundays to hunting provides working sportsmen with a significant increase in hunting opportunities,” said Adam Wright, USSA’s associate director of state services. “This bill would essentially double the number of hunting days for sportsmen and could drive increased participation and enthusiasm in the outdoors throughout the state.”
There are currently only 11 states that prohibit or restrict Sunday hunting, including Virginia. According to a study commissioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, allowing Sunday hunting in Virginia would result in nearly 4,000 new jobs and more than $296 million in economic impact annually.