For Pennsylvania sportsmen who crave more hunting time afield, especially for those who work a six-day week, legislation has been reintroduced that would repeal the state’s prohibition on Sunday hunting. If approved, it would allow the Game Commission to include Sunday hunting when establishing hunting seasons annually. This would be more than is currently offered.

Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, reintroduced Senate Bill 67 that would end the Sunday prohibition. The bill picked up momentum when it passed the Senate and gained preliminary approval in the House of Representatives before time ran out in the legislative session. Now that the bill has a new start, and a larger base of support including many sportsmen’s groups as well as the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the PGC said it looks forward to working with this coalition to get the bill passed. “This would be an outcome that benefits hunters and helps ensure the future of wildlife management,” said PGC Executive Director Steve Smith. He expressed the agency’s support for the proposal saying, “Hunting takes time and a lack of time is one of the biggest reasons cited by hunters who stopped hunting.” He went on to say, “Repealing the Sunday hunting ban and allowing the PGC to fully regulate Sunday hunting is an opportunity to provide hunter more time afield, which will help keep the engaged and carrying out their vital role in managing key wildlife populations.”

ICE FISHING REPORT

According to Northeast Pennsylvania Ice Fishing social media site, the general consensus is that the season is over, especially with the warm-up forecast for this week.

Mike at Mike’s Bait and Tackle in Nazareth said the ice is gone on Lake Minsi. He did hear of some walleye catches in the Delaware River.

Chris at Chris’s Bait and Tackle in Mertztown, said he fished Lake Wallenpaupack last week and there was still 12-20 inches at places. He also heard good ice remained at the Upper Pond at Promised Land but with this week’s weather forecast, it appears ice fishing is over for the year.

Other reports say there is good ice on northernmost lakes and pond in the Poconos, but some are having open water around the edges while the middles remain fishable. But be careful and wear a life jacket or vest just in case if deciding to wade out.