Take Action Today! West Virginia sportsmen should contact their state delegate and ask them to vote YES on Senate Bill 345. West Virginia members can find their delegate by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance’s Legislative Action Center.
Members of the West Virginia House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee could hold a hearing as soon as next week on legislation that would allow hunting on Sundays on private lands.
Senate Bill 345, sponsored by Sen. Mark R. Maynard (R-Genoa), passed the Senate on March 1 by a vote of 26-6. Currently, Sunday hunting is prohibited on public land, however, counties may vote to allow it on private lands in their jurisdictions. Thirty-three of West Virginia’s 55 counties permit Sunday hunting on private land. SB 345 would make the law regarding hunting on private land uniform across the state.
Despite the county-by-county framework, Sunday hunting has become increasingly more popular in the Mountain State. Just last fall, the National Shooting Sports Foundation ran successful ballot campaigns in 11 counties to allow Sunday hunting.
“After an NSSF-financed campaign in November, Sunday hunting on private property passed in all 11 West Virginia counties where it was on the ballot,” said NSSF’s Senior Director of Government Relations-State Affairs, Jake McGuigan. “The Sunday Hunting Coalition is now focused on the passage of legislation in Charleston, which will allow Sunday hunting on private lands throughout the state. Building off the momentum from the 2016 election, the time has arrived for the state legislature to finally repeal this antiquated blue law.”
Many sportsmen work six days a week, and have difficulty finding time to get into the woods for hunting. Allowing hunting on Sundays will provide both a boon to local economies, and help keep hunters active in the future. The additional day of hunting is expected to pump $9 million into the economy, and $600,000 into conservation funding.
“Opening up more days of hunting is a win-win. It’s great for hunting families. It’s great for the economy and for conservation, as hunters spend heavily on travel, ammunition and more,” said Luke Houghton, Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “Sunday hunting on private land will bring better opportunities for hunting as well as be an added benefit on the hunting economy.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.