NICHOLSON -- There is another push underway to allow Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania.
A lawmaker from Lackawanna County was among those using a rally in Harrisburg Tuesday to introduce a bill to change the law.
We talked with hunters in Wyoming County on both sides of the issue that has been debated for years.
Pennsylvania has more than a million hunters who head into the woods, especially at deer season.
But not on Sundays; Sunday hunting has been banned for 142 years.
"Let's get the 1.5 million Pennsylvania hunters back in the woods."
State representative Frank Farina of Lackawanna County and sportsmen groups rallied for change, launching a bill to change the law and open the woods to Sunday hunting.
"One government restriction leads to another and we are being systematically weakened. Help protect conservation efforts and the Second Amendment," said Rep. Frank Farina/(D) Lackawanna County.
While there have been efforts in the past to push for Sunday hunting, lawmakers say it makes more sense now than ever because people are working more and have less time to get out in the woods.
"There's a lot of gentlemen, or ladies and gentlemen, who can't hunt on a Sunday. They only have Sundays off, including me, so I'd like to be out Sunday hunting along with them," said Rich Croasdale, the owner of Croasdale Sporting Goods in Nicholson.
After opening the store six years ago, the farmer changed his view against Sunday hunting.
"I kind of figured the animals should have a day off like everyone else, but more and more people are working six days a week rather than five days a week to make ends meet anymore."
The state farm bureau says most farmers are against Sunday hunting, wanting peace and quiet around their lands one day a week.
Kenneth Tewksbury was buying his hunting license. He opposes Sunday hunting.
"I'm against it because it's a rest day for the animals and a rest day for going to church and stuff like that," Tewksbury said.
Proponents point out that hunting would only happen on eight to 12 Sundays a year.
"When people get out, usually it's 3:30 if you're putting in an eight hour day. By the time you get in the woods at 4:30 and you don't have daylight left for hunting, so Sunday if you have all day, most people have off, you can hunt all day on Sunday," said Nicholson resident Brian Keller.
The latest bill to allow Sunday hunting was just introduced. It has to work its way through the state capitol.
Lawmakers pitching it said hunting allowed all weekend in Pennsylvania could boost the state economy by $800 million.
