No matter how you view it, Sunday hunting in Massachusetts has always been a hot topic.

Banned more than 100 years ago, dating back to Puritan days, “no hunting on Sunday” was viewed as a way to get more people in church!

At the same time, other Sunday activities were also illegal including opening a store, drinking alcohol, and tilling your fields.

Most of these laws have since been repealed; however, Sunday hunting restrictions remain in 11 states. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and

Maine restrict, or completely ban, Sunday hunting. In addition, the idea of softening the

state’s views regarding Sunday hunting has historically received little support. Wayne

MacCallum, former director of the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, commented

before his retirement that “No Sunday hunting” is a relic of “Puritanical rule”, “part of the so-called blue laws…