CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would allow hunting on Sundays on private lands statewide.
Senate Bill 345 would making hunting and trapping on private property legal, given the consent of the landowner.
The bill passed 26-6.
Hunting on private lands has already been approved by voters in 33 of the state’s 55 counties.
“We’ve taken away the voice from a local perspective of a county making that decision,” said Senator Bob Plymale, D-Wayne.
The National Rifle Association, the West Virginia Citizens Defense League, the state Division of Natural Resources and the state Division of Tourism support the legislation.
According to a fiscal note from Natural Resources division, the state could make more than $616,000 during the 2018 fiscal year if the bill was signed into law.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Hall, R-Putnam, said the bill does not open up hunting to every Sunday.
“Hunting seasons are limited to certain amounts of time,” Hall said.
The House of Delegates will next hear the bill. In that chamber, House Bill 2627 would also permit Sunday hunting on private lands, but allows voters to prohibit it through county ballot measures.