Sunday firearms hunting would be allowed on private lands under a bill which received a public hearing Monday.  Jake McGuigan of the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation urged support for the bill.  recognizes that social, economic and wildlife conservation benefits would result from a repeal of the ban.

McGuigan says the tide has been turning toward Sunday hunting.  Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia recently lifted their bans.  He also noted that archery only hunting was allowed a few years ago, and they want to see that expanded to firearms hunting.

He notes that the number of hunting licenses decreased by 22-percent since 1997, and called it a huge lost of revenue for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

McGuigan says all of the people and groups in the Sunday Hunting Coalition, it adds up to thousands of Connecticut sportsmen, hunters and gun owners.

Wildlife advocates voiced opposition to the bill.  Other opponents are concerned that the sound of gun fire and bullets could hit a person on abutting public land trying to enjoy the quiet.  Equestrians were also concerned about the sound of gun fire startling horses.