Pennsylvania Bill to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots Advances
PA Residents: Please Contact Your State Legislator
Photo by Karen Benzel
On September 24, 2026, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted 14–11 to advance House Bill 1097 which would ban barbaric pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania. The vote followed party lines: all 14 Democrats voted yes, and 11 Republicans voted no.
HB 1097 has 45 co-sponsors, including three Republicans, showing support across party lines. The full House still needs to consider and pass the bill. Democrats hold 103 of the House’s 203 seats, and at least 102 votes are needed to pass a bill.
Live pigeon shoots subject birds to terror, pain, injury, and death for amusement or marksmanship. HB 1097 would make it a summary offense to organize or conduct these events, or knowingly allow a premises to be used for them. Though it leaves hunting and certain animal-training activities untouched, the bill would be a meaningful step toward protecting pigeons.
On September 14, CBS 21 reported on the recent Labor Day weekend pigeon
shoot at the Erdman Sportsmen’s Association in Dauphin County. Describing
what happened to the birds, Heidi Prescott said, “They fall to the ground
and they flap, they struggle, they try to get away before they're picked up
roughly by Trapper boys and then killed.”
For background, see UPC’s previous alert, Pennsylvania Bill to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots: Please Contact the House Judiciary Committee.
What Can I Do?
It is vital that every PA resident contact their state legislator and urge them to co-sponsor HB 1097 and support it when it comes up for a vote.
Find your state representative here: https://www.palegis.us/find-my-legislator
Check the bill’s status and co-sponsors: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1097