HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania would receive an additional $18 million in state sales and income taxes if a ban on Sunday hunting was repealed, according to a legislative study released Tuesday.

The report by the nonpartisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee assessed the economic effect of and public sentiment toward rescinding a hunting ban that has been in force since 1873. But the study did not recommend whether state lawmakers should repeal it.

The current law allows exceptions for hunting foxes, coyotes, crows and hunting on noncommercial regulated hunting grounds.

Pennsylvania would also see a net retail-sales increase of nearly $322 million annually and gain more than 5,300 jobs if Sunday hunting was allowed, the report found. The economic-impact statistics took into account a survey of hunters who said they would hunt about five additional days a year on average if the ban was lifted.

The study was requested by Rep. Robert W. Godshall, a committee member, who said lawmakers needed to consider economic data and other statistics, rather than letting personal prejudices influence them.

The House Game and Fisheries Committee is considering a bill that would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to authorize Sunday hunting.

"You can participate in any other kind of activity that we have (on Sunday), except for hunting," said Godshall, R-Montgomery.

Pennsylvania is one of nine states that prohibit Sunday hunting for wild game, according to the study. Thirty-eight states allow unrestricted Sunday hunting, and three allow it on a limited basis.

The study also found that while a majority of hunters would like to hunt on Sundays, the demand isn't overwhelming. A mailed survey completed by 486 licensed hunters in March and April - a 45 percent response rate - showed that 53 percent favored Sunday hunting, 43 percent opposed it, and 5 percent had no opinion.

In a separate survey with a similar response rate, 80 percent of farmers and other landowners said they opposed Sunday hunting, citing privacy concerns and religious reasons.