Hard to say religion doesn't play a role when members of the G&F Committee like Denlinger openly state that as a reason and even Chairman Smith has made remarks about religious groups opposing the issue on PCNTV and about a need to respect those who worship on Sunday as if our laws shouldn't equally respect those who worship on other days.
As for the Farm Bureau, they too have publicly stated time and again how religious reasons are the major issue for many members. If you dig up the reports on their mid-summer testimony to the AG Committee, you'll also see more than one comment from other Representatives on that Committee supporting the Farm Bureau's position on the ban for religious reasons.
Interestingly enough, Smith sponsored a Resolution (House Resolution 927) that passed in the House last month and differs little from one that was already on the agenda.
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on the social, economic, philosophical and practical impact of providing expanded hunting opportunities, including hunting on Sunday, in this Commonwealth.
Smith hasn't been bashful at all about explaining that his addition of the word "philisophical" was referring to religion.