Sunday Hunting under Consideration
Currently, most hunting is prohibited on Sundays in
Pennsylvania with, for various reasons, the support of many hunters, other outdoor
recreationists, farmers and other landowners. This works well for
us birders. Ironically, many of us support hunting and would like to see some bag limits sharply
increased. I'm in that latter group, especially for deer.
This could change, for the worse. See how, and what you can do about it, in this
link provided below in Jeff Grove's message.
I usually avoid many of the gamelands and other hunted areas on days other than Sundays, even though
I own a blaze orange vest. It's uncomfortable out there for me, especially in turkey season. I want
one day a week when I can be sure that most of the hunters about have left their weapons at home.
Jack Solomon
President, 3RBC
Message from Jeff Grove:
Notice to all Bikers, Mountain Bikers, Cross Country Skiers, Hikers,
Bird Watchers, Hunters, and other users of the outdoors
Sunday Hunting will be a topic in the PA State Legislature in June. Your
access to some public and private land and trails may end soon.
My wife and I are active bikers, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers,
hikers, and we wish to bring this issue to your attention. Loss of
access to many of the areas many of us now enjoy will likely occur if
Sunday hunting is allowed. This issue will definitely affect you if you
ride mountain bike or use trails on Sundays.
It is very important that contacts are made with the legislature to
express opposition to Sunday hunting before June 9, 2005. Several
events will occur at the Capitol that may move Pennsylvania closer to
passage of legislation to allow Sunday hunting. On June 9, the House
Game and Fisheries Committee is having a hearing House Bill 904, which
would amend the Game Code to repeal all Sunday hunting restrictions. On
June 15, the Legislative Budget & Finance Committee will release a
report showing the results of responses to their surveys on Sunday
hunting. Then, on Thursday June 16, the House Game & Fisheries Committee
will formally receive that report and hear comments from the Legislative
Budget and Finance Committee on the opinions expressed in the survey.
If Sunday hunting were to pass, several new restrictions to mountain
bikers and outdoor enthusiasts may quickly occur. Access to State Game
Lands will become further restricted, with possible total restriction
from non-hunting use. State DCNR forestland could also see access
denials. Also many recreational users may find it necessary make the
personal choice to stay out of areas they now commonly use, due to
hunting being allowed on Sundays.
Sunday hunting advocates say the prohibition of hunting is a nuisance
and should be repealed, just like the repeal of the Blue Laws
prohibiting retail sales on Sunday. Attempts by Sunday hunting
advocates to use repeal of Blue Laws to justify repeal of Sunday hunting
are erroneous. Unlike repeal of the Blue Laws, which was favored by the
majority of retail business owners, the majority of private property
owners, farm owners, and many outdoor enthusiasts also oppose the
elimination of restrictions on Sunday hunting.
Forcing Sunday hunting on all other "classes" of users for exclusive use
of hunters is not fair or necessary. Since 1873 when the current law
banning Sunday hunting was established, the Game Commission has adjusted
seasons and bag limits without Sunday, to meet wildlife population goals
and to satisfy hunter's needs for time afield. Even many of the hunters
themselves oppose Sunday hunting, which is being pushed by a small but
organized group of hunters. Even the largest hunting organization in the
state, PA Federation of Sportsmen's' Clubs, opposes Sunday hunting.
To prevent Sunday hunting from moving forward will take hundreds of
contacts from hunting and non-hunting users of the outdoors opposed to
Sunday hunting. That means churches, farmers, neighbors, friends, and
anyone else you can get to make contacts need to start now. They need to
call, write, fax, and E-mail the members of the House Game & Fisheries
Committee. The committee must get lots of heat on this issue, especially
the sponsor of HB 973, Ed Staback, of Lackawanna County and Committee
Chairman, Bruce Smith of York County. Or Sunday hunting may become a
reality.
Link to hunter side of issue (this should give you plenty of ideas on
what to say and understand what those who want Sunday hunting think and
say): http://www.pasportsman.org/Sunday_Hunting.htm
List of members of House Game & Fisheries Committee:
Game and Fisheries Committee
Majority:
Smith, Bruce , Chairman
Forcier, Teresa , Vice Chairman
Gillespie, Keith J., Secretary
Causer, Martin T.
Denlinger, Gordon
Geist, Richard Allen
Good, Matthew
Keller, Mark K.
McNaughton, Mark S.
Miller, Sheila
Pickett, Tina
Rohrer, Samuel E.
Sonney, Curtis G.
Wilt, Rod E.
Minority:
Staback, Edward G., Chairman
Haluska, Gary , Vice Chairman
Gergely, Marc J., Secretary
Costa, Paul
Goodman, Neal P.
Hanna, Michael K.
McGeehan, Michael P.
Readshaw, Harry A.
Sainato, Chris
Shaner, James E.
Surra, Dan A.
Wojnaroski, Sr., Edward P.
