Hunting on Sunday

[davidk]

State Rep. Ed "B'wanna" Staback has once gain introduced a bill that would allow open hunting on Sunday in Pa.
Currently only coyotes, fox and crows can be hunted on Sunday.
I am wondering whta everyone thinks of this proposal, especially since we are in a rural area.

[char]

personally I would be against hunting on a Sunday... Lets give God's creatures at least on day of rest...bad enough we are taking away their habitat.... Give them a break...

[susie]

Hi davidk,  Are there particular reasons behind the bill? (Ex. to reduce herd population of deer.)  Or is it just that most hunters work Monday thru Friday and would like to be able to hunt on Sunday also?  By 'open hunting' does that mean in a particular animal's hunting season that they could also hunt on Sunday?  Or are there some animals that they would always be able to shoot.  Basically, during hunting season, I would like not to hear gunshots on Sunday.  Yet, I have many friends that are really avid hunters and outdoorsmen and are very considerate hunters.  If it would be one more day that they could really enjoy their sport, I guess basically I would be for it as long as it would remain a hunting season type of deal.  I certainly would not want to hear gunshots every Sunday of the year.    :lol:

[JoeP]

I kind of agree with Susie on this - especially the point that there are many considerate, law abiding hunters. While I am no longer a hunting fan, I surely can understand that hunters can't always get time off, or afford time off, from work and therefore would enjoy an extra weekend day to hunt.

On the other hand, more gunfire on Sunday I wouldn't enjoy.  Giving the animals a day of rest is another.  Perhaps a compromise would work where hunting on Sundays is limited in hours - say noon to 5 PM.

[davidk]

The bill essentialy rescinds the law prohibiting hunting on Sunday for animals other than fox, coyotes, and crows.
It would then be up to the PGC to determine where and what species could be hunted.
It could, and probably would, include not only firearms but all types of weapons.
My concerns are that here on our property we have to patrol six days a week to keep hunters off. Sunday is our day of rest.
Another is that there are a growing number of people who enjoy the outdoors in non hunting activities and have these actions limited by hunters now.
Hunters are the only group in Pa. to have a special law protecting them from harrassment. They often use it to intimidate non hunters who are enjoying other outdoor activities on both public and even private land.
I have had numerous contacts about this from people across the state.
Currently the game lands, which are deeded to the Commonwealth, not the PGC, and are public lands bought with money from both hunters and non hunters, are off limits to non hunters, except on Sunday, from September to January.
If hunting were expanded on Sundays these lands, msot assuredly, will be included and the non hunting majority will suffer.
Several yeasr ago there were a series of hearings held across the state on Sunday hunting.
I watched them all on PCN and actually testified at the last one held in Montdale.
The response was overwhelmingly against allowing the action. Even many farmers, Including the Pa. Farm Bureau, which represents 70,000 members came out against the proposal.
The majority of those in favor were organized hunting groups. Despite a rule against it several were allowed to testify at multiple hearings.
Even so the final tally was 35 against vs. 21 (including the multiples) in favor.
At the Montdale hearing members of the NY game department testified that they enacted Sunday hunting to bolster a plummeting number of hunters. The action has failed as their hunting numbers continue to decline.

[susie]

Hi davidk and thank you for the more detailed information.  I was looking at it from the aspect of a rural property owner who has very considerate hunters at this moment in time that hunt the property.  I did not realize the overall impact on public lands curtailing the activities of nonhunter outdoor enthusiasts.  I have also had it stated to me by friends who hunt that people who do hunt are on the decline.  In view of what you have told me, I really think now that I would be against allowing the hunting on Sundays because of how it would curtail pleasurable activities of others who have just as much right to enjoying the public lands.  And I have to say that I am sure my friends who hunt would not be that selfish as to put hunters' considerations above others who enjoy our outdoors.

[JoeP]

Well DavidK - you sure put things into a different perspective (why didn't you present all this in your initial post?).  I had approached this from a local point of view involving Newton resident hunters.  After reading all your points I must say I am now totally against changing any rules and in fact, all Sunday hunting should be banned - no exceptions.  The hunting & NRA are formidable lobby groups both nationionwide and at the state level so this may be a challenge.  As for hunters protected from harassment, if they cross my posted signs I call the local and/or state police.  Ditto for the those who drive around at night "spotting".  

So how does that average citizen make his voice heard?  Write to Wansacz?  Request a referendum on the November ballot?  You opened the door - how do we address this?

Thanks, JoeP

[davidk]

Joe,
It is important to contact Wanzsac especially as he is such good friends with Staback. We all learned from the recent school board debacle just how powerful our voices can be.
We cannot ban all Sunday hunting as that would lead to a legal challenge which would make the ACLU and the NRA, ususally at odds with each other, bedfellows. I wouldn't doubt that the limited seasons in place now are a buffer from such as much as anything.
As for spotting. That is another issue that needs to be banned as it is in most other states. Actually with the exception of Ohio, which only began allowing it several years ago, the practice is prohibited in all our contiguous states.
There was a bill in the state house that was likely to pass prohibiting it, even the PGC wants it either banned or at least tightly retsricted, but the whole thing was stopped because the then speaker had sons who liked to do it.
Actually it is spotting, amongst other actions, that lead me to change my attitude about hunting. I used to be a hunter and grew up in a hunting family.
If the hunters and PGC were serious about curtailing poaching they would ban spotting. There have ben plenty of deer shot at night right here in Newton and even the PGC magazine has regular stories about such investigations.
As for hunting on Sunday. There are many hunters opposed to the idea for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which, I believe, is that they know it would rile so many non hunters, though thye are loathe to admit this fact.
Has anyone else heard the shots on Sundays, usually early in the morning, right after sunrise? I can't be sure where they are coming from but it is not far from here and seems to be from between Laurel Hill and Forest Acres or that general direction.

[davidk]

Susie,
The hunters you mention are among a dying breed. They sound like my family members when I was a kid. These days there are so many outlaws and slobs they are becoming the majority. Ask anyone you know who used to be a hunter why they quit and many will probably tell you it's because of the slobs. I have had many tell me this.
There are people who have contacted me from all over the state asking what can be done about hunters harrassing them on their own property.
The bottom line is that due to it's very nature hunting is not an activity that coincides well with other activities. Mountain bikers and hikers, even birders can and do participate side by side. Hunters cannot and often will not allow anyone near them.
Many attempt to misuse the hunter harrassment laws to try and intimidate others, even people who are attempting to use and enjoy their own land.
I can understand some of the restictions on say game lands, but when it involves conflicts on other public lands such as state parks, let alone private property, then there is a problem.
Every year I get at least one hunter trying to intimidate me by claiming they are going to file harrassment charges against me just because I am patrolling the property line. Amazingly they never seem to get around to calling the game com.

If anyone has a question concerning the game laws they are all available on the agency website;

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/brow ... 2&pgcNav=|

This is an invaluable site as it spells out the laws as oppossed to having someone tell you their version which they were told by someone who is most often misinformed.

[JoeP]

For those who wish to write to make their views known to Rep. Wansacz about Sunday hunting, here is a link to his web site -

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?districtnumber=114

and here is his Email address: jwansacz@pahouse.net