posted
(I posted this in the Maryland State section, but wanted to put it here in case some Maryland folks don't see it there)
Don't know how many of you are aware of House Bill 1518 (HB1518), but it will pave the way to opening up a ton more of Sunday hunting opportunities. I just received this information in regards to the hearing:
"HB 1518 is scheduled for a hearing this coming Friday at 1:00 PM. We need folks to be there to testify in support of this very important piece of legislation. Your PRESENCE IS NEEDED at the hearing. Who can get the afternoon off and be at Navy Stadium parking lot by noon? We need to fill that hearing room with hunters!!!! Surely the antis will be there to spread their usual bag of lies and misinformation.
This is the first step in getting this passed but if it fails here we loose! Do all you can to be there and testify in support of this bill. If you have a fear of actually testifying don't worry. We'll fix it so you don't actually have to stand up and talk. We'll just have you stand and acknowledge you're there in support of 1518. We MUST fill this hearing room fells. This one is very important, let's not waste this opportunity!!!!!"
To think of all the beautiful Sundays last season I could have taken my '64 Kodiak for a walk if I was allowed breaks my heart. Please show up in support. This is a HUGE opportunity for hunters. Baltimore county just lost their attempt to repeal the ban because nobody showed up to their hearing. This one is for the entire state minus a few counties.
Posts: 2213 | From: Eldersburg, MD | Registered: Dec 2006
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Good luck, our state representatives elected to cop out and put it up for referendum vote in each county. It failed in 31 out of 55 counties. Again they took care of non workers who can hunt any day they want .
EVERYONE who hunts should support this bill , show up for the hearing !!!!! Good Luck
Jack
-------------------- Tolerance is a virtue of a man without any Morals- unknown author Posts: 1003 | From: Scott Depot, WV | Registered: Sep 2007
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How does the fact that this is a religious issue figure into it? There are religions that do not consider Sunday the sabbath - like 7th day Adventists. If someone fought the imposition of religion onto this- would that effect the situation? There is supposed to be a separation of church and state; and when one religious body decides that hunting on its day of rest is wrong- how can that not be in violation of the separation of church and state?
Are people allowed to work on Sundays- in the WV counties that voted not to allow hunting on Sundays?
-------------------- THE VOICES HAVEN'T BOTHERED ME SINCE I STARTED POKING THEM WITH A Q-TIP. Posts: 2556 | From: North Fork , Idaho | Registered: Feb 2004
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what other reasoning is there presented for not hunting on Sundays ??
-------------------- THE VOICES HAVEN'T BOTHERED ME SINCE I STARTED POKING THEM WITH A Q-TIP. Posts: 2556 | From: North Fork , Idaho | Registered: Feb 2004
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Brian, actually...the religion argument is not even really a part of the equation here in MD.
It is other outdoor "recreationists" that established policy LONG ago that hold the ideology to what we are trying to overcome.
Horse enthusiasts, nature walkers, bird watchers, all who have a legitimate claim to enjoy the outdoors. However, their argument is totally misguided due to the fact that the lands we are trying to implement Sunday hunting on are for private land only. Private land that should be left to the discretion of the landowner as to whether he/she would like horses, hikers, or birdwatchers on their property ANY day of the week OR would like hunters helping manage an abundant deer resource. ALL which REQUIRES written permission from the landowner.
It goes much deeper than a couple paragraphs here, but for now, the opposition has roots, and support from people and politicians who really do not understand how safe a class of people we are, and just how much we care about the resource. The anti hunter misinformation and propaganda has following and political backing here in MD, and that is what we are working diligently to overcome.
Personally, I am open minded to people who enjoy nature in a different way than myself. I feel we could progress a long way for the benefit of wildlife if my opponents were as open minded as me. I also feel we could be a lot further ahead than we are if people who support my position would get off their arse in this state and make themselves present and heard. I have witnessed in person what we are up against. It would do fellow hunters good to actually see what I have seen. They would surely be surprised.
We DO have some established but limited Sundays available to hunt. 8 in total divided among 2 regions (2 and 6). 5 counties are excluded completely (and I live in one of them). There are a possible 20-22 Sundays available. For a working man like myself that would have loved to taken my '64 Kodiak for a walk 7 beautiful Sundays last season, I was not allowed.
The legislation that we are working on right now, would expand those 8 days to the possible 20-22 days based on the management needs of the DNR(Dept. Of Natural Resources) statewide (minus the 5 counties) which is what we need to happen.
I apologize completely for rambling, but right now I am speaking to anyone who will listen. I believe so strongly about this it has consumed me.
Posts: 2213 | From: Eldersburg, MD | Registered: Dec 2006
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Jim, There are worse things to be consumed by. keep up the fight. maybe you can get some local support.
Posts: 907 | From: Arkansaw | Registered: Dec 2008
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I wonder if there is a way to check the stats on which days most hunting accidents happen on...
Not sure how to help you; I used to live in Maryland - and have roots there.
-------------------- THE VOICES HAVEN'T BOTHERED ME SINCE I STARTED POKING THEM WITH A Q-TIP. Posts: 2556 | From: North Fork , Idaho | Registered: Feb 2004
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Brian, an interesting point of trivia for you...our local Delegate is Krebs.
Not sure what finding out what days most hunting injuries occur would do, but I can tell you this...
From 2000 to present (with documented data to support, MD DNR Hunting Incident annual reports) NO NON-Hunter has been injured or killed by a hunter or hunting related incident. Not sure what the figures are pre-2000, I have not found any documentation for that.
Comparatively, From 2000-2007, MD deer/auto crashes have resulted in 12 deaths and almost 2900 injuries.(information documented on deercrash.com)
These are significant numbers to support our case, and proof to our opposition that some of their arguments are invalid relating to the safety of our sport.
Posts: 2213 | From: Eldersburg, MD | Registered: Dec 2006
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The state tells you that you cannot hunt on a day on land that you own as a citizen, how many days are the other users prevented from using public land? Seems to me like you all need to have a little tea party in your state.
Sure wouldn't fly out here on the west coast. The might just be a tar and feather party for the politician who tried it.
-------------------- Clay Walker Skill is not born into anyone. It is earned thru hard work and perseverance. Posts: 3246 | From: Vancouver, WA. | Registered: May 2009
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You can Drink, go gamble and go to the strip bar here but can't hunt on Sunday here in WV .
We can put it up for referendum vote if we get 51% of the counties voters to sign a petition.
Don't let them squander that away in Maryland, good luck .
Jack
-------------------- Tolerance is a virtue of a man without any Morals- unknown author Posts: 1003 | From: Scott Depot, WV | Registered: Sep 2007
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This is actually a good thing for MD. Today the DNR is prevented by law from setting hunting dates on Sundays. The Law has to actually be repealed so the DNR can legally control them. It is far harder to change the law to allow additional Sundays than it is to lobby the DNR to make policy decisions.
Hopefully this will add to Sunday hunting not take them away...maybe eventually eliminate to prohibition altogether (at least on private land)
-------------------- TGMM-Family of the Bow
The quest to improve is so focused on a few design aspects & compensating for hunter ineptness as to actually have reduced a bow & arrow’s effectiveness. Nothing better demonstrates this than mech. BHs & speed fixated designs Posts: 1362 | From: Orange Cnty, NY | Registered: Dec 2009
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Michigan repealed the last remaining "closed on sunday" counties on 12-1-2003. Maybe do some research on the wording involved in the bills.
At least in Michigan, most area's closed to sunday hunting were also the last to allow alcohol sales.
Here's a plea that went out to hunters in 2003...
Michigan Sunday hunting bills need Governor's signature (11/21/2003)
Two bills that will make Sunday hunting in Michigan legal statewide have passed the legislature and await the governor's signature.
House Bill 4599 repeals local ordinances that ban Sunday hunting on private land in Hillsdale, Lenawee, St. Clair, and Tuscola counties. Sponsored by Rep. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, the bill passed the House, 88-15, and the Senate, 33-5.
Similarly, HB 4011, introduced by Rep. Gene DeRossett, R-Manchester, would repeal an act that prohibits Sunday hunting on another person's property in Washtenaw County. The bill passed the House, 78-27, and the Senate, 32-5.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources supports HB 4599 and HB 4011.
Take Action! Michigan sportsmen should contact Gov. Jennifer Granholm and encourage her to sign HB 4599 and HB 4011. The bills create uniformity in Sunday hunting laws and expand hunting opportunities for Michigan sportsmen. To contact Gov. Granholm, call (517) 373-3400.
Luckily, it passed here.
The key point to make is, if someone chooses not to hunt on a particular day due to their religious convictions, that's THEIR choice. That's their freedom. But I don't think any of us would want other groups to sue and say that their sabbath shouldn't allow hunting either, under the equal protection clause.
Not hunting on a sunday should be a personal choice and nothing more.
Posts: 1695 | From: Michigan | Registered: Apr 2007
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Here's a link that can maybe help. It's a few years old, but the logic still applies. Hunter RECRUITMENT and RETENTION should be stressed, since most only have time to hunt on weekends.
Hunting/Conservation The Truth About Sunday Hunting: Why Hunters Shouldn`t Be Treated as Second-Class Citizens
In the early days of America, so-called blue laws restricted many activities on Sunday. In recent years, however, state governments have recognized that the people`s right to choose for themselves what they do, or don`t do, on Sunday is more consistent with America`s founding principals. Present day bans on Sunday hunting are the last holdouts of these blue laws, and hunters are questioning why they are being treated differently from their fellow citizens.
The majority of hunters will agree that the biggest obstacle to hunting, and the biggest obstacle to recruiting new hunters, is lack of access and opportunity to hunt. By restricting Sunday hunting, states are not only limiting opportunities for today`s hunters but are making it harder to recruit new hunters to carry on our proud heritage. Anti-hunting groups understand this, that`s why they oppose lifting Sunday hunting bans--they don`t want a new generation of hunters to enter the field. This opposition to Sunday hunting is in fact opposition to the future of hunting itself.
Restrictions on Sunday hunting treat hunters as second-class citizens. Other outdoor activities are allowed on Sunday, including fishing, hiking and golf. By restricting hunting and not other activities, state governments are sending a not so subtle message to hunters and non-hunters alike that there is something wrong with hunting, that it isn`t as legitimate an activity. This message ignores the fact that hunters contribute billions of dollars to the benefit of wildlife, both through license fees and excise taxes paid on firearms and ammunition.
There are compelling reasons why Sunday hunting should be allowed:
Sunday hunting has no detrimental effect on wildlife populations. The 43 states that allow some form of Sunday hunting have healthy wildlife populations in those areas that can sustain them. In fact the states with the most abundant game populations allow Sunday hunting. Those states that have recently removed prohibitions on Sunday hunting have not seen a negative impact on game populations. Allowing Sunday hunting will give state wildlife agencies more flexibility in managing populations. The extra day a week for hunting will give the agencies the ability to increase hunting in areas of overpopulation by encouraging hunters to go afield. The most common reason that hunters stop hunting is lack of hunting opportunity. Hunting opportunities are largely decided by two factors: accessible land and available time. Since most hunters work Monday through Friday, a ban on Sunday hunting cuts their available hunting time in half. Sunday hunting is an excellent way to recruit new hunters. Many young people have school or athletic obligations on Saturday. Allowing Sunday hunting means that parents can spend time hunting with their son or daughter, passing on a heritage that is so important to America. With the myriad of activities that compete for the attention of young people today, a restriction on Sunday hunting means many of them never take up the sport. Sunday hunting will bring an economic benefit to many rural areas. Every day that hunters are in the field, they spend money on gas, food, lodging and the dozens of other incidentals that go along with a day`s hunt. The ripple effect of this spending can have a major impact on a rural town or county. Out-of-state license revenue can grow as a result of Sunday hunting. Few hunters will take extended hunting trips to a state that won`t let them hunt one day of the week. These out-of-state hunters pay higher license fees that benefit the game department and also spend even more money on incidentals than in-state hunters. Current Sunday hunting bans:
Currently seven states entirely prohibit hunting on Sunday for wild game; they are Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Connecticut. All of these states have considered legislation to lift the bans in recent years. Repealing the Sunday hunting bans has been actively supported by the wildlife agencies in Maine and New Jersey.
Four states allow limited Sunday hunting: Maryland allows hunting on two Sundays during deer season; South Carolina allows Sunday hunting on private land only; North Carolina allows Sunday hunting on some federal installations; in 2001 West Virginia enacted legislation that allows Sunday hunting on private land, but each county can hold a referendum to ban Sunday hunting; currently 14 counties allow it.
Recently several states have recognized the folly of Sunday hunting bans:
New York: In 1996 New York opened Sunday hunting on three Sundays during deer season. Within five years the law was changed to allow all Sunday hunting, except on specifically designated lands.
Ohio: In 1998 Ohio passed a bill allowing a test of Sunday hunting on public lands for a period of three years. In 2002 the legislature made Sunday hunting permanent without opposition from groups that had concerns when the test began. The state wildlife agency supported the change.
Michigan: Sunday hunting was banned on private land in certain counties, but in 2003, all Sunday hunting closures were repealed. The bill was supported by the state wildlife agency.
None of these states have experienced the horror stories forecast by opponents of hunting. The states continue to have healthy wildlife populations. Hunters continue to behave in a responsible and safe manner. Church attendance remains unchanged. Landowner-hunter conflicts have not increased. In sum, Sunday hunting has had nothing but a beneficial impact on these states and the future of hunting in them.
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