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Main Boards => Hunting Legislation & Policies => Topic started by: Roy from Pa on May 08, 2012, 05:23:00 PM
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Hey guys, there is a movement to overturn the ban on Sunday Hunting in Pa. It is a legal matter and we could use your support please. Thanks, Roy
http://www.huntsunday.com/
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I hope and pray it opens up Roybert. Im as Christian as they come and Im as much of a family guy as they come and I still say its silly and communist.
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For the life of me I just can't wrap my mind around not being able to hunt on Sunday! I understand that once upon a time the blue laws existed, but that has changed EVERYwhere else! I sit here on Sunday the day before Memorial Day. I can go fishing, golfing, a Pro baseball game, the mall and just about anywhere else that I feel like spending my day. BUT I can't sit in a field and hunt groundhogs? The farmers need a day to rest without being bothered by hunters? I hunt on mostly private properties and honestly after the season openers and nice saturdays I rarely see anyone. Yesturday was the last day of spring turkey season and you could hunt all day. I hunted 2 different farms and saw KNOWONE!! Not even a vehicle in either parking area. And that goes on in every hunting season. Believe me, it shocks me everytime!
If I hunted EVERY possible Sunday (not including summer groundhogs) you'd have maybe no mre than 20 Sundays in a hunting year. That would be from fall archery, gun, muzzleloader, and spring turkey.
I hope that it does happen, but as long as the farm bureau keeps stomping their foot I doubt it will happen!
Glenn
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There is more to be considered than just what we as hunters want. countless farm/land owners that are gracious enough to allow hunting have already made it very clear that if it goes through their land will be posted. Good for them. I know first hand what landowners go through with trespassers and monitoring who is on land and when. We have had so many people trespass, and when confronted they said " its not posted". There is a belief that if land is not posted you can go hunt, or ride your four wheeler when you want. Not true, that means if I go down the road and your garage door is open without a sign I can walk in, no difference.Guess what, its posted now. from a landowners perspective its not necessisarily good and I beleive we will lose more land to posting. Nice to have one day without it
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Trespassers dont take Sundays off. They are LOSERS to begin with and that switch doesnt shut off on Sunday. Land owners dont look for them on Sundays. No offense sir, I respect your opinion.
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Point being more posted land is not good for hunters and the states farmers have let it be known, many will post. Seems awful selfish to put hunters desires above the farmers when many hunt the land they farm and the game they feed.Of course you will always have the state game lands for a quality hunt. Enjoy
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I don't have a dog in this, but have a couple questions.
Coming from a state that has always allowed Sunday hunting, how come none of these issues about hunting on Sundays has never even come up in a discussion with the different landowners I hunt on?
Have any of the farmers ever considered that letting a rsponsible hunter on their land can help keep the trespassers off?
I can't believe that none of these farmers want to hunt their own land on a Sunday.
Also, just because it becomes legal does not mean that you have to allow it if you don't want it on your land.
This discussion reminds me of the outcry over conceal carry laws. The end was upon us, but none of the problems materialize. I believe there is a vocal minority who just hollers louder.
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Ron why would opening up Sunday hunting require more sings and posted land? What goes on the other 6 days? Am I missing something here? Agin I respect your opinions and I just dont understand them I guess.
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I live and hunt in Ontario, but we have similar hunting regs to most states. When I ask for permission to hunt a property, I ask the farmer if Sunday hunting is ok or the farmer sometimes just say outright, no Sunday hunting.
In this Province, we have had no Sunday hunting for years, but recently, more and more management units and counties are allowing it. I have not heard any reports of trespassing or illegal hunting that are out of the ordinary. Nor have I noticed any more posted land.
Those who trespass will continue to do so regardless of the law or what day of the week it is.
Dave.
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I don't understand what trespassing and Sunday hunting have to do with each other? A very good friend and customer of my business is a local game officer. He told me in the 30+ years he's been a warden not once has he EVER wrote a ticket for someone hunting on a Sunday. As far as farmers, not all private property that is hunted is owned by farmers. And I mean someone who actually uses the property to grow or raise anything. The farm bureau beats and stomps, but won't budge even the slightest. For that matter they stick their fingers in their ears and won't even try and listen. I don't understand when asked how many members they have they tell the game commission it's know ones business. Bet The NRA, Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever and so on would scream from the mountains how many members they had when faced with an issue.
And yes the FARMERS could and might post property, but a lot already do. And normally they do most of the complaining about crop damage. Post your property, ask the game commision for a permit to shoot crop damaging deer and let them lay. If the State had enough hunter backing they could tell farmers who banned hunting on their property (which they have every right to do, the farmers I mean) that they had know complaint on crop damage.
Wildlife, no matter who's property it stands on belongs to the Commonwealth. That's All of us.
Glenn
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Right on Glenn!
I have had free, open hunting my whole free life. Mostly on public land in grossly over hunted Michigan and I wouldnt trade it for the world. We are free to hunt when open seasons allow seven free days a free week. FREEDOM being the key word. Its just not right to shut it down one day a week for any other reason than the health of the wildlife.
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to alot of them it is not just about hunting but the sabbath and sunday being a day of rest or various other reasons. I know many have attended meetings on this and it does not matter why, they will post. Pearl drums and any other non residents unless you hunt here your input does not count in my book and putting a post on here to recruit people to "sign on" that dont hunt here is bull s*!$
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The statment below your name is a joke if thats how you feel about other hunters support. Its not just about PA. Its about hunters rights period, it doesnt matter where the hell you live.
For the record. I respected your opinions until you decided not to respect mine. I simply asked commen sense questions and you cant answer them without disrepecting me.
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close minded is thinking just about hunters, and there are alot more involved than us as hunters. sometimes you have to give a little to gain and this is a perfect example
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I dont think roy meant for debate here, sorry if i took the post of course. Not everybody feels the same on the issue and I feel strongly about loss of access for ourselves and future generations even more, and I will not apoligize for that. So YES I DO CARE ABOUT HUNTERS VERY MUCH. We are loseing access to huntable privately owned land at an alarming rate. Pearl Drums,If you have read pa outdoor news or attended meetings you should know that but I assume being in Michigan you havent done so, or am I wrong to assume that? These meetings are where members of state farmes associations have made very clear that the majority are against and will post. I just dont think the gain is worth the risk.
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I live in PA and I don't want Sunday hunting. I think having a day with no pressure is a good thing. That's my opinion.
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Michigan is another world compared to PA. Private land is scarce at best here. Not because of rude hunters, but because we have a TON of hunters and not enough private land to use. I hunt public land 90% of the time and always have. Could be why my opinion is as strong as it is. I pay money via licenses to maintain that land and keep it ours to use. It seems to me your situation is about old world government and private land owners, not so much "Joe" hunter and his rights. One question for you PA guys. Why do they still allow hunting of certain game on Sundays?
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because those animals and those alone are classified as nuisance or overpopulated animals thats why
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If the farmers want to post because of Sunday Hunting then fine. Maybe the PGC will give them free No Sunday Hunting Signs. I can't help but wonder what the Farmers in the Majority of States that DO allow Sunday Hunting do about posting their land.
Maybe the PGC could just open Sunday Hunting on the 1,300,000 + acres of state game lands that we Hunters PAID for.
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My biggest problem with the Sunday hunting issue is the Farm Bureau holding the rest of us hostage! The only reason this issue has drastically stalled is the FARM BUREAU won't budge. Who is the Farm Bureau? Do they really have enough members to matter? If they have 100 members and 65 of them are stopping a million hunters from moving on this issue it's ridiculous. I have a sneaky suspecion this might be the case. Why else would they throw up their arms in disgust when asked a simple yet important question about member numbers.
Don't get me wrong, I totally understand both sides of this fight! I struggle with them myself. But it's a fight that should be argued like adults. And the Farm Bureau has acted like spoiled children so far!
Glenn
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Hey coonbait we are almost neighbors, I live in Irwin..
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Hey Roy, Grew up and own my business in Greensburg. And I won't hold the Irwin thing against you! LOL
Glenn
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LMAO
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I agree with Ron and Bradly.I have freinds that have property that's not posted,that is geting posted if sunday hunting is ever allowed.#2 you cannot compare pa with other state's,pa stands alone when it comes to our hunting heritage.#3 If we walk around pounding our chest demanding what we want as hunters we sent a wrong massage to the nonhunters,besides have we turned in that much of a selfish greed filled society that we can't sacrafice a couple days of hunting so sweet old Mr and Mrs Jones can take a walk in the woods to enjoy the fall foliage without feeling some one is watching then from a tree stand.Sorry about the Rant.peace Brothers.
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PETA and HSUS would be oh so proud of all the people trying to keep the anti-hunting policy of the hunting ban in place. And that's what this is, a hunting ban.
Not allowing Sunday hunting is as big of a reason why less kids are hunting in PA as video games. Shame on anyone who's selfish enough to deny families the chance to hunt on Sundays. If you choose not to hunt, don't. Keep your kids home on the couch on Sundays. But don't do the anti's job for them and promote anti-hunting rules.
To follow the broken logic of Sunday bans, why not ban both Saturdays and Sundays? That would really stick it to those hunters who only have weekends to hunt.
Maybe scouting, mushroom picking, fishing and trapping should be banned on Sundays too?
Even worse, maybe archery practice should be banned on Sunday? Why should one be able to shoot a bow on his property on a Sunday if he can't use a bow to hunt on a Sunday?
You see, banning archery practice on a Sunday is as silly as banning bowhunting on a Sunday, in the deer season.
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Alvey are you then saying sweet Mr. & Mrs. Jones should not be allowed to walk their pooch Missy under my treestand on the other six days of the week? Because I sure wouldn't feel right about being inconvienced by them on MY day to look at the foliage! And the worry of losing OUR heritage, We are losing our heritage one kid at a time.
I just can't understand how almost everyother state in the country has Sunday hunting and doesn't have this problem with Mr. & Mrs Jones, Farmers posting their property, kids missing Sunday school, the animals getting a day of rest? A day to rest? What in the world is that!
Glenn
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Well said Coonbait ole boy:)
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Farmers ?! all we deal with are greatful for our support and invite us all days of the week Sundays included. In 40 years of hunting I have never heard of a farmer threateniing such an action - but even if I did I would not be deterred. They simply don't own much land - and PA is "Covered Up" with State Land full of wild game anyway.
Most of the folks I hunt with and the landowners I work with are Christains. Many of us do a morning prayer and lots of guys even go to church but ALL of us are in the woods Sunday afternoon. One of the Plantations we hunt on does prefer we use Sunday as a day to arrive/depart - scout OK but hunt Monday Through Saturday.
NC, SC, GA, FL, TX, NJ - zero problems with Sunday hunting. For us it is no different than fishing or cooking out with family and friends - good luck with it :)
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Sunday hunting in NJ, while being a good thing, is not without restriction. It is archery only, and private property and Wildlife Management Areas only. The WMA's were purchased, and are currently maintained by hunters money. I'm in church Sunday morning, and pursuing whitetails Sunday afternoon.
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Yes good point briarpatch - and I only bowhunt and this is tradgang - NC is bow only I think on Sundays ? - never thought of Sunday hunting in terms of gun hunting?????? we have always done all of our big game hunting with bows since mid 70s - dudes I forgot some guys gun hunt :) !!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
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mojostik guy makes a good point about kids too - for kids Sunday increases their opportunity to have hunt days 100% since basically they are locked in to school schedules. And for the guy who works Monday through Saturday I cannot even comprehend how stupid it would be to deny this guy his 1 day a week to hunt.
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Your OK Cory, I don't care what the others say about ya :)
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Seems like everyone is talking about what is best for the hunter or what is best for the land owner, what is best for everything BUT the animals being hunted. I'd be willing to bet that the PA animals being hunted see more pressure than many other states due to the shear number of hunters in PA. Seems reasonable to conclude that. If those animals we hunt never get a break from hunting pressure, well that just insn't good in my opinion. Why not think about what is "best" for the animals and not what is best in terms for you? Think about it. We as humans don't like to work 7 days a week for weeks on end without a rest. What's wrong with giving the animals we hunt on day without being pressured?
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It's kind of like most other things in life these days. It's all about "me" and what benefits "me" the most and what "I" want and how fast can "I" get it. I don't know. Like I said. That's just my 2 cent opinion.
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Just as when Michigan repealed our old "no sunday hunting" blue laws, there was virtually negative impact by allowing hunting on a Sunday, a Monday or a Thursday.
The ban was based on some religions wanting to tell everyone how to live their lives.
In Michigan, Sunday bans took out a total of 28 days of hunting opportunity, when small gamem turkey and deer seasons were added up.
If anyone cares to notice, in all the places where the Sunday bans have been repealed, the sky has not fallen and the result is families have more opportunities to go and hunt as a family.
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All one needs to know is that the biggest anti-hunting group, HSUS, is against Sunday hunting. We don't need to know anything more...
Pennsylvania should leave Sundays free of hunting
By Sarah Speed
The demographics of Pennsylvania’s outdoor users have steadily shifted during the last few decades, and that makes our state’s long-standing tradition of prohibiting Sunday hunting increasingly vital.
According to the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey, the number of hunters is declining while the number of wildlife watchers is on the rise. Hunters comprise 11 percent of Pennsylvania’s population while wildlife watchers, those who head into the woods to photograph or just enjoy seeing creatures in the wild, make up 37 percent.
Factor in other outdoor fanciers such as hikers, horseback riders, dog walkers and mountain bikers, and it is clear that maintaining one day a week free from hunting is more important now than ever.
A bill pending in the state Legislature, HB 1760, would upend this tradition and mandate the Pennsylvania Game Commission open Sunday hunting. The idea is shortsighted, selfish and wildly unpopular. Indeed, a Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee survey of hunters found that only half believe that the entire week should belong to them.
The Humane Society of the United States has more than 650,000 supporters in Pennsylvania who, along with other outdoor enthusiasts, believe that Sunday is a day to enjoy nature without concern about the dangers of guns and arrows.
Landowners don’t want yet another day of having to don protective fluorescent orange on their own property so they are not mistaken for game. They don’t want to have their Sundays interrupted by hunters knocking at the door to request access to their land.
When last surveyed, 82 percent of Pennsylvania landowners were opposed to Sunday hunting. The economic consequences are of concern, too. Sunday hunting proponents try to prop up their unpopular idea with imaginary projections of economic gain. But this is simply not the case — far f
Wildlife watchers who enjoy Pennsylvania’s outdoors bring $1.4 billion to our state annually. Tourist wildlife watchers exceed hunters in trip-related spending by more than $20 million each year. Why put these dollars at risk?
Opening Sunday hunting would rob countless outdoor recreationists of the lone day when they are guaranteed piece of mind in the woods. The additional hunting day also would necessitate expanded enforcement efforts. Pennsylvania Game Commission officers are already stretched thin. In these times of limited government resources, we simply can’t afford to heap more mandates on law enforcement.
Tranquil Sundays have become our tradition. A majority of Pennsylvanians, urbanites and rural landowners, like it that way. The Legislature needs to quietly lay this bill to rest and get on with the important challenges that face the state.
Sarah Speed is Pennsylvania state director of The Humane Society of the United States.
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Pa Stickbow boy if your so worried about the welfare of the deer and the stress that they're put under you'd think that the one your stratling would still be walking and playing in the clover fields with Thumper and Flower! You chase these deer with a razor sharp stick all week and you're worried about Sunday. I know the deer in my part of the state have picnics away from the everyday worries of survival on my day off. Because all the other dangers leave them alone on the sabith! The deer we hunt in Ohio almost give themselves up to us on Sundays because they can't take the stress. That's just my unsensitive 2 cents!
Glenn
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Well, if some of you guys are so worried about giving the deer a day of rest. Why not cut back on your hunting time and give them a few more days of rest? I mean hell, why kill the poor deer on a Monday? Why kill the poor deer on Saturday? And just because some of you guys have a couple days off in the middle of the week, while the rest of us are working to provide for our families, doesn't mean ya should be out there trying to kill them while the rest of us are working. Ya wanna know what it's like to work 6 days a week? Try not hunting all week except for your vacation days.
And what gets me the most here is, if Sunday Hunting ever comes to be in Pa. "MOST" of you nay sayers will be out there Hunting on Sundays. That to me is two faced.
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Coonbait and Roy, I will choose the high road and not comment. I believe these threads are to throw ideas out there and view others opinions and such. NOT to bash others that may have a different view or thought than you. Admin, correct me if I am wrong on this. I'm done with this thread. Not worth it. Back to the other forums for me.
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If "pressured game" was really the issue, banning Saturday hunting would be the logical choice. But in a world where falling hunter numbers and growing deer herds are among the top concerns, pressured game isn't a legit concern.
Bag limits can be controlled in such a way where hunters still have full opportunity. Banning hunting allows zero opportunity.
If anything, ban Saturday hunting and if some want to also not hunt on Sunday due to religious reasons, they can save their hunting time for the Monday thru Friday work week. But then, that too would be absurd.
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Mojo I think you and I have hard time "getting it" becuase we have been free to hunt as we please for so long. It just doesnt make sense to us to ban Sunday. As said several times already, hunting after Sunday church is normal. Hikers? Farmers? I see farmers threatening to "close" their land if Sunday opens. That tells me the drastic diff between Mi and PA. Our landowners generally allow family and very close friends to hunt, thats about it. Them posting their land is something I haven never NOT seen. That seems an idle threat to me. For the record Michigan and PA are neck and neck in hunters and deer numbers. Michigan grows larger deer and maybe a few more older deer. Mostly because of the terrain and massive farming operations feeding them across the state. 7 day a week hunting doesnt hurt the animals. Once the "squeeze" is turned on, one day a week off doesnt even register with them, Im afraid they arent that smart.
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I get it. A decade ago, I, like many others, fought hard to get rid of the Sunday bans here in in Michigan.
I owned a sporting goods store back then and helped with petitions and lining up legislators on our side.
Every talking point being used for those in favor of hunting bans was used in Michigan back in 2003 and every one of them was proven wrong, once we got rid of the hunting bans.
Nobody "new" suddenly posted their land, who didn't already post their land. The game had no more or less pressure than it had before, when 700,000 hunters pounded the woods on firearms deer opener or when Michigan deer hunters spent $50,000,000 a year on deer bait.
Oddly enough, some hunters also fought against legalizing elevated platforms in Michigan for firearms seasons. Just like how they were wrong about if we lifted the Sunday bans that the sky would fall, they were wrong about allowing elevated stands, like nearly every other state in the nation.
Those in PA should do a search of how Michigan got rid of the bans in 2003. It's one thing Michigan finally got right.
Here's some good info...
http://nraila.org/hunting/fact-sheets/the-truth-about-sunday-hunting-why-hun.aspx?s=&st=&ps=
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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Im 40 and dont remember ever having a ban on Sunday hunting?
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Some of the counties in the SLP had Sunday bans until 2003.
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The comment on what's best for the deer herd with regard to giving them a break is really off dude.
This is not a personal attack on you PA, but that makes no sense. Most of the heard is left alone Monday - Friday bc people have to work... at most they work half a day and hunt an afternoon or something like one or two days a week. If the animals get a reprieve 4-5 days per week from the majority of the hunters, how is hunting Sunday hurting them?
Logic and common sense is on my side here, sorry.
dave
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Dave, good point. Hadn't thought of it that way. Other good points have been made by others too. I've been debating my opinion on this.
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Born and raised in PA. 8 years ago I moved west to Montana. I hunted on Sunday. It was good. My fellow PA'ers, one day you feel the joy and satisfaction of hunting the whole weekend. Cheers.
Dean
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Originally posted by Coonbait:
Pa Stickbow boy if your so worried about the welfare of the deer and the stress that they're put under you'd think that the one your stratling would still be walking and playing in the clover fields with Thumper and Flower! You chase these deer with a razor sharp stick all week and you're worried about Sunday. I know the deer in my part of the state have picnics away from the everyday worries of survival on my day off. Because all the other dangers leave them alone on the sabith! The deer we hunt in Ohio almost give themselves up to us on Sundays because they can't take the stress. That's just my unsensitive 2 cents!
Glenn
:laughing: :laughing:
I'm sorry....but that is FUNNY!!!!
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I have never heard a legitimate reason for banning sunday hunting. Ever…..
In PA, where I have lived for 52 years, there are literally millions of acres of land that has been purchased with hunter dollars…….why are they closed to sunday hunting?
Privately owned property……..why on earth can someone tell me that I cannot hunt on my own land on sunday? And for non-hunting, or anti hunting landowners it is easy to post your land, even if the signs read hunting permitted EXCEPT for Sundays.
PA gives entirely too much credence to the wishes of the farmers. The farmers need to concern themselves with land they own, period. While we are on the subject of farmers, how many farms in PA are posted no hunting, yet they get crop damage permits? I have had such farmers tell me that they gut shoot deer so that they run out of the fields before dropping.
As for giving bird watchers, hikers, etc. more time……they already have more time afield than hunters do.
Laws against sunday hunting are absurd, and based solely upon emotion filled rhetoric.
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I just moved to NC from NY and shockingly learned about the no Sunday hunting thing. Seems and still is quite foolish. NC's recent change was that you can actually bowhunt on Sundays on private land, so there is some limited Sunday hunting now. State/game lands - forget it. I am told that I am in the Bible belt now and Sundays is for church. When I ask why I can still golf, shop, go to the mall and (not that I do but I bet many do), buy a case a beer and watch every NASCAR race, why can't I hunt? No response.... Hopefully it will cahnge, from what I understand, that was quite a battle to win. Hopefully PA can too.
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We will see what happens.
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I have had friends that do not hunt but do enjoy going into the woods on Sunday afternoons and do a little exploring or just enjoy the quiet day with their family. I can understand how they feel when they ask why we as hunters are so selfish as to not give one day to the people who don't hunt and want to enjoy the outdoors also. We have Archery only on Sundays (NC) and I have not herd alot of complaints about this law except from Gun hunters. I think we can keep the guns out of the wood for one day. Gene C
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Originally posted by mtnman1945:
I have had friends that do not hunt but do enjoy going into the woods on Sunday afternoons and do a little exploring or just enjoy the quiet day with their family. I can understand how they feel when they ask why we as hunters are so selfish as to not give one day to the people who don't hunt and want to enjoy the outdoors also. We have Archery only on Sundays (NC) and I have not herd alot of complaints about this law except from Gun hunters. I think we can keep the guns out of the wood for one day. Gene C
Hunting season is not 365 days a year. People enjoying other outdoor activities have more than ample time to pursue their pleasures.
Also, in some states, like PA, there are huge tracts of timber purchased with hunting license dollars.
And what about private property? Denying sunday hunting on privately owned land, or land purchased solely by hunters dollars borders on criminal.
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I bet the anti's love any and all hunting bans, especially when some hunters take the bait.
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As a Pa land owner, I've never understood the ban, seems crazy in this day and age. Giving the deer a 'day off'....seriously, that's an argument? That's actually funny.....
It's the old Blue Laws and they haven't had enough people willing to overturn them. Just like there's still dry townships.
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Admittedly, I don't know all the reasons why Sunday hunting is banned there, but from my perspective, it's clearly a "blue" law, and clearly violates the constitutional separation of church & state. If the state shifted the ban to say, a Wednesday, then it would be legal, and have the same effect of "giving the animals an off-pressure day". I'm surprised the ACLU hasn't jumped on this the way they jump on all other things "Christian".