Hunting on Sunday

[pdk25]

Another recent post got me thinking again (rare occasion).  How many others besides myself think that it is ridiculous that hunters can't hunt on sunday on state game lands in pennsylvania?  The land is paid for out of hunting license fees and yet on what is for most 1 of 2 days off per week, they cannot use the land as they see fit.  For those that support the policy, I would like to know what they consider legitimate reasons for the policy.  

If non-hunters want a day in the woods without hunters, I feel they should have it during the week.  Otherwise, they could use private land, state park land, or state forest land.  

If there is a need for a day of rest for the animals, why not a weekday?

I call the policy ridiculous because I feel there is no sound basis for it and when I talk to friends in Montana, New York, and other states they often scoff at the policy.  I join in their sentiment.

[42WLA]

Hah! The whole state of North Carolina is like that gameland or private. It is a silly old blue law. You can fish, play sports, etc on sunday but not hunt.

[Stone Knife]

We can hunt on Sun. here in NY and I'm thankful that we can. I see no reason not to, as stated you can do everything else on Sun. so why not hunting also? It just makes sense for the average working person, it saves some vacation time for other things as well.

[Rick P]

For the folks who live in states with Sunday closures. The law was enacted do to the christian Sabbath, want too hunt on Sunday, it's real easy sue under the second amendment (freedom of religion). The states that have these laws still on the books are in direct violation of the "separation of church and state" and are clearly establishing a religion by enforcing the christian Sabbath.

This has already been done with alcohol in many states. Can you buy alcohol in Pennsylvania on Sunday? If so someone has already had that section of the law repealed and several other states have had there "Sabbath" laws repealed the same way.

[Dozer]

Rick I understand what your trying to say but when you live near the "Bible Belt" You are vastly out numbered by Christians who are backed by a whole lot of money. I doubt it'll ever change here in VA.

[DBerrard]

Easy to bring up the lawsuit..perhaps..but not so easy to win. Especially in States were the law considers our hunts as a privilege...therefore they can tell us when we get the privilege and when we don't. At least in theory  :D

Although, I completely agree with you pdk25.
Write your legislators repeatedly imo..

Regards,
  Dave

[Don Stokes]

In Mississippi the only place you can't hunt on Sunday is on Federal refuges. Why? Because MS still has the "blue laws" on the books, and the Feds enforce them, even though the State doesn't. Crazy.

In my county, alcohol is illegal all the time, so I'm a criminal because I had a drink of single-malt last night. The whole state is dry by law, but individual towns and counties can vote to legalize it for themselves. Some have Sunday sales and some don't. Some have Sunday sales for beer, but not wine or liquor. Like I said, crazy.

[Mechslasher]

it's still on the books because game wardens don't want to work on sun.  heaven forbid they have to actually do something.

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Here in VA they work Sundays anyway, checking on the local fisherman.  I would really like to see the law changed to allow Sunday hunting, atleast on private land.

[nutmeg]

In Ct. there is no Sunday hunting. The United Bowhunters of Ct. and the Coalition of Ct. Sportsmen have been trying unsuccessfuly, to have the law changed since at least 1990. We've come very close several times. One of our biggest downfalls? Hunter apathy. When it comes time to put pressure on our legislators through phone calls, E-mails, letters etc.,it doesn't hapen. They hear far more from the antis and tree huggers. Go figure. These same apathetic people complain that our organizations are not getting the job done. Until we as a group get off our collective arses, the status quo will remain.(nut)

[Dartwick]

In PA the same laws that apply to State Game Lands also apply to private land.

In PA deer rifle season for deer is dangerous.

The situation is most rural land owners(who ussually hunt themselves) like having the woods safe on Sundays for their families.
They tend to have more pull the than hunters from urban area who have limited time in camps and out of state hunters.

[pdk25]

[pdk25]

Dartwick, a few questions.


1.  So you are telling me that the politicians are now stratifying the importance of their constituents based on whether or not they are a rural landowner?  


Probably not.  Most likely reluctant to change the laws that have been on the books for so long and unwilling to alienate yuppy, urban hikers that want to use the woods whenever they want,  even if they haven't paid a cent for that privelege.


2.  Although this is a site pertaining to traditional archery, let's visit the rifle situation.  What is it up to in PA these days, 3 weeks out of the year?

Those few weekends out of the year I would think that nonhunters could stay out of the woods and allow those that pay their dues to use what for many is 1 of 2 days out of the week that they are able to hunt.


3.  Just because the current hunting regulations apply to both private and state game lands, do you not believe that the land paid for by the hunters should be used by the hunters preferentially over those that have not?


Perhaps the laws can be changed.  If you can't see the logic in this, I don't know what to say.

[Brian Krebs]

so the seventh day adventists are fodder for missed shots at game - but other religions get a day of 'peace' in the woods?

The Sunday no hunting law IS establishment of religion.

 I kinda wonder if the assertion that the reason the laws were made- was not because of religion; but because of game wardens having Sundays off.

 If that were true; who would enforce the law?

[novahunterpa]

It's not so much about religon here in PA it's about the land owners, mostly farmers and the powerfull lobby group the pa farm bureau.  They say the farmers dont want to be botherd by hunters on sunday so they will close there land's
but it wont happen they will still want the deer hunted.  You can hunt crow's and foxes on sunday here but not much else. The PAGC is against it as they dont want to be out in the feild on sunday. Most hunters are for sunday hunting,many only get the weekend off. Sunday hunting would bring more mone to the game commision, More in state and out of state sales as some in state cant get off only on sunday and hunt in nearby states and many more out of state hunters might come to pa if they could hunty sunday.  Game commishin needs more money this might help.