[BCozhunter]

On Tuesday, September 10, the House Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to consider pro-hunting legislation, Senate Bill 147. This measure passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support in June. Please contact members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee and strongly urge them to SUPPORT Senate Bill 147.


Message sent through the below link, as well as personalized email directly to my area's representative expressing my support for this bill as well as urging them to support any legislation that would give regulatory authority over Sunday hunting to the PGC. I urge you all to do the same.

https://act.nraila.org/actions/campaigns/6043

 

[dpms]

Unfortunately, this bill has been watered down to the point that it does not do what it originally intended, which was grant regulatory authority to the PGC. This bill still provides legislative mandates of Sunday hunting and does not allow the PGC to independently regulate hunting on Sundays.

It is just more meddling. I oppose.

 

[pchunter1231]

Opposed. I agree with DPMS. Yeah it might be a start but with only 3 Sundays you can bet there will be a lot off ticked off hunters when none of those Sundays fall on the seasons they prefer. Thats why i keep saying give it to the youth. They love using the youth as an excuse to get changes passed for their agenda. All this bill does is to appease some hunters to keep them quiet and you may not see more Sundays added for years. Thats the main reason for my opposition. Its hard to spread 3 Sundays for a whole hunting season to make many happy.

 

[Loggy]

In lieu of back to to a perpetual zilch....SB 147 is a start.

FULLY SUPPORT!!!

 

[BCozhunter]

Unfortunately, this bill has been watered down to the point that it does not do what it originally intended, which was grant regulatory authority to the PGC. This bill still provides legislative mandates of Sunday hunting and does not allow the PGC to independently regulate hunting on Sundays.

In lieu of back to to a perpetual zilch....SB 147 is a start.

Both of those are part of the personal emails I wrote and sent. PGC should be given regulatory authority over all Sundays throughout the year, and 147 is a good first step.

dpms, I understand your reason for opposition, but I would rethink that. This is a good first step, one I think may sway some of those outright opposed to SH, once they realize the skies didn't darken, churches didn't collapse, and the world didn't end because we hunted on Sundays.

 

[BCozhunter]

Yeah it might be a start but with only 3 Sundays you can bet there will be a lot off ticked off hunters when none of those Sundays fall on the seasons they prefer. Its hard to spread 3 Sundays for a whole hunting season to make many happy.

I agree it'll upset some for the reason you state. But I also think it could sway those outright opposed to Sunday hunting, because we all know that they will also be hunting the available days. And, if for nothing else, because they are mad that they didn't get "their" Sundays, they might get a hunger to fight for more.

 

[pchunter1231]

I agree it'll upset some for the reason you state. But I also think it could sway those outright opposed to Sunday hunting, because we all know that they will also be hunting the available days. And, if for nothing else, because they are mad that they didn't get "their" Sundays, they might get a hunger to fight for more.

Even though i agree with your statement but we all know how PA hunters operate. Many hang it up when something new doesnt fit their agenda. We will just see how it pans out. The house has to pass it first before everyone gets to excited. If it passes or not September 10th there will be a blow up on here and many other social outlets. Even more so if it does pass as you will have the non hunters going crazy that they think they will be shot on those 3 days.

 

[BCozhunter]

Even more so if it does pass as you will have the non hunters going crazy that they think they will be shot on those 3 days.

All the more reason to urge our reps to push for regulatory control of Sundays to be given to the PGC. If it stays with the legislature, all those people have more of a say than we ever could.

 

[Loggy]

My typing fingers are numb from all the time I have contacted my reps. Our voices do certainly count as they were successful in changing the minimum Elk Caliber plus grandfathering in the Pheasant Stamp for Sr Lifetime License holders on the books at time of regulation enactment.

 

[dpms]

dpms, I understand your reason for opposition, but I would rethink that. This is a good first step, one I think may sway some of those outright opposed to SH, once they realize the skies didn't darken, churches didn't collapse, and the world didn't end because we hunted on Sundays.

I hope you are right but all indications are that this is just a bone to appease some of the SH supporters hoping that the issue can die for awhile. Problem is, our elected officials, and society is general, is trending away from pro gun and pro hunting/trapping. I believe we(hunters) would better off to to take a stand and let out thoughts be known that the bill is garbage and that we demand a full regulatory transfer of Sunday hunting to our game agency.

 

[Loggy]

Sometimes a sacrifice bunt to get a man on base is the difference between winning or losing.

 

[dpms]

We had a clean bill then the first bunt, then the second bunt, then the third bunt and now we have a garbage bill. Should have never bunted in the first place and the sportsman orgs and HUSH should have never accepted less than the original bill. That goes for the NRA as well which were heavily involved in slicing up this legislation just to get a win of some kind. All this bill is is more legislative mandating of Sunday hunting which is exactly what we have now.

 

[Loggy]

What we have NOW is zero opportunity to hunt big game on 3 Sundays which SB147(in it's current form) opens the door to. If the World doesn't end after passage....the chance for addl opportunity exists in addition to full regulatory authority transfer to the PGC. Sorta like the Sunset caveat rider tacked on upon full inclusion passage which no one even talks about today. Remember the original "no scopes" being allowed which dissipated. The ball has to get moving or it will go back to quicksand status with all hunters losing opportunity.

 

[burk313]

There are ONLY 3 Sundays because that was the agreement between the Farm Bureau and the PGC... There will not be more then 3 Sundays... Most of the Farmers agreed to allow 3 Sundays for hunters to hunt on their lands without posting it closed to all hunters.... The Farm Bureau did not want Sunday hunting allowed year round... The legislators will listen to the Farm Bureau...

 

[dpms]

What we have NOW is zero opportunity to hunt big game on 3 Sundays which SB147(in it's current form) opens the door to.

What we have now is legislative control of Sunday hunting. What we will have with the passage of this bill is more legislative control of Sunday hunting, which I oppose.

I will oppose legislative meddling and have been very consistent on that. We can agree to disagree on the best approach.

Sorta like the Sunset caveat rider tacked on upon full inclusion passage which no one even talks about today.

Then the orgs and sportsman should have stepped up and said we will accept a sunset provision provided that full regulatory of Sunday hunting was given to the PGC. Just as full inclusion happened with crossbows.

 

[pchunter1231]

I just dont think the farm bureau will allow more than 3 ever. They do not want it year round.

 

[dpms]

There are ONLY 3 Sundays because that was the agreement between the Farm Bureau and the PGC...

The PGC is on record as wanted full regulatory control of Sunday hunting. They did say they support this bill but this bill does not stop the PGC continuing to desire full regulatory control and they will continue to push for it as any game agency should, since regulating hunting is what they are tasked to do.

One either supports game agencies regulating hunting or politicians regulating hunting in this country. Everyone can decide which camp they are in.

 

[dpms]

I just dont think the farm bureau will allow more than 3 ever. They do not want it year round.

Leadership quietly does not want any Sunday hunting. Problem is their membership has been swinging towards towards Sunday hunting. The good thing is the PGC is finally wising up a bit to the PFB's antics. The PFB continually whines about crop losses and continually asks the PGC for more tools(hunting), yet they oppose the PGC being able to regulate hunting 7 days of the week.

Several commissioners are tired of this conundrum and have become less inclined to keep bowing to PFB desires.

 

[Loggy]

What many seem to forget or not fully comprehend...the PA Game Commission was created/formed by our State Legislature. It's sorta like a Parent corporation & it fully controlled subsidiary. Bottomline...the full relinquishment of control ain't never gonna happen in substance no matter how autonomous their existence may seem..

 

[dpms]

What many seem to forget or not fully comprehend...the PA Game Commission was created/formed by our State Legislature. It's sorta like a Parent corporation & it fully controlled subsidiary. Bottomline...the full relinquishment of control ain't never gonna happen in substance.

What some seem to forget is the function of legislative bodies is to oversee state agencies, not directly regulate the tasks that the various state agencies are responsible for. Other state agencies function as such, including the PFBC. If any state agency screws up, the legislative role is to then step in a correct it.