Hunters United for Sunday Hunting: SB147 - HOW DID WE GET HERE? NEGOTIATION?

As of Aug 1, 2019 - Senate Bill 147

Senate Bill 147 still has a few more hurdles to go through before it becomes law. The best-case scenario is that SB147 gets through the Pa. House in September and onto the governor's desk for signature opening up the possibility for Sunday hunting opportunity this fall. The other scenario is it gets held up in the legislative process and does not reach the governor's desk until late November or December effectively eliminating any Sunday opportunity for the 2019-2020 hunting season. Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as follows: - One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by the commission during the deer rifle season. - One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by the commission during the Statewide deer archery season. - One day of Sunday hunting as determined by the commission shall be instituted by the commission. **The anchoring by law of the two Sunday’s is not based on any science. Legislators insisted and refused to vote if these Sundays where not specified.**

How did we get here? Timeline: Senate Bill 147

February 1, 2019 - introduced by Senators Laughlin, Brewster, Street and Yaw

February 27, 2019 - passed out of Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee with a favorable vote of 8 YES and 3 NO.

June 27, 2019 - passed out of Pennsylvania Senate with a favorable vote of 36 YES and 14 NO.

June 27, 2019 - sent to Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee for voting.

September 10, 2019 - Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee public hearing, 1pm room 60 east wing, Pa. state capitol building.

Negotiation for SB 147 Sundays. Who was in the room? What happened?

**No Pa. based sportsmen or conservation organization present during negotiation. Pa. Game Commission was not consulted or present.** Pa. Senators:

original proposal was 14 Sundays of hunting opportunity to be determined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
negotiated to 3 days. Legislators insisted and refused to vote if Sundays and seasons where not specified.

Pa. Farm Bureau:

asked and received stiffer trespass law. Trespass while hunting is a primary offense enforceable by Game Commission wardens, local and state law enforcement.
sources indicate intentionally withheld ‘written permission’ in order to hold up and stall the vote in Pa. House.
Bullying tactic? You decide?

National Rifle Association:

Notified legislators that SB 147 is and will be a NRA graded vote.
Legislators upset, worried about self-preservation. View grading as being caught between sportsmen and farmers.

Their misdirected anger is towards sportsmen/women, not PFB who put them in this position.

Worked to get the 3 Sundays to be Pa. Game Commission choice, not dictated by legislation.
Counter Pa. Farm Bureau as SB147 moves forward. PFB wants more, Pa. hunters get more.