Message from Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Executive Director Kevin B. Askew
It has been some time since I have released a statement. First let me say I hope everyone who chose to take part in the three days of Sunday hunting brought about by Senate Bill 147 and made legal by the November 27, 2019, PA Act. 107 enjoyed their time afield. Second, I would like to welcome Hunter Nation and Hunt The Vote for joining the consortium that is working on the removal of the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law and transfer full regulatory control to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to allow and decide what is best for Sunday hunting.
Since November 15, 2020, we have received many stories of appreciation, memories made, reports of what the additional time meant to many individuals, families, and camps from hunting on the three Sundays. The main question I have received is, ‘what is happening are we getting more Sundays to hunt?’ The answer is that we are ramping up once again in our mission to bring full regulatory authority to the PGC.
As we had correctly predicted in our advocacy and messaging for this initial change, hunter and non-hunter safety were not compromised by this additional opportunity. There are no reports of law enforcement issues due to having Sunday hunting options. Our expectation is the data will show there was no impact on game species we were permitted to hunt on Sunday.
The most beneficial lesson, outcome, or experience of the three hunting Sundays during the 2019-2020 season is that now there should be no reason to be scared of the unknown. Why? The legislators chose [not the PGC] the three Sundays. The legislators allowed hunting on the two highest impact Sundays [rifle deer and rifle bear] and restricted two of the three Sundays for the highest impact species - deer.
Now that we have the experience of hunting on those high-impact Sundays, a move to full regulatory authority being given to the PGC should be a more seamless process during the 2021-2022 legislative session, which begins in January.
If wondering what you can and should be doing right now. My recommendation would be to work within the PGC process and respectfully ask the commissioners to be inclusive of small game and other huntable species on the three Sundays that we have for 2021. The Board of Game Commissioners quarterly meeting is on January 23 and is virtual. I encourage everyone to send comments to pgccomments@pa.gov Please remember, the PGC is supportive of Sunday hunting and truly does want to bring more hunting opportunities to hunters. But they do need to hear from us.
Happy New Year.
Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
Executive Director
Kevin B. Askew
P.S - it’s OK to mention to the PGC that you want them to ask the legislators to remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting in Pa.
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