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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

YEA VOTE FOR THE STEELE DEAL - REPEALING SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITION PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/DISTRIBUTION

YEA VOTE FOR REPEALING SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITION IN PENNSYLVANIA - THE STEELE DEAL HB2106, HB2107, HB2108  BY PA HOUSE GAME AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE.

The Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee on May 22, 2024, advanced THE STEELE DEAL HB2106, HB2107, HB2108  Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania. with a vote of 13 YEA, 11 NAY, and 1 NO VOTE on HB2106;  14 YEA and 11 NAY on HB2107; and 13 YEA, 11 NAY, and 1 NO VOTE  on HB2108.

The vote was consistent down party lines with the Democrat majority supporting all three bills and the Republican minority opposing all three bills.

How did we get here?  Simple, by Representative Mandy Steele doing her due diligence for eight months listening, learning, and having conversations on how to help grow the booming outdoor industry in PA while also assisting agriculture in its goals.  Hunter-conservation identified their number one issue as removing the prohibitive blue law restricting hunting on Sunday.  Agriculture identified its number one issue as being economic locally and as a whole through losses associated with crop damage.

HB2106 removes the blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday and provides the Pennsylvania Game Commission with full regulatory authority to set seasons and bag limits seven days a week. HB 2106 also strengthens trespass laws by outlining the requirements and responsibilities for landowners and hunters alike.

HB2107 merely finishes what has been started.  It is known the PGC has been working towards a revision and updates to the hunter agriculture crop damage system.  Be it that all legalities and mechanics for implementation can be worked out.  HB2107 finishes the puzzle of connecting hunters, agriculturalists, and farmers by creating an online network to streamline the process for better interaction and results for those farmers seeking help with crop damage.

HB2108 is a hunter-conservation and agriculture mission multiplier when viewed and interpreted correctly.  There are currently two sitting agriculturalists on the PGC Board of Commissioners.  HB2108 updates and provides the needed defining criteria for the best selection possible for the most qualified candidate.  That applicant will now have to meet the criteria of being knowledgeable in the area of wildlife management as well as actively engaged in a normal agricultural operation as defined in the Right-to-Farm Law.

Statement from Kevin Askew, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting;

“The Steele Deal is a good deal; it provides for everything needed, not everything wanted.  I would like to thank Representative Mandy Steele for her dedication in bringing this package of needed bills that helps hunters, conservationists, agriculturalists, and farmers.  I would also like to extend a thank you to all the Democrats who worked on and supported the Steele Deal.  Far too often democrats are painted, portrayed, and stigmatized as not supporting hunting conservation and agriculture.  Your bold party line YEA vote today has demonstrated what has historically been recorded in the voting record on conservation issues. That is as a whole, Democrats have voted YEA on conservation issues much more than your Republican counterparts.  Today’s vote could be the first step in breaking that stigma.”

For more information about this topic, please contact Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Executive Director Kevin Askew at 717-350-6741 or email at huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com.  View our Blog - https://huntersforsundayhunting.blogspot.com/ 


View the PA House Game and Fisheries Committee meeting and voting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Tc-oR-aF1No

View the PA House Game and Fisheries Committee vote here: 

HB2106 https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_votes.cfm?syear=2023&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2106

HB2107 https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_votes.cfm?syear=2023&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2107

HB2108 https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2023&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2108


HUSH Mission Statement - Remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law through education, and influence legislatures to change the law accordingly.


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