NEW YORK FARM BUREAU MEMBERS HAVE NO ISSUE WITH SUNDAY HUNTING

Provided By:

Don Williams, Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation Original Email Inquiry to New York Farm Bureau Sent February 21, 2019

I am a farm owner. I belong to the PA Farm Bureau.  I am also a member of the PA Governor's Advisory Council.
- How long has Sunday hunting been permitted in NY?
- Is hunting on Sunday an acceptable activity by farmers in NY?
- Are there benefits to farmers to allow Sunday hunting on their property, such as deer and bear control to prevent crop damage?
- Is hunting on Sunday an issue vs. hunting on other days of the week?
- If there is an issue, is it religious, noise, trespass or access related?
- Are NY farmers permitted to post their lands "NO SUNDAY HUNTING" while allowing hunting access other days of the week?
- Does the NY Farm Bureau receive complaints concerning Sunday hunting? If so how many per year?
- Does the NY Farm Bureau have a policy position regarding hunting on Sunday? What is it?
Thank you for your most valuable time and kind consideration.

Don Williams

Response From Renée St. Jacques, New York Farm Bureau, Assistant Director of Public Policy February 26, 2019

Hello Don,
I believe New York started permitting hunting on Sundays in 1996. At this point, it is allowed in New York with only a few exceptions and the NY Department of Environmental Conservation recommends checking local regulations for specific areas. Although New York Farm Bureau has policy related to hunting, we do not have specific policy on Sunday hunting. Deer management is very important to our members because of the amount of crop damage caused by deer. NYFB supports NY implementing a bear management program similar to the current NY deer management program. In recent years, our members haven’t voiced any issues pertaining to NY permitting hunting on Sundays.
Anyone can post signs on their personal property regarding hunting and trespassing. Someone could be specific and say no Sunday hunting, but I haven’t heard of any circumstances where that is being done: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8371.html 

Hope that is helpful and let me know if you have any other questions. 

Renée St. Jacques, New York Farm Bureau, Assistant Director of Public Policy

GOV. COUNCIL - I ASKED PGC FOR UPDATED HUNTING RELATED SHOOTING INCIDENTS

February 20, 2019 Provided By:

Don Williams, Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation

I asked the Pa. Game Commission for updated Hunting Related Shooting Incidents (HRSI) specifically those involving non-hunters.

In the past 5 years in Pennsylvania: * 179 incidents total

* 6 incidents involving non-hunters = 3 HRSI on private land (unclear on family to family involvement) NO fatalities * 3 incidents on State Game Lands, NO fatalities = 1 ATV related incident; 1 Kayak related incident; 1 HRSI. * High number of incidents involved falls from tree stands. * Most HRSI are self-inflicted. * Spring Turkey HRSI incidents vary from 0 - 8 per year (most either self-inflicted or mistaken for game).  

IF there are @ 700,000 hunting licenses sold in Pa. per annum. And if we say each hunter only hunted 1 day, the highest chance ratio of hunting days afield to non-hunter incidents during those 5 years is 3,500,000/6 OR 1 in 583,333. The highest hunter to non-hunter HRSI is 1 in 3.5million with an actual lesser chance as hunter days increases to more than 1.In comparison, your chances of being struck by lightning is 1 in 3,500. * Hunting is lowest on the list of non-hunter injuries in the outdoors. * Swimming is the most dangerous outdoor activity with the highest mortality. * Falls have the greatest morbidity (injury) and a significant mortality as well. * A non-hunter is more likely to be injured or die from an auto accident traveling to and from the outdoor venue/trail head.

However hunter to non-hunter HRSI unfortunately do occur. * In 2018 a fatal HRSI occurred in Western NY. A non-hunter was mistaken for game while walking her dog after sunset. She was not wearing fluorescent orange AND it happened after legal shooting hours. The hunter was prosecuted, convicted and recently found guilty of manslaughter. * In 2017 there was a non-hunter HRSI in Maine. 1st in 29 years. * In 2016 there was an non-hunter HRSI in Germany (no fluorescent orange required). Wearing as much fluorescent orange when outdoors in a hunting area during hunting seasons is the key safety factor for both hunters and non-hunters. ////Signed//// Don Williams  Pa. Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation