YEA VOTE FOR SENATE BILL 607 REPEALING SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITION BY PA SENATE GAME AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE

 

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/DISTRIBUTION

The Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee on June 16, 2021, advanced Senate Bill 607 Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania. with a vote of 7 YEA and 4 NAY.

Senate Bill 607 would completely remove the prohibition on Sundays available for hunting and trapping.  Currently, the law dictates which Sundays are open to hunting, and in certain cases, which species. This legislation would change that and would leave all wildlife management decisions to the Game Commission.

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

“The current law is flawed and needs to be corrected.  Revisiting this issue every year is not the proper way to advance this legislation.  Changing and updating the law will save much-needed legislative time, effort, and money. The PA Game Commission needs the flexibility to manage accordingly, based on species, population, diseases, etc, and not be held to a standard set by non-professionals in wildlife management.”  

The goal of Senate Bill 607 is to bring PA into the 21st Century when it comes to societal and conservation standards.  The same ones practiced and participated in by hunters, farmers, landowners, and all who enjoy the outdoors throughout the country.  

SB607 now advances to the PA Senate Appropriations Committee where a fiscal impact note is prepared and another round of voting.  

View Senate Game and Fisheries Committee meeting and voting here:

https://game.pasenategop.com/game-061621/

View Senate Game and Fisheries Committee YEA/NAY vote here:

https://legiscan.com/PA/votes/SB607/2021

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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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 or Legislative Director Harold Daub at 717-648-1835 or email at daubh@comcast.net.  View our Blog - https://huntersforsundayhunting.blogspot.com/ 

FARMERS - I WONDER IF THEY KNOW WHAT THE PA. FARM BUREAU IS DOING

Farmer planting fields.  Photo courtesy of Pa. Game Commission

Published in The Shippensburg News Chronicle

From: Pennsylvania Outdoors Writer Association, Journalist Bell Ferris

According to the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists that in their effort to stop any Sunday hunting The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is threatening gun clubs, whose member shoot on Sundays or for that matter anyone wanting to shoot on their own property on Sunday.

According to their executive director farmers, hikers, horseback riders and others want to enjoy Sundays without hearing gunfire.

When I dealt with the Farm Bureau as a salesman, mostly what they did was sell high cost insurance and tires and wheels to farmers. Many farmers I spoke with in the course of doing business told me they bought insurance from other companies and they could buy tires and wheels for less money from other sources.

Apparently some farmers are members of the farm bureau, which probably means they buy insurance from them but I know farmers, who like to shoot on their farm on Sunday and several are members of local gun clubs that shoot on Sundays, too. I wonder if they know what their farm bureau is doing?

I do know that Sunday hunting is a hot issue and I haven’t made up my mind one way or the other about putting more pressure on a limited game animal resource but the Farm Bureau is definitely falling into the anti-hunting camp and farmers who are customers of the Farm Bureau need to discuss the whole issue with them before the legislature votes to ban Sunday shooting.

Sportsmen and conservationists have always supported farmers and most farmers are sportsmen and conservationists but if the Farm Bureau persists, shooters, who are also voters might withdraw their support for the next farm bill. Pennsylvania Outdoors Writer Association, Journalist Bell Ferris

Read Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists release:
PFSC Condemns PA Farm Bureau Attacks on PA’s Hunters and 2A Rights

TO ALL PA FARMERS & AGRICULTURALISTS - HUSH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HAROLD DAUB

I want to take the time and direct a message to all the hard-working farmers and agriculturalists in Pennsylvania.  As we move forward in this year's legislative cycle to work a solution on having PA Title 34 Game Law changed and updated to remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting.  It is important that you understand that Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is not singling you out or personally attacking you in our endeavor to correct this outdated blue law.

Unfortunately Pa. Farm Bureau has placed us in a position where that looks like the case.  The PFB has bullied the legislators to a point where they believe that Pa. Farm Bureau speaks for all farmers and agriculturalists in the commonwealth.

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting knows this is not the case.  Facts show that the PFB represents less than half of you, with 58,000 farm operations in the state and the PFB only representing 22,648 voting Farmer members.  Please believe me when we hear statements like ‘I am a farmer, the Pa. Farm Bureau doesn’t represent me’ there is undeniable truth to it.

But it is also important that you understand and realize I and my organization has no choice but to play in this same sandbox of misrepresentation created by Pa. Farm Bureau. There is no other course of action.  I combat it and separate as much as I can by continually reminding politicians and those that I meet with that the PFB does not have the support of the entire farming community.

I would like to report that lawmakers listen.  In some cases, they are coming around and starting to realize the charade is over and standing up to the PFB leadership bullies; and for good reason.

Again, this message is for farmers and agriculturalists.  I understand that you have been asking for the strengthening of trespass laws as a route to the overall Sunday hunting issue.  Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is on record as supporting an update to trespass laws in Pa.

My overall concern is that as the oppression of the PFB is unmasked, the politicians in their frustration will dismiss your asks in totality and not provide you with the necessary means to get the law updated.  The Pa. Farm Bureau will have ruined it for all.

The mission of our organization will remain steadfast.  That being to remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law through education, and influence legislatures to change the law accordingly.

If you are a Farmer member of the PFB:  my first ask is that you accept this as qualified reasoning that I do understand that you are a victim of association.  My second ask is that you contact the PFB leadership, tell them to just acknowledge and accept that the strengthening of trespass laws is the objective.  My third ask is to have PFB leadership acknowledge and accept the fact that the PFB as an organization is not wildlife managers; leave that to Pa. Game Commission.

For the majority of farmers who are not in the PFB.  I encourage you to contact your Pa. representatives, let them know that as an independent farmer the PFB does not represent you.

For the non-farming, hunting and conservationist community:  my ask is that you understand the position the PFB has placed all Pennsylvania farmers in as we continue to work on getting PA Title 34 Game Law updated.

In closing, the only people that can affect change is us.  Make it known to the Pa. legislature; contact them, voice your concerns as it pertains to Pa. Farm Bureau, tell lawmakers to support legislation that would amend Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to authorize the Pennsylvania Game Commission to provide for Sunday hunting. Sincerely;

Harold Daub Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Contact Information:
FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR - BY PA COUNTY

PA FARM BUREAU

PA GAME COMMISSION

HOW MANY FARMERS DOES THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM BUREAU REPRESENT?

Pa. Farm Bureau advertising display shows actual membership as of November 2018. The image breaks down the total membership. Regular members/farmers that can vote on Pa. Farm Bureau issues and Associate members/non-farmer who have no voting authority at all

HOW MANY FARMERS DOES THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM BUREAU REPRESENT? “Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a volunteer membership of more than 62,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania,” July 10, 2017 press release. Just ask any of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau leadership and this is the first thing they will gladly tell you.  But do they really? The short answer is no.  Fact is Pa. Farm Bureau only represents 22,648 voting members who are actual farmers.  These are the only people that matter when it comes to PFB issues and voting.  No one else can vote. The two different memberships are explained on pfb.com [PFB website]. “Voting members decide our organization’s priorities and related activity and have the opportunity to participate in the development of Farm Bureau’s policies on a broad range of issues.” 1) Farmer Member [total of 22,648] - a person who is actively engaged in the production of agricultural products, whose principal occupation is farming. Only Farmer members have the privilege of voting on Farm Bureau policy issues. 2) Non-Farmer Member [total of 39,357] - anyone who is interested in agriculture and where their food comes from, whose family or livelihood benefits from agriculture or is involved with agriculture on a part-time basis. Non-farmer members are able to utilize most privileges of membership (except for voting on Farm Bureau policy issues). These member numbers, definition, and authority within the PFB structure are extremely important. They are definitely worth taking note of and paying attention too [yes, you Pa. legislature, the PFB is not as strong as they want you to believe]. When you break it down there are more non-members without any type of influence than there are members with full privileges. This all leads to a bigger question;  Why the secrecy?  Is Pa. Farm Bureau afraid they won’t be taken seriously.  Or is it that the paper tiger is less scary when viewed in the correct light. It is almost as if Pa. Farm Bureau is embarrassed by how few farmers are in the organization. Probably for good reason. Data from an October 2018 survey titled Pennsylvania 2017 State Agriculture Overview shows there are 58,000 farm operations in the state. With less than half the available farmers choosing to not be in or join Pa. Farm Bureau.  There is obvious truth to statements from farmers who say ‘the Pa. Farm Bureau does not represent me.’

Reference

Pfb.com

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=PENNSYLVANIA

EDUCATION SERIES 1 OF..... WHAT HARM DOES SUNDAY HUNTING DO?

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 1 of……

What Harm Does Sunday Hunting Do?

This article was originally written for Pa. Outdoor News.

“It’s always been that way, why do we need Sunday hunting now?”  This is a comment and question I get frequently from those who don’t understand or support removing the legislative barrier to Sunday hunting and conservation efforts.  So, starts the education and why removing the prohibition of hunting on Sunday in Pennsylvania actually will do.

Here are some of the common objections:  All game will be shot off; Pa. Game Commission will be hit with higher costs; trespassing will be a problem; poachers will have another day to wreak havoc in Pa.; non-hunters need a day too; animals need a day of rest; the land will be posted; Sunday should be only for church activities.

Fortunately, there are facts that address these concerns.  

The health of the 480 species of wildlife found in Pa. and their habitat is why we need to consider Sunday hunting. Both depend on a strong conservation commitment from all Pennsylvanians, hunters, and non-hunters.  Hunters foot the bill for wildlife management.  It is referred to as the North American Model of Game Management. Here in Pa. 62 game species are hunted, but yet monies from sportsmen and sportswomen support all 480 species.  

Unfortunately, we are facing a big threat to that model's success.  The most common reason people who want to hunt can't is TIME. Work schedules, youth Saturday activities, single/shared custody parents are some of the reasons we aren't hunting.  We need more TIME. 

If our legislators remove the prohibition, the PGC can consider adding TIME [Sunday] using resource first science-based management to ensure our game species remain healthy and are not ‘shot off’, as some say. Proof of this is the recent recognition earned in the journal Science Advances on April 2 by the PGC for their species management plans.  https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaGameCommission/posts/1819133508118533

On the concerns that costs will increase.  Valid point, but the PGC already operates seven days a week.   And what better way to deter poachers and trespassers than to have legal hunting on Sundays, more eyes to spot and report law violators.

For all the non-hunters who are already sharing Penn’s Woods with us hunters.  We know you are there, the law permits you to be there, just keep doing it safely to limit problems.

The argument that animals need a day of rest.  Animals live in the wild, their instincts keep them alive, just ask any hunter.   Of all the game I have observed over the years, I have not seen a single animal carrying a calendar.

Those who say the land will be posted if Sunday hunting is permitted. Farmers need hunters, hunters need farmers.  We assist with crop damage and predation of livestock.  Do you truly believe a farmer that permits hunting during the weekdays would stop all hunting if the PGC implemented management efforts on Sunday?  As a private landowner, post it, don’t post it.  This is a conservation and a management effort for Pennsylvania wildlife, not a land war on private property.

Lastly, to the cliché argument.  Sunday should be only for religious activities.  This is a ridiculous, laughable and insulting statement that doesn’t deserve a response.  What they are really saying is 'there is an entire group of people who do not know what is important in their lives, nor do they know how to manage their time.'

As the author of this article, what is the harm in giving more TIME for people to enjoy the activity that they love? Is there irreparable harm in removing the prohibition language in Title 34 Pa. Game Law ‘Hunting on Sunday Prohibited’ and changing it to ‘Hunting on Sunday’?  

Written by Harold Daub, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting