THERE WAS NO DEAL LIMITING SUNDAY HUNTING TO JUST 3 SUNDAYS

..... THIS IS AN IMPORTANT READ AND MESSAGE TO GET TO ALL POLITICIANS .....

MANY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A "DEAL" TO HAVE 3 SUNDAYS AND NOTHING ELSE.

The following correspondence was printed in Pennsylvania Outdoor News.  This should help clear the air and address some of the concerns and rumors that are going about.  This issue is very important to sportsmen/women across the state.  There is no need for any of us to start the legislative process for SB607 with incorrect and inadequate information or preconceived notions.

Commentary Published July 2, 2021; Kevin Askew, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting  
Read the full article here: 

THERE WAS NO DEAL LIMITING SUNDAY HUNTING TO JUST 3 SUNDAYS. 

Published May 21, 2021; Deborah Weisburg, Southwest Correspondent.
Read the full article here: MORE SUNDAY HUNTING COMING? 

Published July 2, 2021, PA Outdoor News Staff Report
Read the full article here:  SENATE PANEL OKS SUNDAY HUNTING BILL

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/ 

ANOTHER COSPONSOR FOR SB607 - SENATOR MARIO SCAVELLO

Message from Hunters United for Sunday Hunting,  Executive Director Kevin Askew

On Monday, June 7, 2021, I had a meeting with Senator Mario Scavello and Ms. Christine Zubeck to discuss PA Senate Bill 318, Allowing Falconry on Sundays and PA Senate Bill 607, Repealing Sunday Hunting Provisions in Pennsylvania.  It was a productive and enjoyable meeting. 

Senator Mario Scavello

Upon entering the office I was completely unaware that Senator Scavello had already made the decision to become a co-sponsor for SB607.  Within a few minutes of conversation that was immediately cleared up and I was provided a copy of the legislation listing Senator Mario Scavello [R] as a cosponsor for SB607. 

Mr. Scavello’s support of SB607 is not to be taken lightly.  As a previous 2015-2016 majority chairman of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, he worked hard to bring Sunday hunting opportunity to fruition by holding a joint hearing with both the PA House and PA Senate Fish and Game Committees.  Unfortunately, the efforts stalled in the PA Representative side of the legislature. 

In regards to SB318, I have informed Mr. Scavello that we [HUSH] would not stand in the way nor oppose, and since SB318 is currently in the Senate F&G committee.  Senator Dan Laughlin’s [F&G Chair] office has been informed of the same.  

Why?  Though done through exemption SB318 does provide more hunting opportunities.  We must keep our goal and mission in mind and remember the fight to bring hunting on Sunday has never been about a particular species or season. It is not about deer, it is not about specific seasons, it is not about this firearm or the other. It is about the increased opportunity based on the PGC’s resource first model and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.

To thank or provide your input on SB318 or SB607 to Senator Scavello; call or email Christine Zubeck at 717-787-6123 or czubeck@pasen.gov  

Senator Scavello SB607 Cosponsor 

LETTER TO SENATOR MARIO SCAVELLO - SB318 FALCONRY & SUNDAY HUNTING BLUE LAW REPEAL COSPONSOR

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

717-350-6741

Senator Mario Scavello

Senate District 40 serving Monroe (part) and Northampton (part) counties

Senate Box 203040

Harrisburg, PA 17120-3040

Room: 20 East Wing

POC: Christine Zubeck 717-787-6123 or czubeck@pasen.gov  / 570-620-4326 mscavello@pasen.gov

Mr. Scavello;  

I am writing this letter in regards to Senate Bill 318, Allowing Falconry on Sundays that you have introduced this legislative session.  My name is Kevin Askew, the executive director of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting. 

As one can conclude from your co-sponsor memo. You recognize the effort underway to streamline, bring a change and update PA Title 34 Game Law regarding the hunting on Sunday prohibition and the need and the ability for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to be able to set seasons and bag limits for all participating sportsmen regardless of how they choose to hunt.  Be that with a rifle, bow, or in this case falconry.  

The fight to bring hunting on Sunday has never been about a particular species or season. It is not about deer, it is not about specific seasons, it is not about this firearm or the other. It is about the increased opportunity based on the PGC’s resource first model and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.

Falconry is part of this.  Your legislation is astute in that it recognizes that falconers are currently in violation of the law if they choose to fly their birds on Sunday. Why should falconers have to risk being in violation of the law to feed or exercise their birds on any given Sunday? 

“[SB318]This legislation is being offered because these birds of prey are wild and need to fly and eat daily.  A falconer who wishes to take his or her bird of prey out in the wild, even for daily flight and not to hunt, would still be in violation of the Sunday hunting prohibition.”

Understandably, you have introduced similar or the same legislation in previous years.  The law is flawed and needs to be corrected.  Revisiting this issue every year is not the proper way to advance this legislation.  Changing/updating the law will save much-needed legislative time, effort, and money.  Exempting by law species and/or days is not the best way for our wildlife resources to be managed. 

There are 25 conservation organizations that support removing the Sunday hunting prohibition blue law and full regulatory authority to be given to the PGC.  

The immediate request is that you consider the above and understand what updating the law and removing the Sunday hunting prohibition will not only do for falconry but for hunting and conservation as a whole. Since you are both working towards the same goal.  Please consider joining with Senator Dan Laughlin and being a co-sponsor on his current legislation to Repeal Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania.  

I would also like to schedule a meeting to discuss this and answer any questions you may have.  Please let me know your availability. I can be reached at the contact info above.

Sincerely;

Kevin Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

REPEALING SUNDAY HUNTING PROHIBITION IN PENNSYLVANIA - LETS GET THIS DONE

The moment that we have all be asking for is here.  Senator Dan Laughlin has made good on his commitment to advance legislation to get the hunting on Sunday prohibition lifted once and for all here in Pennsylvania. 

The memo reads: 

From: Senator Daniel Laughlin

To: All Senate members

Subject: Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania

 

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that 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.

Over the past 40 years, hunting license sales have been steadily declining across the nation.  Countless surveys and research have been conducted in an attempt to determine the cause of this decline.  Over and over, the number one answer to why people quit hunting is ‘lack of time’. 

 

Act 107 of 2019 authorized the Game Commission to implement three Sundays for hunting. These three days were extremely successful and exceptionally safe. The Game Commission reported no hunting-related shooting incidents on any of those days. Additionally, implementing the three Sundays contributed to the increase of 25,152 licenses sold in the previous year. The additional opportunities that are available to hunters is paying huge dividends. 

 

By completely removing the prohibition on Sunday hunting, it will give the needed latitude to the Game Commission to increase hunting and trapping opportunities. 

Please join me in supporting this important legislation.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?  WHAT YOU CAN DO?

The first step is to get the members of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee to sign on and co-sponsor this legislation.  Here is every member of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee.  

Contact them: Ask them to sign, endorse and co-sponsor the Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania legislation.  Post up who you contact and their responses.  

Let’s get this done.  

Link to:

Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania 

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20210&cosponId=35151

Senate Game and Fisheries Committee members/names/contact

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/Index.cfm?Code=11&CteeBody=S

ABC 27/WHTM

Pa. hunting advocates push to expand Sunday hunting

Currently, the legislature has control over Sunday hunting. Game Commission should have total authority.

HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING COMMENT TO PA GAME COMMISSION, JAN 23, 2021

 

Senate Bill 147 signed and made legal by the November 27, 2019, PA Act. 107

Statement to PA Game Commissioners, January 23, 2021

Executive Director Burhans, Deputy Executive Directors Grohol and Palmer, Commissioners, and Staff:

Be advised that the mission to bring full regulatory authority to the PA Game Commission is alive and well.  As the executive director of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting thanks for the opportunity to submit this letter as part of the PA Game Commission January 2021 public meeting.  Many of my comments are not going to be new but are still valid and pertinent to the current Sunday hunting situation that you as commissioners are managing. 

As commissioners, you are faced with the challenging decision of how to best manage the three Sundays of hunting opportunity for the upcoming 2020-2021 hunting and trapping season.  Please take comfort in the fact that we know you are working to do the best you can under the guidelines placed upon you by our legislators.  

As you well know. The fight to bring hunting on Sunday has never been about a particular species or season. It is not about deer, it is not about specific seasons, it is not about this firearm or the other. It is about the increased opportunity based on your agency's resource-first model and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.

It is encouraging that initial reports indicate that you as commissioners and an agency are looking to be as inclusive as possible for huntable species in the upcoming season.  This will allow hunters the opportunity to maximize their time afield for both small and big game animals.  As previously mentioned in last January’s statement, if there is a biological reason certain species can’t support additional hunting, we simply ask that we be educated on that scientific reason so we as hunter-conservationists understand. The conservation and hunting community supports the wildlife management decisions made by this agency. 

In closing as one of the leading organizations for Sunday hunting, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting asks that you maximize these three Sundays by allowing as much hunting opportunity as is biologically permitted. 

I also ask that you welcome Hunter Nation and Hunt The Vote for joining the conference of nearly 25 organizations that are working on the removal of the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law and transfer full regulatory control to your agency to allow and decide what is best for Sunday hunting.

Thanks for your time;

Sincerely; 

Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

SUNDAY HUNTING: WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021

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.

Grading the Vote - Sunday Hunting & Purple Paint

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741
EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com
WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE & DISTRIBUTION - MAY 20, 2020

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is issuing the following score cards regarding Senate Bill 147 (Sunday Hunting) and House bill 1772 (Purple Paint.)

Our goal with the scorecard is simple: Drive accountability for politicians regarding wildlife management & conservation legislation in Pennsylvania.

"The truth is in the vote.  The only true system of measurement and accountability is how a politician voted on a particular bill, Yes or No.  What we do as wildlife management conservationists with that data is up to us.  We can either use it to educate and affect legislative change or not."

Scores with detailed information can be found via the link below:

SB147 & HB1772 Grading

For more information about this topic, please contact

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting at 717-350-6741 or

email at huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com. 

View our Blog - https://huntersforsundayhunting.blogspot.com/

Executive Director Kevin B. Askew

SB147 IS NOW LAW - GOV. WOLF SIGNS

Message from the Executive Director, Kevin Askew, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

Governor Tom Wolf has officially signed Senate Bill 147 into law.  Amending Title 34 Game Law to allow for additional Sunday hunting opportunity 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.

Many of you will understand the historic significance and what an incredible leap in the right direction this is for hunter-conservation in Pennsylvania.  Though this is not perfect and more work is needed it is definitely a step forward to correct a 337-year-old antiquated blue law.

Thank you Governor Wolf for signing Senate Bill 147 into law. Your signature helps bring Pa. wildlife management into the 21st Century standards.  

For all of you who have been involved with this Hunters United for Sunday Hunting.  It is your dedication and tenacity that has made this happen.  Please take pride in that.  Many have failed before us.  In March of 2018 we set out on a new course to bring Sunday hunting to Pa. You all have participated in history.  You all have been a tremendous influence that affected Governor Wolf’s signature.  For that be proud and start telling the story of how Sunday hunting prohibition came to an end in Pa.

We are just getting started. This fight to bring Sunday hunting opportunity is much larger than any person or organization. It is based on our principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.   

You have my commitment that Hunters United for Sunday Hunting will continue in our mission to bring full regulatory authority to the Pa. Game Commission.   I ask that everyone stay engaged, involved and continue the journey with us.  Most of all, take time to reflect, understand and think about what November 21, 2019 means for the future of hunting in Pennsylvania.

Sincerely; 

Kevin B. Askew

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

HUSH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE TO PA. GAME COMMISSION - SB147

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Executive Director, Kevin Askew addresses Pa. Game Commission, Board of Commissioners at the July 22, 2019 public meeting regarding Senate Bill 147.

July 22, 2019 President Layton, Commissioners, Executive Director Burhans, and Deputy Executive Director Grohol and Palmer,

Good morning gentlemen.  My name is Kevin Askew, I am the Executive Director for Hunters United for Sunday Hunting.  Let me first say that my organization is undeterred in our mission to remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law through education, and influence legislatures to change the law accordingly.

I am here today to thank you, the Board of Commissioners for the work you have and are about to put in regarding Senate Bill 147.

Unfortunately, legislators have not provided full regulatory authority to the Pa. Game Commission.  The anchoring and dictating by the law of two Sunday’s in SB147 is not based on any science as you know.  Please be aware that no Pa. based sportsmen or conservation organization was at the table when this deal was made. 

You must accept and realize the Pa. Farm Bureau is still opposed to SB147.  So what!  This opposition should not deter you in the least.  Why? Page 23, 2019 Pa. Farm Bureau Policy Book, Wildlife Management Section, Line 6, “We recommend sound science be used to manage wildlife populations.”  The Pa. Farm Bureau just wants to posture and stand in the way of wildlife conservation progress in this state for no real reason.  The Pa. Farm Bureau knows full well that they are getting stronger hunting trespass laws that benefit both farmers and landowners.  All the while providing additional hunting opportunities to farmers and others.

SB147 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.

What you as commissioners and an agency do, and how you handle the progress and implementation of SB147 is extremely critical in both short term and long term.  Once SB147 becomes law, all eyes are on the Pa. Game Commission.  Some want you to succeed. Others want you to fail.  So what do you do?

You all know what Hunters United for Sunday Hunting team has done to get to this point today.  My recommendation is that you follow the same template.  Be completely transparent, educate and keep people informed on what is going on.  Tell people what, why and how you can and are implementing these three Sundays.  If SB147 gets held up for some reason don’t be afraid to say why and place blame where it belongs. 

This is a great educational opportunity for both politicians and the public.  If done right the agency can very well reap the benefits.  If done wrong you have just given the opposition the club to beat us with in this conservation battle for hunting on Sunday.  There is no better evidence of this than the ridicule of Joel Rotz, Pa. Farm Bureau, “hunters who can't go out on Sundays already have an economic impact, such as by going to sports events or eating and drinking at bars and restaurants in their communities.” 

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting welcomes the additional hunting opportunity in SB147 and understands the task and decisions ahead of you as commissioners.  Thanks for the work that you do and the resources that you protect. 

Sincerely; 

Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

**Of note, Joel Rotz, Pa. Farm Bureau was in attendance.  He did not address the commissioners.**