EXTRA TIME TO CREATE MEMORIES

Jim O'Brien and his 15 year old son Logan hunting together.

My name is Jim O'Brien and I live in Waynesburg, Pa.. My son Logan who is 15 loves to be in the woods with me. However our situation is different than some others. Logan typically lives with his mother 65+ miles from me and I typically get him on the weekends depending on his schedule as a 15year old with sports, Young Marines, friends parties etc.

I work in Retail as a manager for Sportsman's Warehouse so my life literally revolves around the outdoors that we all love. My typical work week is Tuesday through Saturday. Being able to get into the woods to hunt on Sunday would give myself and Logan that much extra time to create memories in the woods. Because of the current law being no Sunday hunting my options are to use PTO days which I have no issue with but then I have to pull him from his education to get quality time in the woods with him. Please take this into consideration and get let's start making memories on Sunday in Pa.

WHY DADDY? I LIKE HUNTING!

Yesterday an interesting exchange took place at the Hunters United for Sunday booth at The Great American Outdoor Show.  I woke up this morning feeling compelled to write about it.

One of the many families that stopped by and struck up a conversation about Sunday hunting. The parents both eagerly signed the petition to remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania while their two young daughters [likely under the age of 10] waited patiently at their side.

In the midst of speaking with the parents, one of the two girls grabs her father’s pant leg and asks “What’s this daddy.”  The father responds, “this is a petition to allow us to hunt on Sundays.” 

Confused the little girl stood silent. The father continues, “in Pennsylvania we’re not allowed to hunt on Sundays.” The little girl's' eyes opened wide and as kids often do, she asks a tough question, “Why daddy? I like hunting!”

At that moment I wasn’t sure if the father would look to us for advice, but I was surely interested in how he would respond. He kneels down and whispers into her ear and shares a moment with his daughter only they will know, and finished by saying aloud “and that is why we are here sweetie, so you girls will never need to understand a world where you are told you cannot hunt on Sunday.”

Jahred Klahre

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

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:
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