New Sunday Hunting Bill Announced - Senate Bill 67

 

   CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

    TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741

    EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

    WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/DISTRIBUTION

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting proudly announces the mission to bring full regulatory authority to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to decide seasons and bag limits all days of the week including Sunday is alive and well.  Senate Bill 67 has been drafted, prepared, and placed in the legislative process to be introduced in the upcoming 2023-2024 session.   

Senate Bill 67 corrects and removes the prohibition of hunting on Sundays.  It will bring the law in line with that of agriculture.  Act 26 2007 along with various other laws such as Title 34 and Title 58 authorizes agriculturalists to harvest animals on all days of the week including Sunday.   Hunter-conservationists should not be discriminated against and be afforded the same opportunity by law to harvest animals on Sunday. The legislative standard is to be Sunday-inclusive.  Hunting on Sunday deserves to have the same principle and standard applied.

Senator Dan Laughlin, Pa. 49th District, Senate Majority Policy Committee has introduced Senate Bill 67.  This bill mirrors the language of the previous bill that reads:    

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

When asked why he was re-introducing the Sunday hunting bill Senator Laughlin replied, “We have six days that we can hunt, there is no reason that it shouldn't and can’t be seven days.”  He also added that “2023 is the year of 53 Sundays, let’s mark that by getting the Sunday hunting prohibition lifted.”

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting along with the conservation cohort looks forward to working with the Pa. Legislature in getting Senate Bill 67 through the legislative process and into law in a timely manner.  We would like nothing more than for everyone to come to the table in good faith; politicians, Pa. Game Commission, conservation organizations, and the Pa. Farm Bureau, to negotiate a reasonable end to this archaic blue law that discriminates only against those who hunt. 

Senate Bill 67 will be available electronically once it becomes active in the database of the state.  The anticipated timeframe is by end of January 2023.  It will not show up in any google or other search engines until that time. 

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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 

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

SB607 - THANKS FOR STEPPING UP - LETTER TO LAUGHLIN, BREWSTER, ROBINSON

Copy to: Senator Dan Laughlin, Senator James Brewster, Senator Delvin Robinson

Senators, this letter is to thank you all for introducing, supporting, and endorsing Senate Bill 607 Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania.  Obviously, you understand the need to provide more hunting opportunities and correct the Sunday hunting prohibition blue law once and for all.

  

Senator Laughlin, thanks for taking the lead and introducing SB607 as you did with Senate Bill 147, which became law as Act 2019 107.  

Senator Brewster, thanks for your continued support and dedication to the sportsmen and women of PA.  It is no secret that your legislative efforts contributed to the successful passing of SB147.  We know you will put the same amount of time and dedication into the benefit of SB607. 

Senator Robinson, thanks for the fresh view and vision as a newly elected senator.  Being a co-sponsor on what is really a simple issue that needs correcting but can be a torrid issue at times, demonstrates that you have values as a leader.  So thank you for stepping up for the sportsmen and women of PA. 

The three of you understand as well as many of your colleagues. 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 Pennsylvania Game Commission resource first model and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.  

Though SB607 has not arrived in the PA House Game and Fisheries Committee.  It is encouraging to hear and see that there is now an understanding in the legislative body of what Sunday hunting can provide and what it means to people. There is at least a comprehension of the need for bipartisan support.  As Representative Ed Neilson, House G&F Chair spoke and asked directly about Sunday hunting and any type of expansion being considered during the March 3, 2021 testimony.  Rep. Neilson summed it up very well “the workforce is almost six days a week now, people have to do what they have to do to survive.  Families when the covid hit, everybody is struggling and they are trying to get as many [hunting] days as they can in.” 

It is also good to see that SB607 is for full repeal. 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 both species and days is not the proper way for our wildlife resources to be managed.  The PGC 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.

As you work through this. Please keep in mind that there is a standing offer.   I and others from the 25 supporting conservation organizations are always available to answer questions, have meetings, phone calls, or simple email exchange with any concerns that may arise.  Please do not hesitate to contact me to set something up. 

For your knowledge and information attached are the 25 conservation organizations that support the repeal of Sunday hunting prohibition in PA Title 34 Game Law to authorize the PGC full regulatory authority to allow for hunting on Sundays. 

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners

• Endorsed by Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania Governor's Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation

• Endorsed by United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania State Shotgunning Association

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania National Wild Turkey Chapter

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania Flyers Association

• Endorsed by Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing the Harvest

• Endorsed by U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation

• Endorsed by Hunter Nation

• Endorsed by National Shooting Sports Foundation

• Endorsed by National Rifle Association (NRA)

• Endorsed by Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

• Endorsed by Delta Waterfowl

• Endorsed by Ducks Unlimited

• Endorsed by Safari Club International

• Endorsed by Hunt the Vote

• Endorsed by Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever

• Endorsed by Ruffed Grouse Society  & American Woodcock Society 

• Endorsed by Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

• Endorsed by National Deer Association 

• Endorsed by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA)

• Endorsed by Boone and Crockett Club

• Endorsed by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF

Thanks for your time and the work you will be putting into SB607.   Please let us know what help you need.

Sincerely; 

Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

#SB607 #sundayhunting #huntersforsundayhunting

HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING COMMENT TO PA GAME COMMISSION, April 10, 2021

The memo reads: 

From: Senator Daniel Laughlin

To: All Senate members

Subject: Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania

Statement to PA Game Commissioners, April 10, 2021, Public Meeting

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

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 April 2021 public meeting.  

It is refreshing and rewarding to watch the March 3, 2021, Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee testimony and hear Mr. Burhans relay information from the commissioners by saying,  “We would also like to build upon the success of Act 107 of 2019 which provided for three days of hunting on Sundays.  This change was implemented in 2020 and was met with great enthusiasm by hunters who have sought the chance to hunt on Sundays for several decades. The game commission supports opening additional Sundays to hunting and welcomes the opportunity to work with the committee to craft legislation giving full authority to the board of commissioners to offer additional Sunday hunting opportunities.  This year's Sunday hunting opportunities were extremely popular with our hunters and we did not see any, any substantial issues occur on these Sundays.” 

Though mentioned often, it deserves repeating.  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 also good to know that as commissioners you understand the inclusiveness of seasons and species on the Sundays as stated to the House G&F Committee by Mr. Burhans, “this year which is being proposed is where the Sundays overlapping the existing small game seasons is going to be allowed this year.  We got a lot of complaints from hunters, I want to hunt small game but you can only shoot a deer or harvest a bear so we heard a lot of hunters who said they would like small game.”

As we work to get full regulatory authority legislation introduced in this legislative session it is encouraging to hear and see that there is now an understanding in the legislative body of what Sunday hunting can provide and what it means to people.  Hence why Representative Ed Neilson, House G&F Chair spoke and asked directly about Sunday hunting and any type of expansion being considered. Rep. Neilson summed it up very well “the workforce is almost six days a week now, people have to do what they have to do to survive.  Families when the covid hit, everybody is struggling and they are trying to get as many [hunting] days as they can in.” 

In closing, please know that Hunters United for Sunday Hunting appreciates all that you do.  We understand that you are working diligently under the rules placed upon you by the legislature and by the constraints of scientific wildlife management to provide as much hunting opportunity as possible. 

The ask is this. Help us help you.  There are 25 conservation organizations that support full regulatory authority to be given to the PGC.  Please continue to relay and populate the message ‘that the PGC commission supports opening additional Sundays to hunting and welcomes the opportunity for legislation giving full authority to the board of commissioners to offer additional Sunday hunting opportunities.’

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.

SB147 LAW. NOW WHAT?

Message from HUSH Executive Director

I have had a lot of people ask me ‘now what’ since the passing of Senate Bill 147.  Henry Ford said it best, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

That’s exactly what we do - move forward. If we do not, then we are stagnant and ineffective. The fight remains the same, it hasn’t changed. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau remains opposed to hunting on Sunday and will continue their hypocritical efforts to infringe on hunter-landowner rights all the while asking for politicians to grant exemptions and other favorable programs to farmer-landowners.

There are more hunters in this state and more than likely more hunter-landowners than there are voting farmer members of the PFB. We as hunter-conservationists just simply outnumber them. That is why we must remain consolidated in our efforts to bring this archaic blue law prohibiting hunting on Sunday to an end.
 
Politicians have learned that we have organized. The PFB has learned their dynasty is coming to an end. Their ability to hide behind PFB enabling politicians and the long-running ill-fated excuses of ‘why not’ will no longer be tolerated.   It is time that Pennsylvania entered the 21st Century in regards to hunting and conservation.

The sky has not fallen in West Virginia. There the legislature has done the right thing and ignored the West Virginia Farm Bureaus opposition and opened the state for hunting on Sunday. West Virginia is benefiting from this. If West Virginia legislators can ignore their farm bureau and reap the benefits the same can and should happen here in Pa.  

As I have previously stated. We are just getting started. This fight to bring Sunday hunting opportunities 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.

Let’s make 2020 the year of real hunter-conservationist change in Pennsylvania. It’s time we take conservation out of the hands of politicians and Pa. Farm Bureau and place it fully where it belongs – Pa. Game Commission.

Sincerely,

Kevin B. Askew
Executive Director
Hunters United for Sunday Hunting