HUSH STATEMENT TO PA GAME COMMISSION JAN 2023

    

    Hunters United For Sunday Hunting

    huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

    717-350-6741

      

    

    

Statement to PA Game Commissioners, January 28, 2023, Public Meeting

Executive Director Burhans, Commission President Mitrick, Vice President Schnepp-Giger, District 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 January 2023 public meeting.  

As you well know 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 for the 2023-2024 session.  With your continued support of having full regulatory authority to set seasons and bag limits that include Sunday, there is no doubt that Senate Bill 67 will make progress during this legislative session. 

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.

As commissioners, your support and efforts to bring more hunting opportunities not only on Sunday but all days of the week are not going unnoticed.  It is having a positive effect across the state.  Just take a look on any forum for the 2021-22 hunting season it doesn’t take long to find, see or hear about someone being able to mentor, or a new hunter being afield,  re-engaged hunters able to participate once again, along with the majority of hunters thankful for more species being available to hunt on the three given Sundays.  Please continue doing what you're doing.  Your work is helping. 

Take comfort knowing Hunters United for Sunday Hunting will remain steadfast in our mission now and in the future.  As a grassroots organization representing hunter-conservationists throughout the state that advocates for less political interference in wildlife management and more opportunities and choice allowing for more participation of all hunters.  Hunters United for Sunday Hunting will oppose any legislation that is drafted that removes wildlife management decisions or the ability to set seasons, dates, and bag limits from your control.   

In closing please continue to support and educate people, legislators, and organizations on Senate Bill 67 and what it specifically means and does for the Pennsylvania Game Commission and for conservation in the Commonwealth.  Carry on with being as inclusive as possible for all huntable-game on the three Sundays. Most importantly have faith that hunter-conservationists and conservation organizations understand that as commissioners when faced with a decision, be it an easy right one, or a hard-correct one.  That decision will always be based on the PGC mission and what is best for the wildlife resources of PA.

Sincerely;

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

LETTER TO PA POLITICIANS - I HAVE HAD MY FILL

Thanks Joe for providing us a copy of the letter you sent to Pa. politicians.  Your frustration is not lost on any of us.  We need more of these letter being sent to politicians in this state.   

Letter from Joe - Disgruntled Veteran & Hunter
To the politicians of Pennsylvania: 

I am an army combat vet who served in Baghdad from 2003-2004. I now own a home, land and have three kids. I want to pass on the family hunting tradition. My daughter is three and even at this young age, she knows daddy loves deer. It is not uncommon for me to work six days a week with Sunday being the day I have off. Being on commission based salary, Saturday is the day I make my money. 

I find it both ironic and pathetic that I can't use the very freedom I served to protect to hunt the land I own on the only day I have off [Sunday] with my children.  Especially since the Pennsylvania Game Commission supports hunting on Sunday as a game management option. 

I want to teach my kids how to hunt, but I also want to instill ethics and morals into their lives. With Senate Bill 147 not passing this year I decided to purchase a New York state hunting license. On Sundays, I will be spending my time there.   When my children turn 12 years old, I will be taking them there as that's the age they can legally hunt in NY. 

My plan for next year if SB147 does not go through is to purchase an acre or two in NY close to the state lands that I will be hunting. This will also allow me to take advantage of lower license prices for me and my family. 

I can assure all of you politicians if we do not have full inclusion of all Sundays by the time my kids are 12 years-of-age. I will refuse to spend a dime of my money in this state [PA] when it comes to hunting. 

I have also decided to not support dairy farms in Pennsylvania.  I will make sure any money spent on dairy products for my family will be on products that come from elsewhere. I understand how that sounds but I don't care, the Pa Farm Bureau claims to represent all these farmers that are dictating what I can and can't do with my children on my private land. I know that may not make much difference but I can't in good conscience support them [farmers] knowing that a portion of that money benefits the PFB in some way.  

Please understand I am not an unreasonable person but I have had my fill. To us, hunting is very important as a family and we should not have to make a choice between hunting or summer vacations or choose a different career path to get my kids hunting. 

Thank you for your time.

Joe - Disgruntled Veteran & Hunter