HUSH STATEMENT TO PA GAME COMMISSION APRIL 2023

Hunters United For Sunday Hunting    

huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

717-350-6741

            

Statement to Pennsylvania Game Commissioners, April 15, 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 Pennsylvania Game Commission April 2023 public meeting.  

As Pa. Game Commissioners you and your agency have a very tough job.  The mission of managing and protecting wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. You have to balance as much opportunity as the wildlife resource can support while also looking to the future of the species and the sport of hunting. 

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting would like to recognize the nine of you for what you and the agency have and are doing for the future of hunters and the Commonwealth as a whole.   It is because of the decisions, dedication, commitment, and fortitude you have as commissioners that the outdoor industry including hunting, shooting, and trapping added more value to our commonwealth’s gross domestic product than all of Pennsylvania’s farms, all of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas wells, and even all of Pennsylvania’s lawyers as recently reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, United States Department of Commerce. 

As commissioners, your support and efforts to bring more hunting opportunities not only on Sunday but all days of the week are positively affecting the state economically and with hunter participation.   The 21st-century lifestyle is very busy.  Businesses are no longer closed on Sunday as they once were under the blue law.  All forms of recreation are allowed on Sunday; camping, fishing, all-terrain vehicle riding, horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, etc. There has been nothing lost by having Saturdays and Sundays available for hunting.  Just as with any other activity or daily function in people's lives, if they don't like it, they don't have to participate regardless of the day of the week.

As Abraham Lincoln said; “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”

Please stand firm to the agency's mission as the work continues to get Senate Bill 67 through the legislative process and into law for the full regulatory authority to set seasons and bag limits that include Sunday.

Sincerely;

 

Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

SATURDAY IS OUR DAY OF WORSHIP. SUNDAY WE COULD HUNT.

Daniel Bowers and his son share a day making memories while hunting. 

Story submitted from/by Daniel Bowers, Seventh Day Adventist; Saturday is a day of worship.

The ability to enjoy outdoor recreation is something everyone should have access to.  Fisherman, boaters, and hikers have the opportunity to choose from any of the seven days a week without regard to their religious affiliation.  For some reason, hunters are limited to only six days and not allowed to hunt on Sundays. 

As a Seventh Day Adventist Christian, my family observes Saturday as our day of worship.  This means we do not hunt Saturday and are left with only Monday through Friday.  The outdoor lifestyle is a large part of our recreation.  From the time hunting seasons end, we are busy preparing for the next year.  This includes land improvement, habitat management and planting crops.  All of this we can do during the five days of the regular work week (evenings of course...have to pay the bills and attend school) and Sunday but still observe our Saturday religious beliefs.  In order for us to hunt together, we maximize our time afield with short evenings or arranging work and school schedules to take the day off because we cannot hunt on Sunday.

Having Sunday hunting would be a game changer for us...we could hunt together without worrying about work or school schedules.  It would also allow us to further enjoy time in the outdoors that we work so hard on to prep for the hunting seasons.

I think this is also true for anyone that doesn't observe the same faith as our family.  Families can hunt full weekends at their camps instead of just one day.  As an avid outdoorsman for 30+ years, being involved with coaching archery for 25+yrs and having teenage hunters of my own, I can see NO downside to allowing Sunday hunting.

Story submitted from/by Daniel Bowers, Seventh Day Adventist; Saturday is a day of worship