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

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

"IT'S ENCOURAGING AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE HUNTING COMMUNITY." A NEW YEAR NOTE FROM HUSH EXEC. DIRECTOR

Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

As we end one year and begin a new one.  It is very encouraging to look across the hunting community and see all the new hunters, boys, girls, men, and women.  All the mentoring that is occurring, the re-engaged hunters that have returned, and the retired but interested who still remain. Here at Hunters United for Sunday Hunting we find this promising as we look to the future and what can and might be.  Looking at why this interest has come about the answer is simple; opportunity and time.   People are taking advantage of what is being provided to them by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and choosing what works best for them just as they do with all other things that pertain to their daily lives.

If you are paying attention to the hunting community you will find three things being talked about.  Senate Bill 67 providing the ability to hunt on Sunday. The new capability to purchase antlerless tags electronically with the signing of Senate Bill 431 into law 2022 Act 148.  Whether to choose or not choose to hunt on Saturday of the deer rifle season opener.

Winston Churchill once said, “If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future."   It is no secret that getting people interested in hunting is a challenge.  But look at it as that kid, young adult, or adult that finds themselves interested or just starting out hunting.  The minute they start looking, observing, or asking questions, what do they find?  We hunters fighting amongst ourselves over benign and simple issues.  Could or would that be a turn-off to you?

How does this situation get fixed?  First, we as hunter-conservationists stop fighting amongst ourselves over such benign issues as the personal choice to hunt on Sunday, Saturday, or any other day of the week.  We stop arguing over the use of crossbows, compounds, and longbows.  We recognize no one has lost anything with rifle deer season opening on Saturday.  We quit fighting the change of purchasing a doe license electronically.  We cease pitting ourselves against the other on what weapon we choose or what season or species we decide to hunt.  At the end of the day, we are hunter-conservationists participating in the world’s best wildlife system, The North American Model of Wildlife Management.

Our country was founded on the bases of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and freedom of choice.  That is what the hunting culture is all about.  This may very well be what is attracting all the newcomers.  As a hunter-conservation community we have a choice; embrace what makes us great and showcase that or struggle against it risking turning people off or away.

The path is plain with Hunters United for Sunday Hunting.  We will remain steadfast in our mission to help bring seven days a week hunting opportunities for everyone's personal choice of enjoyment.  This is the way to advance and keep our sport alive, interesting, and growing so future generations can enjoy what we provided to them.

From the Hunters United for Sunday Hunting team.  Hope your hunting season is going well.   Have a safe, happy, and enjoyable new year. 

Sincerely; Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

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/

PA LEGISLATORS THANKS FOR THE WORK ON SB431

  

    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 would like to take the time and thank all the members of the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives who voted YEA in passing and bring Senate Bill 431 the Authorizing the Sale of Antlerless Deer Licenses Through the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System into law. 

Special congratulations to Senator Dan Laughlin for introducing this bill and to Senator Scott Martin, Senator Mike Regan, Senator Patrick J. Stefano, Senator James R. Brewster, and Senator Ryan P. Aument for being sponsors and helping other legislators understand the importance of bringing the antlerless tag purchasing system up to standard for the 21st Century.

The passing of SB431 not only updates the purchasing system it also helps keep nearly one million dollars in conservation where it belongs.  With the updating system sums of money are no longer being lost to county treasurers.  This not only helps hunter-conservationists it helps all who enjoy wildlife in the Commonwealth.  As you know the Pennsylvania Game Commission receives no tax revenue for its operations as they continue to manage the 480 species of wildlife in the state.

There is much work to do to maintain the world’s most successful wildlife management model the North American Model of Wildlife Management.  You as politicians play a role in that by updating laws that govern hunting and fishing accordingly.  The overwhelming support in both chambers indicates an interest and understanding that times have changed and so must laws.  Please continue the hard work of updating and changing many of the outdated laws that govern conservation.  It is definitely a cause and effort that is needed and well worth it. 

Though too numerous to mention by name everyone that voted YEA for this deserves a handshake and congratulations.  Please accept this letter as just that.  A handshake for a job well done. 

Thanks for all that you have done in the legislative process and for allowing SB431 to become law.  Hunters will definitely enjoy the fruits of your labor come the 2023-24 hunting season.

Sincerely; 

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Executive Director, Kevin B. Askew

LETTER TO PA LEGISLATORS - I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER 20 YEARS

 Submitted by Randy Stevens

Had a great couple of days hunting with the kids, Derrick Stevens Lyndsey Marie, and Brett Rote. It's been 20 years since Derrick, Lyndsey, and I spent time together hunting in Penns Woods.

Thanks for rekindling memories of the past and look forward to more time with you hunting in 

Penns Woods.

Thank you to the legislature for the passage of Senate Bill 147 but now it is time to pass Senate Bill 607. It just so happened that one of my kids, my son, only has off two weekends a month and if the opening weekend for whitetail here in Pennsylvania would not have opened when it did and he would've had to work, the opportunity for me to hunt with my son would've never happened.

I do not want to have to wait another 20 years of my life to have the ability to hunt with my kids and extended family members. It is time to get rid of this archaic blue law that prohibits hunting on Sunday with just a few exemptions in Pennsylvania.  It’s time to stop placating to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and start listening to hunters on this issue.  It is time for the legislature to pass Senate Bill 607 and let the Pennsylvania Game Commission manage all of the 480 wildlife species here in Pennsylvania seven days a week every week of the year.

The opening weekend of whitetail deer rifle season was the best weekend for me in the last 20 years. Without the season opener on a Saturday and the ability to hunt on Sunday, I would not have been able to hunt with two of my kids. One is a schoolteacher and the other one only has off work two weekends a month. The corporate and labor workplace schedules are not commonplace Monday through Friday schedules in today's world.

If the opener for whitetail still would've been on Monday two of my kids and my son-in-law would not have had the opportunity to hunt together.  It just so happened that the opening day and the one Sunday of rifle season fell on my son’s scheduled weekend off.  I also had the ability to hunt with my son-in-law who is an electrician and very rarely does he have the ability to get off work because of his company's scheduled jobs.

Needless to say, I myself am self-employed and am an Allied health provider so it is very difficult for me to get off work. I used to have to take off work to hunt on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, which would mean three days of not seeing patients and creating more of a backlog where my patients would have to wait.  But this year because of me being able to go back to work on Tuesday I only had to take off one day of not scheduling patients.

It is difficult for guys like me to understand what the problem is with passing a simple law like SB607.  We live in a society that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week conducting and participating in everything from politics to mail service.  But for some reason having the ability and opportunity to hunt on Sunday is something that you as the legislature believe you must control.  I and many others just don’t get it.  It is time to move SB607 and get it passed into law for guys like me and the many others out there.

Randy Stevens

Find your legislator here

HYPOCRISY WHEN LAUNCH A PRO-HUNTING PROPOSAL OR EXPANSION OF HUNTING OPPORTUNITY….NOT SURE ABOUT THAT….WE ALL BENEFIT

Michael, thanks for your valid inquiry and comment.  As the executive director of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, I want to take the time to respond accordingly.  First, let me say that you will not be called a “snowflake” or any other derogatory name by myself or persons within HUSH from submitting a valid comment or question.  I also ask that HUSH followers refrain from this practice as well.  We are better than that as sportsmen and women.  

Please do not consider this a ‘call-out’ of you by name either.  Your question and my response can help educate people on why getting full regulatory authority to the Pennsylvania Game Commission as it pertains to Sundays is important.

Question from Michael Rossi, 

I am a hundred percent in favor of full Sunday hunting. However, let me point out a little hypocrisy. Those who argue that the health departments at various levels of government should not "tell you what to do"; I am embarrassed to admit, often include hunters. So, if politicians and public outcry should set health policy, and not health agencies... Why should wildlife agencies and commissions overrule the majority opinion? Because whether you realize it or not, that is what we are doing anytime we launch a pro-hunting proposal or expansion of hunting opportunity. In fact, to make it worse, the antis argue that wildlife is public property, it does not belong only to the hunters, so, according to them, they have a say in how it is regulated. The public land debate is not as clear - hunters certainly have funded a lot of it, but not all of it. However - the existing law about wildlife is clear, it belongs to the collective public, not just the hunters... So, besides calling me a "snowflake" how do you reconcile all that?

Response from HUSH Executive Director, Kevin Askew

Let us keep the discussion on point.   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 the Pennsylvania Game Commissions resource first model and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.  

The Sunday hunting restriction in PA dates back to 1682 and colonial blue laws that were designed to prohibit working or other recreational activities on Sundays. "Whoever does or performs any worldly employment or business whatsoever on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, works of necessity and charity only exempted, or uses or practices any game, hunting, shooting, sport or diversion whatsoever on the same day not authorized by law" is guilty, the law stated. https://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20000218sunday5.asp

The last I looked there are no British soldiers on the streets nor is the flag of Britain flying over the capitol in Harrisburg, PA.  It is the 21st Century where we live and exist in a 24-7/365 society of activities and lifestyles.  This includes hunting and shooting sports.

Question - Why should wildlife agencies and commissions overrule the majority opinion?

Response - The PGC process is a fair and open process.  Any individual, hunter or non-hunter, organization, or representative public or private has the ability to participate in the process and address the PGC commissioners and board with any concerns.   The politicians are standing in the way of this by not trusting or changing the Sunday hunting prohibition in Title 34 Game Law.   

There are 480 species of wildlife that the PA Game Commission is charged with managing. We hunt 62 of those 480. In the North American Model of Wildlife Management, hunters who hunt those 62-game species foot the bill for the 480-total species. 

Question -The existing law about wildlife is clear, it belongs to the collective public, not just the hunters?

Response - We currently hunt foxes, coyotes and crows, and the three designated Sundays by the exemption of law; not full regulatory authority.   Two of the three do not adhere to the science-based North American Model of Wildlife management need to be placed in the hands of the subject matter experts. That is the Pennsylvania Game Commission. That is their mission, they have the biologists, trained professionals, and the means to make the best decisions for all 480 species of wildlife that inhabits the commonwealth. 

If politicians and citizens of the commonwealth trust the PGC for 480 species; then why not fully trust them in setting a seven-day per week hunting schedule based on science set biological goals of huntable species?

The PGC is just managing not overruling majority opinion?  A perfect example of this is the semi-automatic rifles for hunting debate.  PGC supports their use.  PA hunters do not.    

Question - The antis argue that wildlife is public property, it does not belong only to the hunters, so, according to them, they have a say in how it is regulated?

Response - Sure they do and are welcome too.  It goes back to the earlier question and comments about participating in the PGC process.  

The PGC manages more non-huntable species than they do huntable.  An example of this is the recent mortality of songbirds.  Do we hunt these birds; certainly not. Do all citizens of the commonwealth benefit and enjoy seeing these species, definitely yes.  Are we as license buying hunters primarily footing the bill for the study and science of figuring out why this is happening in songbirds; the answer is yes.  https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/game-commission-details.aspx?newsid=493&fbclid=IwAR3KlUMIoAThY-i2U9KEm-I4iJIYMPUxY3pdG303sGRhPQ48GyVaY0XFtjQ

The Pennsylvania Game Commission exists to manage the Commonwealth’s wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations, a mission it has followed faithfully since 1895. https://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/MediaReportsSurveys/Documents/2020%20PGC%20Annual%20Legislative%20Report.pdf

The PGC is responsible for regulating per the PA Constitution and The Environmental Rights Amendment, “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.” https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=171

Question - The public land debate is not as clear - hunters certainly have funded a lot of it, but not all of it.

Response - Yes, in PA there are different tracts of land labeled and associated by select agencies for different and overlapping purposes.  But for this discussion let’s keep it to PA Game Lands.  The PGC is clear on what the intended purpose is: “The Game Commission owns and manages more than 1.5 million acres of state game lands throughout the Commonwealth. The primary purpose of these lands is the management of habitat for wildlife and provide opportunities for lawful hunting and trapping. Secondary recreational uses are permitted in accordance with the Game Commission’s regulations.” https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/StateGameLands/Pages/default.aspx

Non-consumptive users are welcome to use the game lands seven days per week.  The only restrictions are on hunters being restricted by politicians on what species and days are allowed to be hunted.  As a whole, hunter-conservationists only want the same opportunity that exists with these non-consumptive users.  

When it comes to hypocrisy there is no better evidence than that of the politicians in the PA Senate and PA House of Representatives who do not hold themselves to the same blue law standards for all legislation as they do for Sunday hunting prohibition.