HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING COMMENT TO PA GAME COMMISSION, JAN 23, 2021

 

Senate Bill 147 signed and made legal by the November 27, 2019, PA Act. 107

Statement to PA Game Commissioners, January 23, 2021

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

Be advised that the mission to bring full regulatory authority to the PA Game Commission is alive and well.  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 2021 public meeting.  Many of my comments are not going to be new but are still valid and pertinent to the current Sunday hunting situation that you as commissioners are managing. 

As commissioners, you are faced with the challenging decision of how to best manage the three Sundays of hunting opportunity for the upcoming 2020-2021 hunting and trapping season.  Please take comfort in the fact that we know you are working to do the best you can under the guidelines placed upon you by our legislators.  

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 your agency's resource-first model and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.

It is encouraging that initial reports indicate that you as commissioners and an agency are looking to be as inclusive as possible for huntable species in the upcoming season.  This will allow hunters the opportunity to maximize their time afield for both small and big game animals.  As previously mentioned in last January’s statement, if there is a biological reason certain species can’t support additional hunting, we simply ask that we be educated on that scientific reason so we as hunter-conservationists understand. The conservation and hunting community supports the wildlife management decisions made by this agency. 

In closing as one of the leading organizations for Sunday hunting, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting asks that you maximize these three Sundays by allowing as much hunting opportunity as is biologically permitted. 

I also ask that you welcome Hunter Nation and Hunt The Vote for joining the conference of nearly 25 organizations that are working on the removal of the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law and transfer full regulatory control to your agency to allow and decide what is best for Sunday hunting.

Thanks for your time;

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.

Grading the Vote - Sunday Hunting & Purple Paint

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741
EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com
WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE & DISTRIBUTION - MAY 20, 2020

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is issuing the following score cards regarding Senate Bill 147 (Sunday Hunting) and House bill 1772 (Purple Paint.)

Our goal with the scorecard is simple: Drive accountability for politicians regarding wildlife management & conservation legislation in Pennsylvania.

"The truth is in the vote.  The only true system of measurement and accountability is how a politician voted on a particular bill, Yes or No.  What we do as wildlife management conservationists with that data is up to us.  We can either use it to educate and affect legislative change or not."

Scores with detailed information can be found via the link below:

SB147 & HB1772 Grading

For more information about this topic, please contact

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting at 717-350-6741 or

email at huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com. 

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

Executive Director Kevin B. Askew

HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING OPPOSES HB2440

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting
TELEPHONE: 717-350-6741
EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com
WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE & DISTRIBUTION - MAY 3, 2020

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is issuing the following statement regarding  Pa. House Bill 2440 Outdoor Sportsman Clubs Guidelines In Response To Covid-19.

As a grassroots organization representing hunter-conservationists throughout the state that uses sportsmen clubs and in communicating with other conservation organizations Hunters United for Sunday Hunting OPPOSES HB2440 and Amendment 0583.

The overwhelming response from the hunter-conservation community is NO WE DO NOT NEED OR SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.

This legislation singles out sportsmen’s clubs for no real or good reason.  Managers of outdoor sportsmen clubs, ranges, clubhouses, and other shooting activities are capable of determining measures to put in place based on the relative guidance at the time as it pertains to the COVID 19 situation. 

There may also be an infringement on federal and state constitutional rights to consider with HB2440.

The best thing the Pennsylvania Legislature and the Governor can do is treat sportsmen clubs the same as golf courses and have them open and operate with current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The current and ongoing CDC and PADOH guidance is sufficient for sportsmen club managers to make an intelligent decision. 

Opposition to  HB2440 include:

Gun Owners of America - Oppose HB 2440. Leave Outdoor Sportsman Clubs Alone

Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists -  PFSC Issues Call to Action on HB2440 Sportsmen Club Legislation

For more information about this topic, please contact

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting at 717-350-6741 or

email at huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com. 

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

Executive Director Kevin B. Askew

HUSH TEAM JOINS PFSC - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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 TEAM ACCEPTS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITH PENNSYLVANIA FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN AND CONSERVATIONIST.

  

Several members of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting management team have been elected and accepted positions on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists (PFSC).

Jahred Klahre was voted in as Vice President - East Region on Saturday, March 14, 2020. He assumes his duties immediately.  As Vice President, East Region Mr. Klahre will work closely with the PFSC president to ensure all organizational goals are being met along with developing relationships in the eastern counties of Pennsylvania that benefit the mission of PFSC. 

“ I’m a driven professional with a passion for conservation and the promotion of science-based wildlife biology. It is my goal to use my energetic and compassionate leadership style to move PFSC forward and accomplish the tasks ahead of us for hunter-conservation, second amendment, and our outdoor heritage.”

Jahred also serves in various volunteer capacities and is a member of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Quality Deer Management Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, National Wild Turkey Federation, Sportsmen’s Alliance, NRA, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited.

Doug Lapp was voted in as PFSC Secretary on Saturday, March 14, 2020. He assumes his duties immediately. As PFSC Secretary Mr. Lapp will work closely with the President and Vice President on PFSC objectives. Doug will supervise and ensure proper recording and documentation of all Board and organizational meetings. 

“There are two groups within American culture that claim to be the original conservationists. The farming community and the hunting community. My loyalties lie with science-based conservation. That’s why I am so heavily involved with both.”

Doug also serves in various volunteer capacities with Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, Cochranville Fire Company, Chester/Delaware County Farm Bureau, Lanchester Softball League, Highland Township Committeeman, Republican Committee of Chester County.

HUSH Mission Statement - Remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in PA Title 34 Game Law through education, and influence legislatures to change the law accordingly.

PFSC Mission Statement - To protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources, outdoor heritage, and 2nd Amendment Rights. ###

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. or PFSC Executive Director Harold Daub at 717-648-1835 or email at dauber@pfsc.org PFSC- Who Are We

Help turn 5 angry fishermen into 100,000 voices for hunter-conservation.  

BECOME A MEMBER  ENTER HUSH AT CHECKOUT  RECEIVE $5 DISCOUNT ON AN E-MEMBERSHIP

SUNDAY HUNTING NOT ABOUT SPECIES OR SEASON

Statement to Pa. Game Commissioners, January 25, 2020
Executive Director Burhans, Deputy Executive Directors Grohol and Palmer, Commissioners, and Staff:

Good morning commissioners. My name is Kevin Askew, I am the Executive Director for Hunters United for Sunday Hunting. Let me first say that my organization, as well as the 20 other conservation organizations, remain focused on the mission and task to remove the prohibition of Sunday hunting in Pa Title 34 Game law, through education and influence the legislatures to change the law accordingly.

As commissioners, you are now faced with what do you do with the three Sundays of hunting opportunity for the upcoming season. It is not your fault that lawmakers anchored two of these Sundays - one in archery season and one in deer rifle season. It would have been best for all three Sundays to be set by you, the subject matter experts. But here we are today, with three additional days of hunting opportunity as dictated by Senate Bill 147. So what do you do?

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.

Reports have indicated that in setting the upcoming seasons you are considering adding a Sunday for bear and as dictated by law the Sunday for deer rifle and the Sunday in archery. What has not been reported is what other species will be available to hunt on these Sundays. Will any of the small game or furtaking species be available to hunt on these Sundays? If not and there is a biological reason that is fine. Just let us know why a species can’t support additional hunting. We as hunters definitely will understand. But if there isn’t a biological reason, then let us hunt any and all available species. The time afield is very valuable to us, as you know. 

It is important that you get this as correct as possible from the beginning. There are still many nay-sayers among us who think the sky may fall when these three Sundays are implemented. These people, politicians included are just lying in wait to have another thing they can blame on you as the Pa. Game Commission. So, do all you can to not give them that satisfaction.

The conservation and hunting community supports the wildlife management decisions made by this agency. Sunday hunting is no different. All we are asking is that you maximize and set the upcoming seasons and bag limits for as much hunting opportunity as possible on these precious few Sundays. 

In closing, I want to take the time to thank the commissioners and PGC staff for the way you have handled the information regarding Senate Bill 147 as it went through the final steps. You kept people informed, were transparent, and educated as much as possible on what was happening. This helped my organization as well as others. For that I thank you. 

Again, as one of the leading organizations for Sunday hunting. Hunters United for Sunday Hunting asks that you maximize these three Sundays by allowing as much hunting opportunity that is biologically permitted. 

Thanks for your time;

Sincerely; 

Kevin B. Askew

Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

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