EDUCATION SERIES 4 OF.... SECTION 2102 REGULATIONS

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 4 of……

§ 2102.  Regulations

Many people do not understand or have the time to read what is in PA Title 34 Game Law.  

So let's examine the law as it pertains to wildlife management and the issue of removing the barrier to hunting opportunities in Pa.  

On page 43 you will find what the Pa. Game Commission can do in the interest of wildlife and hunting.

PA Title 34 Game Law link:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/34/34.HTM

Pa. Title 34 Game Law

§ 2102.   General rule

The commission shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary and appropriate concerning game or wildlife and hunting or furtaking in this Commonwealth, including regulations relating to the protection, preservation and management of game or wildlife and game or wildlife habitat, permitting or prohibiting hunting or furtaking, the ways, manner, methods and means of hunting or furtaking, and the health and safety of persons who hunt or take wildlife or may be in the vicinity of persons who hunt or take game or wildlife in this Commonwealth.

EDUCATION SERIES 3 OF..... SECTION 2101 ADMINISTRATION OF TITLE

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 3 of……

Section 2101.  Administration of title.

Many people do not understand or have the time to read what is in PA Title 34 Game Law.  

So let's examine the law as it pertains to wildlife management and the issue of removing the barrier to hunting opportunities in Pa.  

On page 43 you will find what the Pa. Game Commission can do in the interest of Pa. wildlife and hunting.

PA Title 34 Game Law link:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/34/34.HTM

Pa. Title 34 Game Law

§ 2101.  Administration of title.
The commission shall have the authority to administer and enforce this title and all laws of this Commonwealth relating to the encouragement, promotion and development of game or wildlife conservation interests and the protection, propagation, distribution and control over game or wildlife.

EDUCATION SERIES 2 OF..... SECTION 322 POWERS & DUTIES

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 2 of……

Section 322.  Powers and duties of commission.

Many people do not understand or have the time to read what is in PA Title 34 Game Law. So let's examine the law as it pertains to wildlife management and the issue of removing the barrier to hunting opportunities in Pa.  

On page 15 you will find all that the Pa. Game Commission can do to set seasons, bag limits, possession limits, etc. The law gives PGC the power and flexibility to change things as needed. This would include Sundays once law is changed.

Pa. Title 34 Game Law: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/34/34.HTM

§ 322.  Powers and duties of commission.

(a)  Duties.--It shall be the duty of the commission to protect, propagate, manage and preserve the game or wildlife of this Commonwealth and to enforce, by proper actions and proceedings, the laws of this Commonwealth relating thereto.

(b)  General powers and duties.--The commission has the power and duty to take all actions necessary for the administration and enforcement of this title.

(c)  Specific powers and duties.--In order to administrate and enforce this title, the commission through proper action shall:

(1)  Subject to section 2102(b) (relating to seasons, possession, bag limits and devices), fix seasons, daily shooting or taking hours, and any modification thereof, and daily, season and possession limits for any species of game or wildlife.

(2)  Remove protection, declare an open season or increase, reduce or close a season.

(3)  Increase or reduce bag limits or possession limits.

(4)  Define geographic limitations or restrictions.

(5)  Fix the type and number of devices which may be used to take game or wildlife.

(6)  Limit the number of hunters or furtakers in any designated area and prescribe the lawful methods of hunting or taking furbearers in these areas.

(7)  Govern the use of recorded calls or sounds or amplified calls or sounds of any description for taking or hunting game or wildlife.

(8)  Add to or change the classification of any wild bird or wild animal.

(9)  Prohibit the possession, importation, exportation or release of any species of birds or animals which may be considered dangerous or injurious to the general public or to the wildlife of this Commonwealth.

(10)  Manage and develop its lands and waters and other government or private lands and waters under agreement with the owners as it considers advisable and, by proper action and proceedings, enact and enforce regulations to insure the prudent and proper use of these lands.

(11)  Collect, classify and preserve such statistics, data and information as in its judgment will tend to promote the object of this title and take charge of and keep all reports, books, papers and documents which shall, in the discharge of its duties, come into its possession or under its control.

(12)  Take any necessary action to accomplish and assure the purposes of this title.

(13)  Serve the interest of sportsmen by preserving and promoting our special heritage of recreational hunting and furtaking by providing adequate opportunity to hunt and trap the wildlife resources of this Commonwealth. (June 28, 1996, P.L.428, No.64, eff. 60 days)

EDUCATION SERIES 1 OF..... WHAT HARM DOES SUNDAY HUNTING DO?

Education series: why this mission is important, why the law needs to be deconflicted, and what it would mean to people.

Education Series 1 of……

What Harm Does Sunday Hunting Do?

This article was originally written for Pa. Outdoor News.

“It’s always been that way, why do we need Sunday hunting now?”  This is a comment and question I get frequently from those who don’t understand or support removing the legislative barrier to Sunday hunting and conservation efforts.  So, starts the education and why removing the prohibition of hunting on Sunday in Pennsylvania actually will do.

Here are some of the common objections:  All game will be shot off; Pa. Game Commission will be hit with higher costs; trespassing will be a problem; poachers will have another day to wreak havoc in Pa.; non-hunters need a day too; animals need a day of rest; the land will be posted; Sunday should be only for church activities.

Fortunately, there are facts that address these concerns.  

The health of the 480 species of wildlife found in Pa. and their habitat is why we need to consider Sunday hunting. Both depend on a strong conservation commitment from all Pennsylvanians, hunters, and non-hunters.  Hunters foot the bill for wildlife management.  It is referred to as the North American Model of Game Management. Here in Pa. 62 game species are hunted, but yet monies from sportsmen and sportswomen support all 480 species.  

Unfortunately, we are facing a big threat to that model's success.  The most common reason people who want to hunt can't is TIME. Work schedules, youth Saturday activities, single/shared custody parents are some of the reasons we aren't hunting.  We need more TIME. 

If our legislators remove the prohibition, the PGC can consider adding TIME [Sunday] using resource first science-based management to ensure our game species remain healthy and are not ‘shot off’, as some say. Proof of this is the recent recognition earned in the journal Science Advances on April 2 by the PGC for their species management plans.  https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaGameCommission/posts/1819133508118533

On the concerns that costs will increase.  Valid point, but the PGC already operates seven days a week.   And what better way to deter poachers and trespassers than to have legal hunting on Sundays, more eyes to spot and report law violators.

For all the non-hunters who are already sharing Penn’s Woods with us hunters.  We know you are there, the law permits you to be there, just keep doing it safely to limit problems.

The argument that animals need a day of rest.  Animals live in the wild, their instincts keep them alive, just ask any hunter.   Of all the game I have observed over the years, I have not seen a single animal carrying a calendar.

Those who say the land will be posted if Sunday hunting is permitted. Farmers need hunters, hunters need farmers.  We assist with crop damage and predation of livestock.  Do you truly believe a farmer that permits hunting during the weekdays would stop all hunting if the PGC implemented management efforts on Sunday?  As a private landowner, post it, don’t post it.  This is a conservation and a management effort for Pennsylvania wildlife, not a land war on private property.

Lastly, to the cliché argument.  Sunday should be only for religious activities.  This is a ridiculous, laughable and insulting statement that doesn’t deserve a response.  What they are really saying is 'there is an entire group of people who do not know what is important in their lives, nor do they know how to manage their time.'

As the author of this article, what is the harm in giving more TIME for people to enjoy the activity that they love? Is there irreparable harm in removing the prohibition language in Title 34 Pa. Game Law ‘Hunting on Sunday Prohibited’ and changing it to ‘Hunting on Sunday’?  

Written by Harold Daub, Executive Director, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING SUPPORTS THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION IN THEIR MANAGEMENT EFFORTS FOR THE NON-HUNTED SPECIES

CONTACT: Hunters United for Sunday Hunting TELEPHONE: 717-350-674 EMAIL: huntersforsundayhunting@gmail.com

WEBSITE: facebook.com/HuntersUnitedForSundayHunting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUNTERS UNITED FOR SUNDAY HUNTING SUPPORTS THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION IN THEIR MANAGEMENT EFFORTS FOR THE NON-HUNTED SPECIES OF: Northern Long-Eared Bat, Tri-Colored Bat; Little Brown Bat, Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover, AND THEIR ESTABLISHED PROCESS AND PROCEDURES TO DETERMINING WHAT IS BEST FOR WILDLIFE IN PA.

• The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking public comment on preliminarily approved action to list as a state endangered species three cave bats decimated by white-nose syndrome, as well as change the status of three wild birds.
• The agency’s Board of Game Commissioners in late September preliminarily approved a measure to update the state’s list of threatened and endangered species by adding the northern long-eared bat, tri-colored bat, and little brown bat.
• As part of the overall state status-change package, the board also preliminarily agreed to upgrade the peregrine falcon from endangered to threatened; upgrade the piping plover from extirpated to endangered, and add the red knot – already listed federally as threatened – as a threatened species.

Read Full PGC Press Release - AGENCY COLLECTING PUBLIC COMMENT ON SPECIES LISTINGS

Halifax, Pa. Nov 1, 2018 – Hunters United for Sunday Hunting recognizes and supports the Pa. Game Commission in their wildlife management efforts and commends them for having a system in place that allows for public input.  This established process and procedure gives all interested parties the ability to address any concerns, have their questions answered, and submit recommendations on the subject at hand.

It is important to understand there are 480 species of wildlife in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania hunter dollars pay for the management of all those species.  The Northern Long-Eared Bat, Tri-Colored Bat; Little Brown Bat, Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover are not hunted, and the Pa. Game Commission is performing their duty per PA Title 34 Game Law and determining the best course of action for these species.    

We ask all interested parties to participate in this process.  We ask that hunters, outdoorsmen/women, conservationists, and other stakeholders understand that this is the established process and procedure that the Pa. Game Commission uses for all wildlife management efforts in the state of Pa.  The Pa. Game Commission strictly adheres to the North American Model of Wildlife Management to champion wildlife and address modern-day challenges and concerns.

Hunters United for Sunday Hunting is a grassroots organization that upholds the value of our states wildlife. As hunters we understand the enjoyment wildlife brings to consumptive and non-consumptive users.  We want to keep it that way.  We will continue to do our part and purchase hunting license.

If you are not a hunter, you can help as well.  An average license costs $25.00.  You can donate and help the Pa. Game Commission Conservation efforts at: http://www.theoutdoorshop.state.pa.us//FBG/game/GameDonations.asp?ShopperID=6804EF4B02F5474DA29934EE2D4ABC7D

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

IT IS ELECTION TIME IN PA....WHO WILL WE ENDORSE?

Executive Director Message, Harold Daub, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting

It is election time here in Pennsylvania, as we all know.  As Executive Director to Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, I have been approached by many candidates and incumbents and asked if our organization would endorse them.  My answer is a staunch no.  Let me explain.

It is my policy that this grassroots organization Hunters United for Sunday Hunting does not endorse any political person, organization, or the like.  It is not a sound decision based on our grassroots structure and our established mission.  I will not put the organization at risk of being beholden to a specific person's political will or agenda.  It would make us no different than many of the other organizations who have aligned themselves politically and are closed minded because of that relationship.

Instead, when contacted what I do ask is for that candidate or incumbent to support our mission to remove the Sunday hunting prohibition language in PA Title 34 Game Law and transfer full regulatory authority to the Pa. Game Commission.

This course of action is the only way to ensure that there is a mutual relationship for all involved parties.  Neither owes the other anything.  The fact of the matter is the only people that physically make a law change is our elected officials.  I am not an elected official, nor am I running for public office.  All I can do is ensure that HUSH is providing the proper education and doing the right thing in order to effect a positive change in our game law.

Sound wildlife management needs to rest with the subject matter experts at the Pa. Game Commission.  They are charged by Pa. constitution and statute to represent and conserve all wildlife for not only today but for the future.  The North American Model of Wildlife Management is based on two basic principles: our fish and wildlife belong to all Americans, and they need to be managed in a sustainable manner for future generations. In Pennsylvania, this is done by the Pa. Game Commission.

Politicians that understand this and support removing the barriers to hunting are the people that I want to engage and associate myself with regardless of party label. These are the people that truly understand what is at stake if something is not done to fix the current ‘status quo’ of non-action.

Everyone has a choice and a decision to make this election year.  All I can ask is what I have already done, that is to understand the importance of wildlife management and recognizes the agency best to do that is the Pa. Game Commission, not lawmakers.  Anything less fails the 480 species of wildlife in Pennsylvania.

In closing, there are several examples on our blog of persons who support and understand our mission.  If you don’t know where your candidate stands, provide them with information and ask them to join our efforts, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because they as lawmakers are what will determine an outcome for the future of wildlife here in Pennsylvania.

Remember to vote this November 6, and be sure you know whom you are supporting.  

Sincerely,

Harold Daub, Executive Director Hunters United for Sunday Hunting Blog Link: