Sunday Hunting

[j_h_smith]

Can you hunt Sundays on private property? My goodness PA has some of the strangest hunting laws.

[Hodgie]

Can you hunt Sundays on private property? My goodness PA has some of the strangest hunting laws.

No and at one time most states had Sunday blue laws on hunting and even shopping, doing yard work, and buying alcohol mostly to guarantee ass in seat on the Sabbath.

[Sandcut]

Yep, and then they'll come back with some compromise that no one is satisfied with like Sunday hunting on state game lands only.

Actually, allowing Sunday hunting only on SGLs and private land makes the most sense to satisfy the largest number of user groups. While I love to hunt, there are also days that I just want to go for a hike or take the chainsaw or an axe out for some trail clearing and the last thing that I want to do is screw up somebody elses one day to hunt by walking through it. Plus, there are other folks who just don't hunt that shouldn't be kept out of the woods in state parks and state forests all week long for months if they choose not to hike while others hunt. Bear in mind, I have absolutely no qualms about keeping nonhunters out of SGLs for the entirety of eligible seasons from Sept. 1 until the last week of January when late muzzleloader goes out.

I personally think that this would be a completely reasonable compromise with possibly an exception for SGL areas along the Appalachian Trail that runs through SGLs.

[PAwhitetailbowhunter]

Please no matter where you are in the State.

Please contact the office of Senator Patrick J. Stefano.

He is the Chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee where Bill 1202 now resides HE MUST be Convinced to move this bill out of Committee.

Senator Patrick Stefano
Senate Box 203032 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3032
Room: 169 Main Capitol
(717) 787-7175

Contact :https://www.senatorstefano.com/contact/

[WhiteFeather]

FYI

we are nearly at the end of the PA 2017-2018 legislative session.

As of Oct 2, 2018 any bill that has not passed at least one house has a ZERO of getting on the governor’s desk for signature before end of session, unless more sessions days are added


Remaining session day left in 2017-2018
any legislation not enacted has to start all over in the next session.

Senate
October 3, 15, 16, 17
November 14

House
October 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
November 13





So I suggest everyone start planning an aggressive legislative action strategy for Sunday Hunting for the 2019-2020 session. Otherwise expect the SH ban from 1873 to continue into future.

Everyone should focus on getting members of the Pa Farm Bureau on board.

In my opinion for whatever its worth…..
Sunday hunting prohibition is not going to be removed without at least PFB going neutral, as the PFB still carries a lot weight in many Reps district.
I suggest horse trading with PFB with a much needed revisions in PA trespassing law in exchange that would benefit all private landowners in PA especially with upgrades to law with criminal defiant trespassing in relation to farmer’s property which is really needed.

Please review Sunday hunting on PFB website
https://www.pfb.com/policy-pfb/issues

The other groups, like the animal right wacko etc or arguments about safety can be all overcomed with economics and supporting research from other states.

The other biggest problem is getting hunter that don’t want to personally be involved in the fight, to record their support. Another real problem is other a small minority of hunters for whatever personal selfish reasons want the SH ban to remain intact and are very vocal in opposition.

You need to find ways to at least get many thousands of hunters signed name & address on a piece of physical paper to show the elected Reps that the majority of hunters are in favor of total removal of SH in PA and give the PGC full authority to regulate SH as they now have with long guns.

If you want some more background history of SH ban please take the necessary time the to read these PAFOA threads on this link with the last time the Reps had a public hearing on the subject and suggestions that need to be overcomed against SH before we can get enough votes for passage of SH. Without this being done by YOU don't expect this to just happen... it won't, hence the state ban from 1873 prohibition against SH in PA still survives many sessions of wishful hoping. You must personally get involved and recruit others to get involved!

Repeal the Ban on Sunday hunting in PA
http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.ph...44#post2997044

[PAwhitetailbowhunter]

Whitefeather, you are correct about the lack of days to get legislation passed this year and right to consider 2019-20 as the years to get this passed but we can start now, during our election year to make our voices heard.

The #1 Roadblock to this PA Senate Bill #1202 is Game and Fish Committee Chair Senator Patrick J. Stefano. His MAJOR influence is most certainly the PA Farm Bureau. I agree with everything you suggest. But contact with Stefano is important and sending him the message we want the Sunday Hunting Prohibition repealed is an essential first step.

I have an additional tactic to suggest.

If you are a Member of the NRA. You could help us in PA by expressing your interest in allowing Sunday Hunting in PA to the NRA-ILA . https://www.nraila.org/contact-nra-ila/

Why should the NRA care about Sunday Hunting in PA?? As you may be Aware, NRA President Oliver North has charged current members with recruiting as many new NRA members as possible. How many of you had your first firearm experience due to hunting. In PA hunting license sales are down and hunter recruitment is down. A major factor in this downward trend is a lack of time able to hunt. Allowing Sunday Hunting could help increase license sales and hunter recruitment and thusly increase recruitment for NRA Membership. As hunters, we all know the importance that we make to the economy as well as to conservation efforts.

Please go to the NRA link and consider sending a message that might possibly read something along the lines of: "What is the NRA-ILA doing to support Pennsylvania Senate Bill No. 1202? Which would remove the Prohibition on Sunday Hunting in PA. This Bill is Sponsored by PA Senator Daniel Laughlin. It is currently in the PA Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. This Committee is Chaired by Republican Senator Patrick J. Stefano. He seems to be the major roadblock to getting this bill out of Committee and presented to the General assembly. The NRA is in favor of expanding opportunities to hunt and increase hunter recruitment and in favor of Sunday Hunting in PA. Please inform PA State Senator Patrick J. Stefano of the NRA's position on Sunday Hunting and encourage him to help PA hunters expand Hunting opportunities and increase hunter recruitment by supporting PA Senate Bill 1202."


Pat j. Stefano
Contact: https://www.senatorstefano.com/contact/enate

Senate Box 203032
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3032
Room: 169 Main Capitol
(717) 787-7175

[dk99358]

Can you hunt Sundays on private property? My goodness PA has some of the strangest hunting laws.

No and at one time most states had Sunday blue laws on hunting...

Actually, you CAN hunt in Pa. on Sundays. Foxes, coyotes, and crows can be hunted on Sundays. Somehow, those pushing for Sunday hunting seem to leave that out and portray it as a total ban.

Dale

[Sandcut]

Actually, you CAN hunt in Pa. on Sundays. Foxes, coyotes, and crows can be hunted on Sundays. Somehow, those pushing for Sunday hunting seem to leave that out and portray it as a total ban.

Dale

Yes, but all of those animals are imps of Satan, so it's OK.

[Hodgie]

Actually, you CAN hunt in Pa. on Sundays. Foxes, coyotes, and crows can be hunted on Sundays. Somehow, those pushing for Sunday hunting seem to leave that out and portray it as a total ban.

Dale

All small animals that draw very few new comers to the sport. These are allowed to be hunted more as a part of ongoing pest control rather then actual sportsmans hunting.

[PAwhitetailbowhunter]

Actually, you CAN hunt in Pa. on Sundays. Foxes, coyotes, and crows can be hunted on Sundays. Somehow, those pushing for Sunday hunting seem to leave that out and portray it as a total ban.

Dale

Here is the language of the LAW "Hunting on Sunday Prohibited" . Not sure what else you would call it. read it for yourself.


Title 34 of the PA General Assembly-

§ 2303. Hunting on Sunday prohibited.

(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer or game on Sunday.

(b) Construction of section.--This section shall not be construed to prohibit:

(1) The training of dogs.

(2) The participation in dog trials as provided for in this title.

(3) The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.

(b.1) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:

(1) The hunting of foxes.

(2) The hunting of coyotes.

(3) Any hunting which occurs on noncommercial regulated hunting grounds holding a valid permit under section 2928(b)(2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds permits).

(c) Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary offense of the fifth degree.

(Dec. 17, 1990, P.L.724, No.180, eff. 60 days; June 22, 1994, P.L.356, No.53, eff. imd.)