The lawsuit was thrown out of federal court by the presiding judge.
But it said HUSH may take it to state court now.
The price of hunting land and leaseing may have a big increase....the days of free hunting access could come to an end.....or some landowner may no even allow access at all.
The best of luck.
Trespassing out this way is not just a Sunday thing....and maybe Sunday hunting may not see a increase in trespassing pressure as some may expect in Pa.
The waters could be tested first.... with Pa. opening Sunday hunting for maybe 2 or 3 seasons.
Heavy drama has returned!
"I'm against Sunday Hunting because I'm now a landowner....". LOL! Funniest thing I've read this week.
I am a landowner. Most trespassing occurs on my land non-weekends. Must be because they think I am less likely to be out. However last year I got a dozen pictures of a trespasser taking a doe on my property on SUNDAY during buck season (day after first Saturday). Yes the picture are be investigated by the PGC.
In reality would that one extra day really get more kids into hunting?
You're kidding, right????!!!! Evidently you, nor any of your family and friends have kids involved in sports or community activities! My kids bowl in a league, swim on 2 different teams(summer/Winter) and daughter does gymnastics and both are involved in the church youth group..................ALL of which happen on SATURDAY! Most of their friends do the same. SUNDAY hunting would be a game changer!
As for Sunday Hunting being SHOVED DOWN EVERYONE'S THROAT...................that's a joke! If you don;t want it, don;t do it. If you don;t want people doing it on you land, post it. Simple as that.
Even in the states that allows Sunday hunting show a steady decline in hunter numbers.
Sunday hunting may not be for everyone......but is one of the many methods used that allows more quality time in the great outdoors.
I agree with Phil that Sunday hunting would yet another opportunity for young hunters to give it a try.
The love for the hunting sports is something we are born with....so thats what kept us in the game as kids.
IMHO, what has had a significant impact on the number of new hunters (in addition to what has already been discussed) is the change in the "demographic" of hunting over the years.
Today, the primary interest in hunting in PA is deer. In years past, small game hunting was a youngster's introduction to the blood sport. Sitting for squirrels, listening to the dogs run a bunny, and stomping through grapevine pile after grapevine pile after the king of them all - the ruffed grouse.
As a kid, I absolutely LOVED small game hunting - everything from the canvas pants, jackets, and/or vests to the smell of a spent shotshell, to the feel of the weight and the way those squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional grouse bounced off my butt as I walked.
I've said it for quite a while, I don't think there's enough emphasis on small game.
One of the many great sounds of nature is when a ringneck cackles up when takeing roost....and cackles down when comeing off the roost.
I have too.
Deer schmeer.
Deer populations can just as easily be managed WITH Sunday hunting permitted.... the same way they're managed now... by adjusting antlerless allocations.
Hunter populations have and will continue to decrease anyhow, so increased opportunities will be needed to maintain management goals. Statewide Sunday hunting can help in that regard.
"The waters could be tested first.... with Pa. opening Sunday hunting for maybe 2 or 3 seasons"
Out this way the "waters" have already been tested.... in Ohio. Everything claimed will happen with Sunday Hunting in PA, was prophesized to happen in OH, and then it never came to fruition.....none of it. Sunday Hunting has no more bearing on trespassing than the other six days of the week.
As stated above, participation has decreased due to an aging demographic and other sociological reasons, Sunday Hunting notwithstanding. Our state's constitution guarantees it and there is no earthly reason not to take full advantage of it.
But for some reason, the Farm Bureau and others will not budge. They want to continue to regulate what we do on our own land.
The solution is simple...................if you only want folks hunting your land 6 days a week, then post it No SUNDAY Hunting. Pretty simple concept.
Oh, and I agree whole-heartedly that the trespassing laws and fines need to be beefed up!
I don't understand the mindset of hunters who are against Sunday hunting. If you do not want to participate in Sunday hunting then don't it's very simple.
I have hunted Ohio since 1987 and went through this debate with other Ohio hunters and landowners back then and like others stated the sky did not fall. In all the years I have hunted Ohio I have only had one landowner out of approximately 20 say they did not want me to hunt on Sunday. I would guess PA would be similar.
Mike
Farmers always have final authority in who gets to hunt their property and what days they may do it. Sunday Hunting changes none of that. And, PA's enforcement of trespassing is no joke. I know or know of too many people who've been fined for trespassing here. If a particular farmer/landowner doesn't want his/her land hunted on Sundays then it is off limits - period. Sunday Hunting does not imply that you must hunt on Sundays.
Would like to thank every person here that contributed and supported our efforts. Amazing support from individuals here.
Let me say this, in no state where there is Sunday hunting has it been repealed or rolled back due to ANY problems. That speaks volumes. Those that say there are or will be problems are just wrong.
Trespass is not an issue. Enforcement of trespass IS the issue. That said, the PA Farm Bureau has not asked the Legislature for stiffer trespass penalties. If it was such a horrendous issue to farmers, you'd think they would have, right? They haven't.
As far as game populations, in the case of deer, that is, like others said, regulated by the number of doe tags issued. Never have I hear ANYONE worry about how squirrel populations would have been effected.
The sole purpose of the suit was to give regulatory authority of Sunday hunting to the PGC where it belongs. Nothing else.
We feel it would give more fathers the chance to get out, which in turn, would have given more kids the chance to get out. We all know the 5 day work week is dead, and if dad's "weekend" is now Sunday and Monday, slim chance he can take his kid hunting.
The federal judge said we did not have "standing". Legal term for showing how we were "harmed" by not hunting on Sunday. Proving standing was a major issue, in the end.
There are state issues, and they have been preserved. In fact, in the ruling, the judge pointed out some of what we asserted was in fact, true.
A couple weeks ago, we had a conference call with a major hunting rights organization, a member of the Sunday Hunting Coalition. We told them what we knew, and more about our case. It is our hope they will take if from there.
Safari Club International used the basis of our suit in Virginia, filing the almost exact suit there, back in October. Virginia hunters, with the help of NRA and NSSF, and lobbyists, got Sunday hunting on private land this apring.
To be honest, I'm worn out. Not only from this, but many other things. I also am tired of the hate towards what we were trying to do by many hunters.
I will say this, if I had $50-100,000 to put towards this, I would, in a heartbeat. I put enough of my own money on the line here, and can do no more.
It was a pleasure tho being at the sport show this year and hearing from SO many young dad's that NEED this, and for the sole purpose of passing on the tradition of hunting. They showed us their 8-12 year olds and told of their successful hunts via the MY program and only wanted the Sundays so they could get their kids out even more, or when hunting did not conflict with other activities. Energized me seeing these fellow hunters.
One thing that disturbed me is this, when it comes to gun rights, people stand up and make their voices heard. When it comes to, as a hunter, being treated like anyone else, few speak up. This was as much about hunter discrimination as anything else.
What other lawful recreational activity and group, is discriminated against in this way, and based on religion?
Anyway, I've gone on to long.
Thank you all, and will see what develops from here on out, and we will support ANY effort to change this stupid and archaic law, anyway we can.
Someday you and I will be sitting round a campfire talking about this. Thanks for being active my friend.
If there's anything else we can do through other organizations, coalitions, etc let us know.
It's sad to hear, but I am not surprised to hear of the hate towards "the cause". People can get really selfish in this ME ME ME society! In a time when we should be doing everything we can to INCREASE hunter opportunity, some seem to want to fight tooth and nail for their own selfish desires.
So are you saying HUSH as a group is done with this? Or just you personally? Just wondered if there were any plans to take this suit to the state courts now?
BTW, don't blame you one bit for taking some time off- I'm sure the process was very draining and taxing.
Just curious if the whole group is planning to take some time off, or whether you are passing the torch to another group.
Bit again, THANK YOU to all involved for what you have already done!
You'll get some rest and get back at it.
Let us know when its time to raise more dough!
Bill V.
Perry, HUSH continues, but we will see what happens via a national org, if anything, right now.
