Your View from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers: Why Pennsylvania should approve Sunday hunting

Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania is as close to becoming a reality as it has ever been. For the first time in history, a bill that could end the ban on Sunday hunting made it out of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. Senate Bill 147, which would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to control hunting on Sunday and strengthen trespass laws, is a win for hunters, farmers and rural communities throughout the Keystone State.Often touted as adversaries in the Sunday hunting debate, Pennsylvania hunters and farmers have long had a symbiotic relationship. Farmers generously provided hunters access to their properties, while hunters pursued deer, geese and other game that may cause crop damage. This relationship continues today, despite what the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau would like you to think.Senate Bill 147 offers significantly increased trespass protections for landowners and farmers while allowing sportsmen and women to spend another day afield with friends and family.Almost 1 million hunters venture into Penn’s Woods every fall on private land and on our vast public land system. Pennsylvania consistently ranks in the top three for hunters per state. Despite our relatively strong numbers, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has identified a downward trend in hunting license sales over the last decade. While no one factor has been identified as the cause of the decline, it is clear that both lack of time and opportunity play a major role.A survey conducted for the Pennsylvania Game Commission found that lack of time and work obligations were among the most frequently stated reasons for the decision to stop hunting. The trend was especially noticeable in junior hunters and hunters under the age of 35. Without improved recruitment and retention rates among these demographics, Pennsylvania’s hunting population will continue to decrease. Ending the ban on Sunday hunting would provide increased opportunities for both junior and adult hunters to become involved with hunting and conservation. Additional opportunities will lead to better recruitment and retention of hunters throughout the state.Sunday hunting would also encourage the next generation of hunters. Children’s schedules today are more rigid than in the past. School and team sports, scouts and other activities have replaced Saturday morning squirrel hunting. In addition, the work and social demands of many adult hunters limit their time, and Sunday may be the only time available to hunt. With most families busier than ever, Sunday hunting would effectively double the amount of time that hunters can spend afield.In recent years, Pennsylvania has become surrounded by states that allow Sunday hunting. Since 2015, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia have all passed legislation allowing for Sunday hunting. The states report increased participation, no safety incidents and no conflicts between user groups. Pennsylvania will continue to lose hunters to surrounding states that allow Sunday hunting, and with that goes millions of dollars in conservation funding.Increased hunting opportunities would not only lead to an improvement in hunter recruitment but also lead to increased profits for rural communities and businesses that rely on hunting as a source of yearly revenue. Historically, come November the northern tier of Pennsylvania was booming. Motels were booked solid, restaurants were bustling and hunting camps had more cars than parking spots. While business may have slowed down, make no mistake about it: rural Pennsylvania economies depend on the revenue from fall hunting seasons to feed their families.Currently, it is estimated that hunting in Pennsylvania contributes $1.6 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy, with each Pennsylvania hunter spending an average of $1,260 per year. A study conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that ending the ban on Sunday hunting could create over 8,000 new jobs and pump $764 million into the state’s economy.Unfortunately, for hunters, farmers, rural economies and local businesses, SB 147 is stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee. I urge Sens. Jake Corman (R–Centre/Huntingdon/Juniata/Mifflin), Pat Browne (R–Lehigh), Bob Mensch (R-Berks/Bucks/Montgomery), and David Argall (R–Berks and Schuylkill) to do what is right and fair and let the bill get a vote in the Senate. The citizens of Pennsylvania overwhelmingly support ending the ban on Sunday hunting. It’s time for SB 147 to be put to a vote.Nate Fronk is chairman of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
Source: Morningcall