I remember all the controversy when NY switched over to Sunday hunting...all the same arguments we hear here in PA. None proved to be true. The herd in NY is doing fine, they control the deer kill numbers by controlling how many doe tags they issue, they are less easy to come by than they are in PA.

I understand we are talking about two separate game commissions who handle things differently, the problem I see in PA is that some areas are overpopulated, while other areas are shot out.

Population of the states is a very weak argument. The amount of hunters/hunting land would be more fair.

In PA, the Sunday hunting argument is about Deer and only Deer. It is greed and entitlement mentality pushing the issue.

Those against really don't need a reason. The burden of proof is on those in favor of Sunday hunting. Their arguments are not that good so far, they just scream louder.

Insurance companies and Foresters are driving the HR in many states. A lot of the money and propaganda behind the Pro Sunday crowd is also coming form these industries.

A compromise of 50% doe licenses for Sunday hunting may allow Sunday hunting to go through. Within 2 years, the same people pushing Sunday hunting will be crying for more Doe tags.

After the Doe Tags, it will be wearing Orange, then baiting. Then it will be more buck tags. These people will never be happy unless there is something to bitch about.

It's a damn shame that this wonderful sport and state has come to this. I use the the term "sport" lightly.

if its all about the deer then why is small game(turkey/rabbit/Grouse) not allowed on sunday?
burden is on the group who wants to restrict others rights,
not vice versa,
also, if land owners are so adamant over no sunday hunting,
why is the compromise sunday hunting on private land only?
shouldnt it be sunday hunting only on public lands only if land owners are a supposed driving force behind it?

Sunday hunting is not allowed and has not been allowed regardless of species. The ones pushing for Sunday hunting are Deer hunters, may hunt other stuff as well, but the argument is about deer hunting, and the burden of proof falls on them. they need to prove Sunday hunting will be better for the sport and teh state. The same people pushing this would blow a gasket if a trial period of rabbit were allowed on Sunday.

I don't listen to the Land Owner argument. I am in the tradition camp. I also understand that hunters in PA are in the Minority of the population. The Majority of the population still pays taxes. taxes that go to fund our State Parks. Tax dollars are not funding private land. The hippie chick in Pittsburgh with here poodle has as much say in State Park use as I do with my Setter.

Difference is, non-hunters have been content with hunting as long as they have Sunday to run their fat labs. Now we want to take that for ourselves as well. it is not going to end well for hunters in the long run.

That is why the Private Land is the basis of compromise. We should just leave well enough alone.

They've had over 8 months to walk the woods. Buy a treadmill, one day a week isn't helping you or your dog.

While that IS true, you won't convince them. Also the same argument many hunters use would apply here; that sunday is their day off and when they want to be there. I don't see why this is really an argument... maybe growing up in the country my whole life has me out of touch with people taking their dogs to the parks? I just don't see that that would be a huge issue for either side to argue.
-Jake

I don't get it.
- If Sunday hunting is allowed only on private property, non-hunters can still walk with their dogs on public property.
- If you're a "traditionalist" no one is forcing you to hunt on Sunday.
- If landowners don't want you to hunt they can still say "No".
- If landowners want you to hunt they can still say "Yes".
- If landowners want you to hunt but not on Sunday they can say "Yes, but not on Sundays, please".

Lets say they pass SH for private land. How long is it going to take for the cries to start about how it is unfair to hunters without private land to hunt? It's not even going to stop with Sunday hunting. Want, want, want; me, me, me.

With all due respect, I think that's a bit alarmist. I haven't heard any of that from the states that do have Sunday hunting.

Let's face it....Sunday hunting works everywhere else, provided the game commisssion allocates doe tags in an intelligent fashion. The current PGC school of thought is that we still have too many deer in the state for the habitat, so they will continue to issue tags until they have a deer population they feel is at an acceptable level. Not real good news for us hunters, especially those of us who remember seeing 20 deer a day during gun season.

The REAL reason that many oppose Sunday hunting is personal, not practical. "I don't like it". "Some city boy or out-of-stater will come here Sunday and shoot MY deer". "I don't like seeing outsiders driving down our roads on Sunday". " I don't like hearing gun shots on my day of rest".