by Paul Shaw, Vice President, KTA Board of Directors
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Sunday hunting, with a few exceptions for varmints, has been banned in Pennsylvania since 1873. Originally a blue law encouraging people to attend religious services, the Sunday hunting ban has helped nurture nonhunting outdoor recreation without hurting Pennsylvania’s hunting tradition. In the entire U.S., only Texas has more licensed hunters than Pennsylvania.
Last summer, HB 1374 was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives—a bill that would grant the Game Commission authority to lift the ban. In past years, similar bills have withered on the vine for lack of support, but this bill is different because of the active support of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Besides organizing a petition drive, the NRA is reputedly making this a scorecard issue to grade legislators. The bill is expected to be taken up in the House in the near future. Lifting the ban is not only bad for the multitude of Pennsylvanians who flock to the woods on Sundays for nonhunting pursuits, but in the end, it is also bad for hunting.
As an avid hiker and member of several hiking clubs, most of our activities during prime hunting seasons are focused on Sundays, days that are largely free of gunfire in Penn’s Woods. Safety is a paramount concern, especially when on any Sunday, many thousands of Pennsylvania hikers, backpackers, trail maintainers, mountain bikers, equestrians, trail runners, bird watchers, geocachers, wildlife watchers, and their families are in the woods. Add hunters to this mix, and it is just a matter of time before tragic accidents occur. The Game Commission has made great strides in reducing shooting accidents from hunting, but Pennsylvania still averages about 30 shooting accidents per year. Since 2008, 48 of these accidents were described by the Game Commission as mistaking victims for game, including several where the victims were wearing fluorescent orange. In 2 separate incidents in 2002 and 2003, hikers were shot and seriously injured on the Appalachian Trail (not in Pennsylvania) when they were mistaken for deer. This is hardly reassuring to hikers and others who are being asked to share the woods with hunters the one day where there currently is no concern of being a shooting victim.
Outdoor recreation surveys conducted for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources indicate there are far more Pennsylvanians who enjoy hiking and other nonhunting outdoor pursuits than hunting. Only about 8% of Pennsylvanians are hunters. Surveys indicate that hunters are divided on Sunday hunting with about 50% opposed. So, about 4% of Pennsylvanians are strong proponents for Sunday hunting. It is unreasonable that such a small minority would demand that everyone else give up a day free of hunting.
Sunday hunting advocates claim that Sunday hunting is a panacea that will reverse declining numbers and will be an economic boon. Pennsylvania’s hunting population peaked in 1983 and has since been in slow decline. This mirrors hunting participation in the rest of the country, including states that have long allowed Sunday hunting. Michigan, for example, has 100,000 fewer hunters today than ten years ago. In reality, changing demographics, changing attitudes and loss of habitat are largely responsible for hunting’s decline, not the Sunday hunting ban. This decline in hunting is unfortunate, and true remedies should be explored, but lifting the ban is not one of them.
Some proponents of Sunday hunting have made wildly optimistic claims that it could inject $800 million into the state economy and create 7000 new jobs. However, any realistic economic gain from Sunday hunting would likely be offset from the economic loss of other user groups who would choose to stay home.
Hunters themselves are not united on Sunday hunting. Many fear the closure of private lands, where 80% of hunting occurs in the state. Other hunters are concerned about the added pressure on wildlife. There is also concern that Sunday hunting is a divisive issue that will result in a loss of support for hunting. People currently neutral to hunting might well become anti-hunting as a consequence.
Hunting has a long and honored tradition in our state. Hunters, hikers, and other outdoors people all share a deep appreciation for Penn’s Woods and all have a right to pursue their passion. With the continued ban on Sunday hunting, hunters are still free to hunt six days of the week as they have for 143 years and everyone will continue to have one day a week where they can enjoy the woods free from hunting pressure. Let’s keep the ban on Sunday hunting.
Paul Shaw
Snydertown PA