New legislation proposed

Be interesting to see how this is received. 

I doubt many WCO'S or DWCO'S are going to like it very well. That would take care of what is their Thanksgiving holiday lull before the storm. Percentage wise there aren't very many deer hunters that don't find a way to get out the first day anyway so I doubt it would increase the participation very much. For me it really doesn't matter which way they go.

Not looking to debate, just some thoughts.

I thought I would share a positive thought and a possible negative one...

positive =

sounds like he is interested in adding an extra day to the season (13 days rather than the 12 we have now)
that would allow many to hunt 3-4 days rather than the current 2-3 days, which I think is a good idea and I could support that.. many would be able to be successful with that extra day for a deer harvest.

Negative thought =

we often hear about the effects of deer hunters on small businesses , this extra days COULD hurt that..

Here's how I see it  = as it is now with a Monday opener both at work and with the camps in this area...

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are our three busiest days of the year. We have a steady stream of hunters from the time we open until we close. We add extra help and even add another cash register to handle the extra business... Monday is pretty much "dead" at the store except for a lunch time rush, everyone is in the woods hunting.
Most of the guys spend Saturday "hanging out at camp"  shopping, and maybe going out for dinner and a visit to the local "pub" in the afternoon or evening. Monday evening they are tired and rest at camp.

With a Saturday opener I just have to wonder if it would become another Monday with slow business for many local small businesses because everyone would be in the woods and again tired in the evening...

I could see some businesses like deer processors and taxidermist enjoying the extra deer harvests but not sure if it would off-set the loss to other type small businesses ????

Just some thoughts .....

ORIGINAL: Dr. Trout

Not looking to debate, just some thoughts.

I thought I would share a positive thought and a possible negative one...

positive =

sounds like he is interested in adding an extra day to the season (13 days rather than the 12 we have now)
that would allow many to hunt 3-4 days rather than the current 2-3 days, which I think is a good idea and I could support that.. many would be able to be successful with that extra day for a deer harvest.

Negative thought =

we often hear about the effects of deer hunters on small businesses , this extra days COULD hurt that..

Here's how I see it  = as it is now with a Monday opener both at work and with the camps in this area...

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are our three busiest days of the year. We have a steady stream of hunters from the time we open until we close. We add extra help and even add another cash register to handle the extra business... Monday is pretty much "dead" at the store except for a lunch time rush, everyone is in the woods hunting.
Most of the guys spend Saturday "hanging out at camp"  shopping, and maybe going out for dinner and a visit to the local "pub" in the afternoon or evening. Monday evening they are tired and rest at camp.

With a Saturday opener I just have to wonder if it would become another Monday with slow business for many local small businesses because everyone would be in the woods and again tired in the evening...

I could see some businesses like deer processors and taxidermist enjoying the extra deer harvests but not sure if it would off-set the loss to other type small businesses ????

Just some thoughts .....

 
I recall reading somewhere that the biggest sales day of the year for Sheetz if from 7AM on the Sunday before deer season until 7 AM on the first Monday of deer season.

I wonder if it would create more one day a year deer hunters. For those guys that stay in motels or hotels they would only have to pay for one nights lodging and be home Sundays for the football games and to be ready for work on Mon.

In PA, I can hunt 2.  Would I pay nonresident fee of $150 to hunt 2 days?  I doubt it.w_w.

In PA you can hunt five Saturdays during archery,2 Sats. during the combined season and 3 0r 4 Sats . day during the flintlock and late antlerless season.

Updated: Today at 12:41 PM
Plan to move deer season start surprises state game official
By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter


A bill introduced by state Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, that would move the first day of the antlered rifle deer season from its traditional Monday after Thanksgiving spot to the Saturday following the holiday caught at least one member of the Pennsylvania Game Commission board by surprise.


Mullery, who is a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, introduced House Bill 566 on Tuesday. In a press release, he said he was approached by several constituents who requested the change and presented him with a petition signed by more than 100 hunters.

“Hunting is a wonderful tradition in this commonwealth,” Mullery said. “Changing the opening day to a Saturday would provide all hunters with a greater opportunity to enjoy this tradition.”

Ron Weaner, president of the PGC board, said he hadn’t heard anything about Mullery’s legislation and added it was unusual for a legislator to attempt to change the start date of a hunting season.

“That’s kind of our job,” said Weaner, adding he personally isn’t in favor of the change.

As far as discussing the matter with the PGC, Weaner said as far as he knew, Mullery never contacted the agency to discuss the legislation.

“It doesn’t seem to be the normal way of doing things,” said Weaner, adding that the issue of changing the opening day of deer season rarely comes up before the board. “This is something that has never come up for discussion. We get comments on just about every issue imaginable and we haven’t heard of any organized effort or groundswell of support of this,” he said.

While the bill proposes changing the opening day of the antlered deer season, Mullery’s release didn’t state if the change would also include those areas where antlered and antlerless deer season begins on the same day. According to the release, one reason for the proposed change is to make it easier for hunters to hunt on the opening day without missing work.

“For many hunters, taking a day off from work creates further financial burden during these difficult economic times,” Mullery said in the release.

The PGC board gave preliminary approval to the seasons and bag limits for the 2011-12 hunting season during its meeting last week. Final approval will be given when the board meets April 11 and 12.

Wonder how many different ideas they can come up with to kill more of the deer herd?

I think it is more about trying to add more opportunities for those that are not successful in harvesting deer and thus satisfing some of their complaints (and those that vote for him) more so than killing more deer. although that may well be the results...

what worries me MORE is allowing the politicians to make season and bag limit regulations....
which this may open the door to doing....

UPDATE: YOU GUYS SHOULD WRITE THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE YOU START THREADS THAT ARE B.S..EMAILED ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THIS, RESPONSE WAS: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????..NOT ONE COMMISSIONER EVER BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE MEETING,QUOTE..SO MUCH FOR "DOCS" INSIDE INFO..HOW DID THIS GET ON LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL??? DOC????

WOW that having to stop for a while hunting sounds lousy-
  If you have all the right tags and spots to hunt here in CT you can start with bow in Sept and never miss a day ( except Sundays) through the following Janruary with the late bow season. You can gross  a dozen or so tags for the various seasons as well. If one weapon season stops on Tuesday the next starts on Wednesday.

Here is the bill. It has been referred to the Game & Fisheries commitee.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0566&pn=0543