Second hearing on Sunday hunting tonight

Tonight at 6:30 and will be live streamed from Representative Evans website. http://www.repevans.com/  Apparently, testimony is by invitation only.  IMO, the public should be able to state their opinions as well.  Good or bad. 

"techincal difficulties" reported and no live stream after over an hour into the meeting.

ORIGINAL: wayne c

Word has it a well known pgc surrogate/enviromentalist was invited to speak and was listed as an invited guest speaker under a very inaccurate hunter benevolent sounding unofficial made up on the fly title.

Janet N?

Dont know who "Janet N" is at least offhand. Hopefully it was not who it was expected to be, and if it isnt, then I guess that should be considered good news. Janet N is not who was expected. Sounds like you know a little about it, in what capacity exactly does this person hold the title: Women and youth hunting advocate? And what separates this person from the rest of the general public? Is that some official title with some organization?

Btw dpms, in your quote of my post you kinda forgot: "word has it," which i added because of second hand info and speculation based on the particulars as well as the fact the notorious person mentioned is very propgc politically active and was in fact attending the meeting.

Tanx!

Yeah, OK, i know of whom you speak now. Had something to do with the governor youth advisory and was touted by Palone over at the woodpile as the best candidate for the commissioner seat previously.

Dont know alot of in depth info on her or actual positions, so will reserve judgement.

ORIGINAL: spoonchucker

 Generally "experts" that will provide testimoney that will re-inforce the inviting member's current position on the subject.

 
Wonder who invited HSUS Pa. rep Sarah Speed to testify at the first hearing? 

Not a PGC issue right not s-10. That's what the fight's over getting control of it. NW Commissioner was at our meeting last night and mentioned that the way it sits now the decision is in the Legis. hands, so technically they could mandate sunday hunting if they wanted to and the PGC could do nothing about it.

SUNDAY HUNTING PRESENTATION


GOOD EVENING MR CHAIRMAN, FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE WRITTEN TESTIMONY THIS EVENING. AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE PA GAME COMMISSION LET ME OFFER YOU A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON SUNDAY HUNTING. FIRST, AS A PA GAME COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING REGION 8 OF SOUTH EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE A VERY LARGE HUNTING CONSTITUENY SUPPORTS SUNDAY HUNTING AND SECOND, AS AN AVID HUNTER WHO SUPPORTS SUNDAY HUNTING AND ELIMINATION OF THE ANTIQUATED BLUE LAW.

MY TESTIMONY IS MY OWN OPINION AS A SITTING COMMISSIONER ON THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, IT IS BY NO MEANS MEANT TO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE BOC.

WHAT CAN I SAY THAT ALREADY HAS NOT BEEN SAID. THERE HAS BEEN THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT THAT CONCLUDED AN ECONOMIC FINANCIAL WINDFALL TO BUSINESSES AND THE ECONOMY OF PENNSYLVANIA, HAD SUNDAY HUNTING BEEN ENACTED. THERE IS MUCH DEBATE ON THAT REPORT, BUT I MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON REALISTIC SCENARIOS. THIS PAST SPRING I COMMUNICATED WITH MR. SCOTT WOJTON (SEE ATTACHED EMAIL) FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT BECAUSE PENNSYLVANIA DOES NOT HAVE SUNDAY HUNTING, HE HUNTED SPRING GOBBLER SATURDAY & SUNDAY IN NEW YORK STATE, THEN TRAVELLED TO PENNSYLVANIA THE DAY AFTER TO ALSO HUNT SPRING TURKEY. DURING THAT OUT OF STATE VISIT HE AND HIS PARTY SPENT OVER $1000.00 WHICH INCLUDED LICENSE, GAS, MEALS, LODGING & TIPS THAT WENT TO AN OUT OF STATE TREASURY. HE & FRIENDS ALSO VISITED SEVERAL OTHER STATES WHO HAD SUNDAY HUNTING, THEY ALSO SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS AND CONTRIBUTED TO AN OUT OF STATE ECONOMY AND THEIR STATE TREASURY.

THE END RESULT, DUE TO OUR ANTIQUATED BLUE LAWS NO MONEY SPENT IN PENNSYLVANIA!! NO FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMONWEALTH!!!!!


AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I WORK 6-7 DAYS WEEKLY AVERAGING A MINIMUM OF 80 HOURS A WEEK. IN OTHER WORDS I AM ALWAYS ON CALL! MY WIFE AND I TRAVELLED TO OUR CAMP IN RURAL SCHUYLKILL COUNTY FOR A VERY WELL DESERVED REST DURING THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY. ARRIVING AT MY CAMP AROUND 630PM SATURDAY EVENING I IMMEDIATELY CHANGED MY CLOTHES, GRABBED MY VARMIT RIFLE AND WENT TO MY NEIGHBORS FIELDS TO HUNT THE WILY SCHUYLKILL COUNTY GROUNDHOG. BEING SUCCESSFUL TWICE THAT EVENING I COULD NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT DAY TO CONTINUE THE HUNT. UNFORTUNATELY THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS SUNDAY, NO HUNTING IN PENNSYLVANIA!! DURING THAT DAY I WAS RELEGATED








TO DAILY CAMP CHORES AND FINALLY, AFTER BEING BORED MOST OF THE DAY I WAS
HITTING GOLF BALLS INTO A PRACTICE NET. DURING MY GOLF PRACTICE I SPOTTED
A GROUNDHOG IN MY FIELD. IF I AS A PROPERTY OWNER WAS ALLOWED TO HUNT ON SUNDAY, ON MY PROPERTY, THAT WEEKEND HUNTING EXPERIENCE WAS A STORY TELLER TO MY FRIENDS. UNFORTUNATELY THE ANTIQUATED BLUE LAW PROHIBITS SUNDAY HUNTING, TO ME AND OTHERS WHO OWN AND HUNT THEIR PROPERTY. THAT RARE OPPORTUNITY I AND OTHERS IN MY SITUATION HAD DURING THAT JULY 4TH WEEKEND (3 DAYS) WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.


LATER ON JULY 4TH, I WAS INVITED TO A PICNIC BY THE BIGGEST FARMER AND LANDOWNER IN THE VALLEY. I WAS SITTING WITH HIM AND SIX OTHER FARMERS FROM SCHUYLKILL AND COLUMBIA COUNTIES. THEY NEW I WAS A PGC COMMISSIONER, THE TOPIC OF SUNDAY HUNTING WAS DISCUSSED. THEY DID NOT WANT ANY NEW LAW “SHOVED DOWN THEIR THROAT” AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS. I AGREED WITH THEM, BUT I CANDIDLY ASKED EACH FARMER WOULD THEY DENY THEIR NEIGHBORS HUNTING OPPORTUNITY AND NOT ALLOW ANY HUNTING ON THEIR PROPERTY IF THE BLUE LAW WAS ELIMINATED. THERE ANSWER WAS NO! IN MY OPINION, THE FARMERS AT THAT PICNIC WERE CONCERNED WITH HUNTING THEIR OWN PROPERTY THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE DEER RIFLE SEASON THEN ALLOWING NEIGHBORS OR VISITORS TO HUNT AFTERWARDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THEIR PROPERTY RIGHTS.


RECENTLY A CUSTOMER OF MINE, DR. RH OF MEDIA (DELAWARE COUNTY) VISITED MY BUSINESS, HE ASKED ME WHAT IS THE STATUS OF SUNDAY HUNTING. AFTER I UPDATED HIM, DR H. THEN RESPONDED “ WE MUST RESPECT THE LANDOWNERS WISHES, IF THEY DO NOT WANT US TO HUNT THEIR PROPERTY ON SUNDAY I RESPECT THAT. BUT DO NOT PREVENT US TO HUNT PROPERTY THAT WE OWN, LEASE OR ANY STATE GAME LAND.”


WHAT ABOUT A DIVORCED COUPLE? WHAT ABOUT A DAD WHO HUNTS, WANTS TO TAKE HIS SON OR DAUGHTER HUNTING. WITH ALL THE OTHER SPORTING OPPORTUNITES YOUNGSTERS HAVE (SATURDAY SOCCER, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL ETC..) AVAILABLE TO THEM, SUNDAY IS THE ONLY OTHER DAY THAT A DIVORCED PARENT HAS TO CONNECT WITH HIS CHILD. IMO THIS IS WHERE THE CONTROVERSY LIES.












THIS EVENING I TESTIFIED ON THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO WORKERS AND THE COMMONWEALTH COFFERS, ADDITIONAL HUNTING OPPORTUNITY FOR HUNTERS WITH RIGID WORK SCHEDULES, DIVORCED COUPLES WITH CHILDREN OF HUNTING AGE AND LANDOWNER PROPERTY RIGHTS. OTHER STATES WHO PASSED SUNDAY HUNTING THE PAST FEW YEARS ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ARGUMENTS WE HAVE IN PENNSYLVANIA. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THE “SCARE TACTICS” AND THE “SKY IS FALLING” MENTALITY USED IN THOSE STATES DID NOT MATERIALIZE!!

TO SUMMARIZE, AT LEAST 43 STATES HAVE SOME FORM OF SUNDAY HUNTING. THE LANDOWNER HAS THE FINAL SAY AS TO WHAT OCCURS ON THEIR PROPERTY. THOUSANDS OF HUNTERS USE STATE GAME LANDS, STATE FORESTS, PRIVATE PROPERTY THEY OWN OR LEASE. I SUGGEST THAT AFTER THESE HEARINGS, CALL A MEETING WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND FORGE AN AGREEMENT THAT IS AMICABLE TO ALL.


MOST IMPORTANTLY, ELIMINATE THE ANTIQUATED BLUE LAW PROHIBITING SUNDAY HUNTING AND ALLOW THE PA GAME COMMISSION THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE THE SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS. THE TIME IS RIGHT TO PUT PENNSYLVANIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY.


COMMISSIONER GREGORY J. ISABELLA
PA. GAME COMMISSION
REGION 8

ORIGINAL: bingsbaits

I like the way that man thinks,..

Me too ! Wait, did I just say something positive about the PGC ? Holy crap, first an earthquake, then a hurricane, fires out of control, and now I said something positive about the PGC ? Sweet baby Jesus !!

TROUT you reading this ?

here's another interesting one ===

Isabella said his major disappointment as a board member - and sportsmen - is dealing with a minority of hunters who continue to attack the views of other hunters who they are in disagreement with and refuse to work with the PGC. He said this only deepened his commitment to work for the good of the resources and not be swayed by groups and individuals

but mentioned the few groundhog hunters we have in Pa needing Sundays to hunt compared to deer hunters ( which are SPLIT) and a few comments from farmers/landowners where his camp is ....

He should just stay in and worry about South Philly, his shooting range and gun shop ...

He should just stay in and worry about South Philly

I couldnt agree more. Wish he would have done that 8 years ago.

Isn't that the same Isabella that wanted no parts of crossbows in archery because it would cause too many deer to get killed .... and that deer seasons may get shortened ????????????????????

HUH? Isabella voted FOR the inclusion. He would NEVER vote against ANYTHING that killed more deer! Those that were opposed were Boop, Weaner and Delaney.

ORIGINAL: Dr. Trout

COMMISSIONER GREGORY J. ISABELLA
PA. GAME COMMISSION
REGION 8

Thats says it all RIGHT THERE !!!!!!

Isn't that the same Isabella that wanted no parts of crossbows in archery because it would cause too many deer to get killed .... and that deer seasons may get shortened ????????????????????

Interesting he has no fear that Sunday hunting will increase deer harvests or lead to shorter season ......

Don't know much about his politics or agenda but, there is another point that I agree with if it was his stance..


He11 of Doc can get in bed with HSUS to stop Sunday hunting then I guess I'll have to get behind Isabella on a couple of good points that I support.

MY BAD.....
I guess I had them all bass akwards