Thursday, January 31, 2008
A Sunday hunting proposal; a request to hunt anywhere
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, introduced SB 524 which, if passed, would have removed all language from 29.1-521 related to Sunday hunting restrictions. This is what the vast majority of hunters surveyed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries want: Sunday hunting regulations that are similar to any other day.
This bill was heard on Jan. 21 by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. Sen. Patricia Ticer, D-Alexandria, is this committee's chair. The bill failed, like all others that have been introduced related to lift Virginia's Sunday hunting ban. I'd like to share who opposed the bill and why.
1. The Virginia Farm Bureau opposed it for religious reasons. This type of opposition has been addressed by both the U.S. and Virginia State Constitutions. The bureau also voiced concern that landowners would be approached on Sunday by hunters seeking permission to hunt. Most hunters approach landowners with a great deal of respect when seeking permission to hunt. I've always provided a written code of conduct to any landowner that granted me the privilege to hunt his property. I can't see where either of these oppositions represents a valid reason to continue the ban on Sunday hunting in Virginia.
2. The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance opposed Sunday hunting based on the need for wildlife to have a day of rest. Sunday is declared a day of rest for all wildlife under 29.1-521. I was puzzled as to why this organization would not support Sunday hunting since its own mission mentions providing more hunting opportunity. Sunday would obviously provide more chances for members to hunt. They already have the right to chase and not kill their quarry on Sundays. I can't envision much rest for wildlife while a pack of Plotts is chasing a bear, deer, fox and the like.
3. Equine enthusiasts opposed Sunday hunting based on a safety concern. I researched data related to both hunting and horse related injuries and fatalities. I wasn't surprised to find that equine-related injuries and fatalities occur at much higher rates than those related to hunting. Hunting, thanks to hunter safety training, is actually very safe. With just a little preparation, outdoor activity seekers can avoid any contact with hunters and still enjoy their pastime on thousands of acres of public land.
4. A day of rest theory was also used by Sen. Ticer. This theory has been effective in keeping hunters out of the woods for decades. It's an invalid reason to continue to ban Sunday hunting. Hunting is the only legal activity that Virginia restricts on Sunday. There are a number of other activities that have the potential to cause unrest to wildlife.
None of the above reasons are valid enough to keep hunters from having the right to choose to hunt on Sunday. Hunting is already the most restricted activity in Virginia. For the most part, the forests and fields are devoid of hunters for nine months each year. I can find no reason that we all can't compromise just a little. I propose that Sundays be added to all seasons and that each season be shortened by the number of Sundays that are added. The number of legal hunting days would not change.
I hope hunters who support Sunday hunting will realize that they will need to better organize if they expect to change current Virginia law. I also suggest that, before they support an organization, they make certain what interests the group has. I can't imagine that every member of VHDA would oppose Sunday hunting as their representative stated before committee.
TONY RUTHERFORD
BILL: I was active-duty military -- Coast Guard -- stationed to Washington, D.C., this past summer and live in Stafford, Va. To get up to speed on Virginia outdoors, I did a good amount of research on the Web and repeatedly came across some of your online articles, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.
I realize I’m north of you, but I wanted to take a minute and ask if you might have any insight into taking advantage of Virginia’s special late antlerless-only firearms deer season in Prince William, Fairfax and Loudon counties. It lasts until Feb. 2.
I’ve looked and looked for available public land hunting opportunities and it appears there are none in these counties. Loudoun County looks most interesting with its border along the Blue Ridge Mountains. I checked the state’s Web site and it doesn’t specifically show any public land in that particular Blue Ridge range. One would think, though, there would be something available in that decent tract of land along the mountain slopes or even along the Appalachian Trail that skirts just inside the county’s far western boundary.
With your experience, I was wondering if you might have any advice on the possibility of public hunting areas in the counties mentioned. It sounds like a great late-season opportunity to put some venison in the freezer.
AL MOORE
Stafford
AL: Department of Game and Inland Fisheries officials tell me that the special late-season you mention is not open on public lands. So even if you had been able to find such land, you could not have hunted it.
This means you need to make contact with a private landowner who is interested in reducing the number of deer on his/her property. Lining up willing landowners with anxious hunters always has been a difficult process. I am sending you the name and e-mail of a wildlife biologist whom may be able to assist you.
You may want to drop by the regional office of the DGIF and inquire of hunting opportunities. The address can be found on Page 3 of the Hunting and Trapping in Virginia law digest.
BILL
