Sunday, January 27, 2008
As usual, Sunday hunting in debate
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
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Just like at every General Assembly session, a few legislators have taken aim this winter at Virginia's ban on hunting on Sundays.
As usual, the main bills stood little chance.
One that would have lifted the ban entirely was killed in a Senate subcommittee by a 13-2 vote. Another that would allow archery hunting on Sundays is in a House committee, but is headed for the trash heap.
But one Sunday hunting bill is alive and surprisingly well.
In fact, Senate Bill 708 actually cleared that chamber by a 31-8 vote Friday and is on its way to the House.
To be sure, this isn't a major step.
The bill is modeled after the law that allows hunting on licensed shooting preserves on Sundays. It would allow the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to permit localities that offer urban archery seasons to allow Sunday hunting during those seasons, which are designed to control booming suburban and urban deer herds.
Furthermore, the localities -- and 21 currently offer urban archery seasons -- wouldn't have to extend hunting to Sunday if they didn't want to.
But even though it may be the tiniest of baby steps, it's a step that many opponents of the ban would welcome.
Of course, with the bill still needing to get through the House and the governor, it's far from a sure thing.
If it does manage to pass and get signed into law, could it start the Sunday hunting ban sliding down the slippery slope?
Plenty of sportsmen are firm believers in the slippery slope theory, but it usually comes up regarding gun control issues, such as the recent efforts to eliminate Virginia's so-called gun show loophole.
It's not that gun rights advocates who opposed that failed effort want to ensure that people who shouldn't have guns have an easy way to get guns. Rather, a concern is that compromising on even seemingly minor issues could set things in motion for additional, far more sweeping firearms-related restrictions.
You know: Give them an inch, they'll take a mile.
On the Sunday hunting issue, the slippery slope would lead to fewer restrictions.
Currently, Virginia is one of a handful of states that doesn't allow Sunday hunting.
While a majority of the state's hunters used to be OK with the ban, that's changing.
According to a recent scientific survey, about two-thirds of the state's hunters would like to see hunting allowed Sunday.
That's no surprise.
Just like everyone, hunters are ever more pressed for free time. For many, weekends are their only chance to get into the woods.
Of course, just because the majority of hunters are in favor of reversing the ban doesn't mean the general public would be as enthusiastic.
They, as well as the many hunters who support the ban, would need to feel comfortable that Sunday hunting wouldn't create big problems or conflicts. That's why any movement is going to take steps, and likely plenty of them.
If this bill passes, the DGIF's board would still need to changes its rules. Given their challenges recruiting and retaining hunters, it seems likely that would happen.
Even then, it's likely that a number of the urban archery localities won't initially opt in. But a few probably would.
If things go smoothly -- and we're talking about so few days and so few hunters, it's hard to imagine they wouldn't -- others may eventually come on board.
That could set the stage for another try at a proposal such as this year's House Bill 1456, which would legalize archery season hunting on private lands. (That bill will likely be killed Wednesday in a House committee.)
Which could lead to Sunday archery hunting on public land.
Which could lead to Sunday muzzleloader hunting on private land.
Which could, well, you get the idea.
Whatever happens, it could take years.
If it happens.
After all, the slippery slope isn't a sure thing. It's just a theory.
