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Sunday Hunting One Step Closer in Pennsylvania

Congressional Sportsmen

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Today legislation was introduced in Pennsylvania (HB 1760) to end the ban on Sunday hunting in the Keystone State.

The legislation comes on the heels of the Pennsylvania Game Commission passing a resolution yesterday supporting the idea of ending the ban on hunting on Sunday’s.

HB 1760 would lift the ban and shift authority to regulate Sunday hunting from the General Assembly, where it currently resides, to the Game Commission. The commission’s resolution urged the General Assembly to repeal the restriction on Sunday hunting and allow the Game Commission to regulate it. The state law banning Sunday hunting is the only game management decision given to the legislature.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to pass legislation repealing the ban on Sunday hunting and allowing the Game Commission to work with the many stakeholders to make decisions about hunting on Sunday,” said Rep. Marc Gergely, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair and member of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council.

Currently, 43 other states allow some form of Sunday hunting, and it is a major economic and job driver in those states. In Pennsylvania, The benefits of Sunday hunting, however, would not be limited to the sportsmen’s community, as an economic impact report released by the Sunday Hunting coalition has found that removal of Sunday hunting restrictions would result in an estimated 8,190 new Pennsylvania jobs. The report also notes that these jobs would pay more than $245 million in wages and contribute approximately $765 million in additional economic activity to the state.

“We have been working diligently with our partners on this issue for several years now and have seen some real progress on repealing these outdated blue laws that are driving hunters away from the sport and stifling economic growth,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “Hopefully we are well on our way to relaxing such restrictions in Pennsylvania and other states, and we’ll be looking towards our state caucuses to provide leadership in these efforts.”

Allowing hunters in Pennsylvania to go afield on Sundays is part of larger effort to increase participation in hunting that also involves improving access and opportunity for sportsmen living in the state. Since most hunters take to the field on weekends, removing barriers to Sunday hunting will effectively double the value of each hunter’s license. Recent research completed earlier this year by Brent Miller, CSF Northeastern States Manager, indicates that by allowing Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania, an additional 55,000 hunters would be recruited or retained over the next six years alone.

Members of the Sunday Hunting coalition, including CSF, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, Archery Trade Association, Boone and Crockett Club, Cabela’s, Delta Waterfowl, Mule Deer Foundation, National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and the Wildlife Management Institute, are encouraging all sportsmen in Pennsylvania to contact their state legislators and urge them to co-sponsor HB 1760.

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Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club & Three Donaldsonville Men Assessed $34,810 in Fines for Migratory Game Bird Violations

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Louisiana --(Ammoland.com)- The Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club and three Donaldsonville men pled guilty to Migratory Bird Treaty Act violations on June 24 in Federal Middle District Court in Baton Rouge.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Riedlinger ordered the Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club and the three men to pay a total of $34,810 in fines and assessments for the violations.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited the Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club located near Donaldsonville in September of 2007 for baiting a dove field to attract mourning doves for paid hunts. Agents also cited Robert Lemann Sr., 62, Robert Lemann Jr., 38, and Kenneth Gomez, 62, and Wayne Gomez, 60, for baiting a dove field.

The Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club was ordered to pay a $25,300 fine and $350 in assessments. The club was also placed on probation for two years in which they will not be allowed to provide any paid hunts. Lemann Sr. represented the Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club and accepted their penalties in exchange to have his personal charges dropped.

Lemann Jr. was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $70 in assessments. Kenneth Gomez was fined $3,000 plus $70 in assessments. Wayne Gomez was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $20 in assessments. All three men were also placed on one year of probation with the stipulation that they cannot provide any paid hunts.

LDWF Agents began investigating the Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club in August of 2007 after receiving a public complaint. Agents setup surveillance on the club and observed dove fields that were baited with wheat seeds in an effort to attract mourning doves.

All four men are either employed or connected to the Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club.

Agents participating in the case were Lt. Dennis Bueche, Sgt. Will Roberts, Sgt. Randy Lanoux, Sgt. Todd Lewis, Senior Agent Chad Menzina and Senior Agent Hal Bridges. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents also assisted in the case.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

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