Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums

As posted from MTBR--
"I know that this topic has come up here several times in the past, but if you'd like to provide some feedback on the topic, follow this link:
http://www.pahouse.co...
There are currently three bills in committee trying to change the rules about hunting on Sunday. Rep Stabeck is now the chair of the Game and Fisheries Committee and he has made it a priority to allow hunting on Sundays. The bill he is currently championing would transfer the authority to allow hunting on Sundays from the legislature to the PGC. The PGC as most of us are painfully aware is not an elected body that is answerable to public input but rather an appointed group that is not subject to legislative oversight.
The link above allows you to provide comments directly to Rep Stabeck as to how you feel about Sunday hunting and the PGC. Please be respectful in your comments, but try to encourage others to respond. Realize that a change to the PGC having decision making power over Sunday hunting could potentially lead to no hunting-free days in Pennsylvania from the end of September until mid-May. This is not just an issue effecting Deer season, but rather could be the end run around any public input for future changes.
As an aside, if you think I am a wack job for posting this, you can follow the link as well and submit your pro-sunday hunting comments. Thats the beautiful part of the public input process. Too bad this bill is trying to remove that.
Frank Maguire
IMBA Central PA Rep"

I've written to Stabeck, as well as two of my local legislators. If you live in PA or ride in PA, I encourage you to do the same. This could have a serious and detrimental impact to our riding!

Here's what I wrote:

"Sir,

For a significant part of the year, Sundays are the only days I can safely explore PA's great outdoors with my friends and family. Although "Sunday's only" puts a damper on my outdoor recreation for a big part of the year, I recognize and understand the need to share public lands for all recreational pursuits.

I am an active person who loves to run, bike, ski, and kayak on PA's wonderful trail systems and waterways. During hunting season, 6 out of 7 days is a lot of down time for me, but I at least have 1 day per week to safely pursue these activities.

I hope you will consider the negative impact that Sunday hunting will have on non-hunters' quality of life in PA.

Perhaps more importantly, decisions on the use of public lands should be made by the General Assembly, where the needs and desires of all citizens will be considered, rather than the PGC, which has a much narrower focus.

Respectfully,

Tom"

The link above did not work.  Please use this one:

http://www.pahouse.com/Staback/Sunday-Hunting.asp (http://www.pahouse.com/Staback/Sunday-Hunting.asp)

Yeah that's it.  Thanks RICO.

Anyways the more that our legislature hears from us, the more we can steer this Sunday hunting priviledge away, I hope.

here's what I put:

I'm all for hunting and plan to take the education classes to get my license. But as hunting is allowed six days a week its important that non-hunters know there is at least one day they can safely explore all of Pennsylvania's great outdoors without fear. There is an average of 2-4 hunting fatalities per year, and numerous other accidents involving injury. Sunday hunting will obviously lead to a dramatic increase in these statistics, (which are already beyond comprehension.)

Great post.  I too believe that this decision should be made in the General Assembly and not given to the PGC.  

I agree with you completely that Sunday's are an important day for the rest of the people in the state to enjoy the great landscape of this state, not only for MTB but for backpacking and camping as well.  

I sent my opinion in.  

So did I, right before I posted the link.   ;D

Thank you so much for bringing up this issue. I was definitely unaware of this personally, and I am glad I now know so I can take a more active stand. I encourage everyone to please go to that link and post to let the state representatives that we are here and need some outdoors time too!

Yallls are awesome!  -Pardon ma French

It's definitely a good idea to have a day each week where we don't have to worry about hunters.  I ran into a bow hunter on a trail once and it just scared the $#!% out of me.  The animals might like a day off too!  :)

I hear that! I had a run in last year at Marsh Creek with a guy walking with his rifle..that's some scary $#@% when you turn a corner & see camo with a gun facing you! :o