From smoking bans to Sunday hunting, outdoor legislation abounds
Christian Berg Outdoors
Pennsylvania lawmakers are never at loss for ideas when it comes to changing the state's outdoor-related regulations.
I did an informal count last week and turned up more than 30 pieces of outdoor-related legislation that has been introduced this year alone. Of course, anyone in the General Assembly can introduce a bill -- the key is getting it adopted. Considering that many of these bills likely will never make it out of committee, you could make the argument they aren't worth the paper they're printed on.
Still, it's always interesting to see what lawmakers have in mind. Although there isn't enough space to cover every proposal, here's a summary of some of the more interesting items:
The Sunday Hunting Ban would be repealed by House Bill 779, introduced by Rep. Edward G. Staback, D-Lackawanna. If adopted, the bill would give the Game Commission authority to expand Sunday hunting opportunities as commissioners see fit.
The Sunday hunting debate is an oldie but goodie in Harrisburg, and the topic always elicits passionate arguments from supporters and opponents. The biggest difference this year is Staback now chairs the House Game and Fisheries Committee. That means Staback, long the Legislature's biggest proponent of Sunday hunting, has the power to move his bill out of committee and press for a full House vote.
No timetable has been announced, but Staback said shortly after the election last year that Sunday hunting would be a priority for his committee. Stay tuned.
Trespassing laws would be enforced by wildlife and waterways conservation officers if House Bills 788 and 789 become law. The measures, introduced by Rep. Gordon Denlinger, R-Lancaster, would empower both Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission officers to enforce all state laws related to trespass.
Neither commission is thrilled about this idea, because they fear officers will be overwhelmed with trespass complaints. Despite that, I've been on record for several years as a supporter of the idea. The current situation, which forced landowners to contact state or local police to deal with problematic hunters or anglers, just doesn't make any sense to me.
Muzzleloader enthusiasts will want to pay close attention to House Bill 819, which would allow the use of in-line muzzleloaders in any muzzleloader hunting season.
This proposal, also by Denlinger, is certain to generate outrage from die-hard flintlock users, who have long taken pride in that Pennsylvania's post-Christmas flintlock season is the only true ''heritage'' hunting season in the nation. Many dedicated flintlock hunters go so far as to don mocassins, raccoon-skin caps and other traditional garb during their hunting expeditions.
On the other side, you can bet the thousands of hunters who have purchased modern, in-line muzzleloaders in recent years would be thrilled about chasing bucks or does with those guns during the post-Christmas hunt.
Muzzleloader use has exploded since the Game Commission introduced an October muzzleloader season for anterless in 2000. The sale of resident muzzleloader stamps nearly doubled from 101,672 in 1999 to 192,258 in 2005 -- and just about all of those newcomers are using modern in-lines.
Spring gobbler hunting hours would be extended until 5 p.m. under a proposal by Rep. Dick L. Hess, R-Bedford. House Bill 863 is bound to be controversial, if for no other reason than it goes against a longstanding tradition of ending spring turkey hunting at noon.
As someone who has been forced to walk out of the woods at noon on the last day of turkey season, with a gobbler still answering my every call and slowly making his way toward me, I can see some merit in Hess' idea.
The downside, of course, is the Game Commission would have to factor this additional opportunity into the harvest, and it's at least possible the overall season length could be reduced. There probably are a number of other reasonable arguments that will be made against this bill.
Hunting fall turkeys with dogs would be permitted if Sen. Roger A. Madigan, R-Bradford, has his way.
Use of Dogs Senate Bill 580 would make it legal to use dogs to ''pursue, chase, scatter and track wild turkeys'' during the fall hunting season. Dogs would not be allowed to kill turkeys.
This proposal may seem a bit odd to many hunters, but I support the idea. I've written a couple articles about a small but dedicated group of hunters who train specialized turkey dogs that are expert in locating flocks of turkeys and scattering them. After scattering the birds, the dogs climb into a sack and lie silently at their owner's feet while he or she attempts to call one of the scattered birds into shotgun range.
Turkey dogs already are legal to use in a number of states, mostly in the South. Considering the relatively small number of hunters who would use them, it seems reasonable to let these folks enjoy their sport.
Smoking anywhere in a State Park could be a crime if lawmakers adopt House Bill 312, introduced by Rep. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery.
Leach's proposal would make it illegal for anyone to have a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe on State Park property. Violations would be punishable by a $50 fine.
I am the only one who thinks this is just plain wacky?
I copied this from elsewhere. Some of you will know from where. I will be posting copies of important bills as they seem important.
