Oppose Sunday Hunting in MA - Bill 2315

[Pedalphile]

Mark Conti at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported this in his column this past Sunday.

"During hunting season, mountain bikers hit the trails on Sundays without fear of buckshot.


However, legislation filed by state Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, may turn that Sunday sense of safety into the fear riders feel the other six days of the week when hunters are firing rounds in wooded areas.


The legislation, House bill No. 2315, would allow hunting on Sunday. The bill states: “Section 57, of Chapter 131 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. Sunday hunting shall be allowed and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife may promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the implementation and administration of this section.”


Hunting season in Massachusetts, generally, runs from early October to late November for birds, early October to January or February for small game, and late November through December for deer.


Gobi said she filed the bill on behalf of Daniel Simkewicz, a Templeton hunter who works Monday through Saturday and enjoys hunting.


“When I get a request, I honor those requests,” she said. “I think there is middle ground here.”


There is room to make improvements or changes to the bill, according to Gobi. She said the needs of both sides can be accommodated, possibly by allowing hunting only on certain public parcels, on private property or areas in need of animal population control.


“The idea is not to have every single spot in the commonwealth open up,” she said.


“I’m a hiker and mountain biker as well,” Gobi said, adding that she rides at Barre Falls Dam.


At a hearing of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture in Spencer last week, there was testimony on both sides of the issue. But Gobi said there will be another hearing at the Statehouse and she encouraged concerned residents to testify.


Gobi can be reached at the Statehouse at (617) 722-2210, or by e-mail at Rep.AnneGobi@Hou.State.MA.US. "


Several friends have contacted Rep Gobi. Her non-sensical replies have earned her a new moniker, Sen. Gobi-degook. Rather than wasting your time contacting her I will suggest contacting members of these two committees to raise opposition:

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security - http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j22.htm

Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture - http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j21.htm

Rich K

[DVRider]

This has already been discussed:
http://www.nemba.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18981

I have no problem with it. There are plenty of places to Ride that don't allow hunting.

[jh_on_the_cape]

I work with a state Senator. He says this comes up every year and never makes it past committee. Nonetheless, make your opinion known.

I oppose hunting on Sundays.

[kernel crash]

This has already been discussed:
http://www.nemba.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18981

I have no problem with it. There are plenty of places to Ride that don't allow hunting.

The problem with that logic is that if hunting is allowed on Sundays, now those "plenty of places" that don't allow hunting, will now be overrun with bikers fleeing from their local riding spots, creating an inconvience both in travelling and parking at those places that don't allow hunting on Sunday.

[C.P.]

(Hunting (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/hunting.htm)) (Mt Biking (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/mtnbike.htm))
Using these state lists for comparison , I separated the State parks that allow mountain biking but dont allow hunting
They include:

Southeastern MA
Ames Nowell SP
Borderland SP

NorthEast MA
Hopkinton SP
Bradley Palmer SP
Great Brook SP

Central MA
Mt Grace SF
Pearl Hill SP
Robinson SP

Western MA
D.A.R. SF

Greater Boston
Blue Hills
Middlesex Fells

I'm sure I have gone back and forth on this subject...but now that I've compared the lists, it doesn't seem like these parks that dont allow hunting would be over-run with bikers...and most of the times I've seen hunters has been in early AM...so, I have to say if you bike, just wear blaze orange, and ride later in the day...

[Tim]

Deer gun season is really the only time you have lots of inexperienced people in the woods blasting off at the first sign of movement. I would be OK with this bill if it OKed hunting on Sundays other than for that.

Tim

[off piste]

http://home.comcast.net/%7Ewb1hjs/aw_jeez.gif

[bikdav]

Yea, that is not a gentle issue. I think that Harold Parker allows some limited hunting. So Sunday would not be a good day for that.

[bullitfreerider]

There is enough of a problem with hunters hunting where they shouldn't. Now you want to make a list of places that allow it on Sundays and ones that don't? Do you really think their minds can keep the lists straight? It is much easier to say that there is no hunting anywhere on Sunday. There should be at least one day where a family can walk though a public park without the threat of being shot. (IMO there should be no hunting anywhere, anytime east of Sturbridge. Much too crowded and the woods are so segmented that there isn't an animal overpopulation issue.)

Your IMO broad strokes the issue......
Actually, there is an over abundance of deer east of Sturbridge.....
...like right here in Southborough. I see the results on residential
properties from winter feeding right here in our own neighborhood.
Too bad that hunting is not allowed in Southborough. :^)

Hey, can anyone refer us to actual statistics on hunter related accidential shootings here in MA?

[C.P.]

(according to the State (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_deer_management_overview.htm)) Deer, unmanaged (hunting is the ONLY management method that is currently used) can grow in population by 30% annually.
Deer, unmanaged, cause property damage, carry Lyme disease, and high numbers of road collisions, but deer management is a thread derailment topic, we are talking about hunters havng access to the woods on Sundays.

The crux of the issue goes back to bullitfreerider's question, what are the
actual statistics on hunter related accidential shootings here in MA?

[BG]

Interesting...


http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/02/08/suburban_deer_hunters/

[C.P.]

Interesting...


http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/02/08/suburban_deer_hunters/

well there you go...

"Since 1995, the state has recorded 41 hunting accidents. Most involved hunters accidentally shooting themselves or other hunters. None involved nearby nonhunting residents."

[BG]

Fatalities per Million Exposure Hours

Skydiving 128.71
Snowmobiling .88
General Flying 15.58
Motoring .47
Motorcycling 8.80
Water skiing .28
Scuba Diving 1.98
Bicycling .26
Living 1.53
Airline Flying .15
Swimming 1.07
Hunting .08

Data compiled by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc.


Looks like just plain living is more dangerous than hunting.

[kernel crash]

Nobody is saying that we should take away a hunters rights to hunt deer, were saying what's wrong with having one day a week hunt free. Let the hunters have at it the other 6 days of the week. One day. Is that a big deal?

[Mr_Cheeze]

Fatalities per Million Exposure Hours

Skydiving 128.71
Snowmobiling .88
General Flying 15.58
Motoring .47
Motorcycling 8.80
Water skiing .28
Scuba Diving 1.98
Bicycling .26
Living 1.53
Airline Flying .15
Swimming 1.07
Hunting .08

Data compiled by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc.


Looks like just plain living is more dangerous than hunting.

Living?

And, what's the difference between general flying and airline flying? Outside of my dreams, I don't know of too many people who can "generally" fly.

And what about hunting while water skiing? Consider that, eh?

Seriously, does anyone know the reason why hunting was originally barred on Sunday? Is it a Blue Law thing? Is it to not offend baby Jesus? I really don't know.

[hammerhead]

Cheeze -

I presume General Flying refers to what is commonly known as General Aviation - where one pilots their own plane, whereas Airline Flying is pretty self evident.

Now hunting while flying is another thing all together.

[Slappy]

Do you really think their minds can keep the lists straight?

What's that supposed to mean?


:rolleyes:

[Husqvarna]

Why no hunting on sundays, its no different then any other day of the week. The prefix before the day is just a reference point for communication. What if i need a rabbit for dinner on sunday and had bad luck on saturdays hunt. Am i suppose to go without until Monday. Give them Sunday to hunt. But take away a weekday if not hunting on one day of the week is really neccessary. Do we need to give the wildlife a rest day.
How would you like it if the goverment said no mountain biking on Sundays, because thats just the way it is w/o any logical reason why. I say the original reason was to help fill benches at the congregation. Some would say, Sunday is the lords day. Fine if that's what you think. But let the rest of us decide for ourselves. Sunday, doesn't sound like lords day to me. Sounds like a day to get out and get some sun and fresh air and recreate "as we please" before, going back to the corporate dust dungeons on Monday.

[Who]

Nobody is saying that we should take away a hunters rights to hunt deer, were saying what's wrong with having one day a week hunt free. Let the hunters have at it the other 6 days of the week. One day. Is that a big deal?


I am not a hunter. Don't have a FID at the moment, nor own any guns at the moment (I will eventually get my FID, and buy a nice rifle, and pistol to take to the range, I wont hunt though, its not my thing). I think they should be able to hunt on Sundays, IMO. Like you say 'one day'. Well if you think of it from a hunters point of view, they only have what 14-30 days out of 365 days in the year to hunt (I am not familiar with the hunting seasons times/durations). Just like for many other woods users, I am sure it is easier for many hunters to hunt on Sunday and I imagine it is frustrating to not be able to hunt in the middle of the season cause its a 'Sunday'.

I don't see an issue sharing the woods while they hunt anyways. I still ride my bike through hunting season. I also bring my dog. I don't let hunting deter me. I take proper precautions, and I feel safe out there. My dog wears a loud bell, and We both where hunters orange (Ava has a Orange Coat that covers her from her neck to her nub).

[Mr_Cheeze]

Why no hunting on sundays, its no different then any other day of the week. The prefix before the day is just a reference point for communication. What if i need a rabbit for dinner on sunday and had bad luck on saturdays hunt. Am i suppose to go without until Monday. Give them Sunday to hunt. But take away a weekday if not hunting on one day of the week is really neccessary. Do we need to give the wildlife a rest day.
How would you like it if the goverment said no mountain biking on Sundays, because thats just the way it is w/o any logical reason why. I say the original reason was to help fill benches at the congregation. Some would say, Sunday is the lords day. Fine if that's what you think. But let the rest of us decide for ourselves. Sunday, doesn't sound like lords day to me. Sounds like a day to get out and get some sun and fresh air and recreate "as we please" before, going back to the corporate dust dungeons on Monday.

Maybe if your name was Zark or Gork and you normally wear buffalo hide and wolf pelts, live in a cave, and actually need to hunt for rabbit on Sunday, then you might have an argument; but since you actually have the option to go to Shaws to stave off dying from hunger, your first point hold zero water.

I really don't need to go further, here. This IS the point. Hunting isn't necessary on Sundays. I think a better argument can be made for saving a day to have it free of the danger posed to other recreational enthusiasts. Fact is, hunting is laden with regulations for good reason. Officials seem to manage it pretty well, keeping the deer population in decent check. One extra day really won't matter. No reason to change just to appease the poor, 6 day work week folks. They'll have to take a day off... which you know they do, anyway... to bag some venison. If they're going to change anything, they should lengthen the days for goose hunting. The Canadian geese are out of control.

[Husqvarna]

Maybe if your name was Zark or Gork and you normally wear buffalo hide and wolf pelts, live in a cave, and actually need to hunt for rabbit on Sunday, then you might have an argument; but since you actually have the option to go to Shaws to stave off dying from hunger, your first point hold zero water.

I really don't need to go further, here. This IS the point. Hunting isn't necessary on Sundays.

I thought the purpose of hunting was to supplement nutritional needs. Are there other reasons why one would hunt? If its not neccessary on Sunday, why is it any other day of the week? Safety on Sunday's, MTBer's are more of a danger to themselves then hunters.

I ride NH, i don't hunt, i've never had an issue with hunters in NH on Sundays. And if you give hunters in MA the option to hunt there, there will be fewer MA residents hunting in NH on Sundays.

[Slappy]

Biking or hiking isn't 'necessary' on Sundays either...specially in November/December during shotgun season. Odds are most of the people complaining the loudest about it will be inside complaining about the weather by that point.

[AA]

Biking or hiking isn't 'necessary' on Sundays either...specially in November/December during shotgun season. Odds are most of the people complaining the loudest about it will be inside complaining about the weather by that point.

Bingo

[hogboy]

as I said before

Sunday is the one day during hunting season, that homeowners can generally trust that they can actually go walk on their own land, posted or not, and expect to not get shot by some dumb hunter. it is a REST DAY for the non-hunter to enjoy the woods during hunting season.

[Slappy]

some dumb hunter.

You and woodsguy should form a 'smart guy' club or something.

[off piste]

You and woodsguy should form a 'smart guy' club or something.


:har: :har:

[Slappy]

:har: :har:

Pipe down ya dumb hunter. Ur brain can't keep this stuff straight yo.


:D