Dear Friends: Attached is the stance of the Maryland Ornithological Society with regard to the proposed hunting on Sundays in Maryland. Please try to circulate it as widely as possible to your members and to your friends. You can write to your State Senator and Congressman electronically at http://mlis.state.md.us EVERY letter and e-mail counts! We must be heard on this critical issue! Thank you! Norm Saunders Legislative Alert: Notice to all MOS Chapters and interested conservation groups: Hunting on Sunday bills to be heard in Maryland Legislature this week Two companion bills, HB 906 and SB 566 entitled "Sunday Hunting- Forest Game Birds and Mammals" will be heard in the Maryland Legislature this week: HB 906, Del Weir, Guns, et al. in Environmental Matters on Thurs, March 5, 1pm; and SB 566, Sen Collins in Economic and Environmental Affairs on Fri, March 6, 1pm. The Maryland Ornithological Society OPPOSES HB 906/SB 566 for the following reasons: Maryland has had a long history of not allowing hunting on Sundays. This tradition and law have been valued by a vast majority of citizens who know that they can hike, birdwatch, cycle, walk, run, horseback ride, and simply enjoy Maryland's abundant natural resources without fear for themselves, their families, and the wildlife they wish to enjoy. Sundays are a day that can be spent in the out-of-doors without fear, and citizens have a right to that simple pleasure. Non-consumptive outdoor recreation activities, which by their nature are silent, such as birdwatching, nature-study, hiking, and other similar pursuits, are inherently incompatible with hunting of forest game birds and mammals in the same areas. The non-hunting public, which far outnumbers the hunting public, has a right to use and enjoy public lands, as well as private lands, without fear or concern for safety for one day per week. Many citizens recreate in the out of doors on Sundays during the fall and winter months precisely because it is one of the most enjoyable seasons to be there. There are no objectionable insects, poisionous plants, or oppressive heat to contend with. Wildlife can be enjoyed by all in a non- consumptive manner. Sound principles of game management dictate that allowing "days-off" reduces hunting pressure on wildlife and also benefits non-game species. No hunting on Sundays is an effective and beneficial way to maximize wildlife stocks and better protect threatened, rare, and endangered species in the same habitat. The economic benefits that might accrue from allowing hunting on Sundays for a limited sector of the population are far outweighed by the much greater benefits to all sectors of the State's economy that occur from increased tourism, outdoor recreation, and nature related activities on the Sundays proposed for hunting. The Maryland Ornithological Society is particularly concerned with the negative impacts of increasing deer populations on the habitats of game and non-game bird species in certain areas of Maryland and supports effective, proven methods to reduce the negative impacts of overpopulation of deer in such areas. MOS does not support the provisions of these bills to allow hunting of forest game birds and mammals on Sundays during hunting seasons. For the reasons listed above, and others, the Maryland Ornithological Society firmly OPPOSES HB 906/SB 566, and calls on Maryland legislators to disapprove any legislation to allow hunting on Sundays in Maryland. Prepared by Richard J. Dolesh, Conservation Committee Chair, Maryland Ornithological Society March 1, 1999 =============== Norm Saunders Colesville, MD osprey@ari.net