Sunday Hunting Bill, Senate Hearing
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Sat, 6 Mar 99 08:55:53 EST
There were four birders at the hearings yesterday for SB 566, which would
allow Sunday hunting in Maryland. Besides Barry and myself, Fred Fallon and
Leslie Fischer spent a long afternoon waiting for our chance to speak our
piece. We all tried to focus on different points, as time was getting on and
the committee was beginning to sag. Fred emphasized the potential damage to
Christmas Counts, many of which have been moved to Sunday to avoid conflicts
with hunters. He added that certain tracts, such as Patuxent North Tract,
are actually closed to non-hunters during hunting days. Leslie listed a
number of important bird activities which would be curtailed (including some
which are already impacted by hunting seasons, such as the hawk watch at
Elk Neck). Barry spoke to the equity issue -- that hunters, which are a small
proportion of those who use the outdoors, already have six days a week to
enjoy their hobby -- why can't the rest of us have one day in comfort? Since
the bill's sponsor (Sen. Collins) talked about the economic benefit of
hunting, I presented the recent USFWS data that shows that non-consumptive
wildlife watching (most of which is birdwatching) in Maryland had 5X as many
participant days and generated about 5x as much economic benefit to Maryland
as did hunting (about a half-billion dollars a year, which caught a few
senator's attention!)
Feedback from committee members immediately after the hearing seemed very
positively inclined towards the bill's defeat, but that was from western
shore senators and I am not sure about the eastern shore reps.
SO if you have not yet contacted your senator or delegates and let them
know what you think, do it now! Especially if you reside on the Eastern
shore...
Just to reiterate -- the bill would allow DNR to extend Sunday hunting to
public lands (and probably some private lands, that seemed a bit unclear,
even to the bill's proponents). This would mean 24 Sundays over a 5 1/2
month period, including spring turkey season (April 15 -- May 15) would see
hunters out in the woods in areas where hunting is now allowed.
Proponents stressed inability to hunt on other days (due to work or conflicts
with other family obligations) as well as increasing the deer kill as reasons
for the bill. Opponents stressed safety concerns, equity issues (most
public lands have been acquired with general state funds or Program Open
Space), and the fact that the majority of Marylanders have the same time/
work considerations. Several people made the valid point that deer herd
reductions will depend on does-only seasons, not extending the current regs
as is.
We were warned that if defeated, this bill will be back next session. Hopefully
birders will have more time to react next time!
Gail Mackiernan
Silver Spring, MD