PA might come out of the 19th Century!

[hogpatrol]

The scuttlebutt I'm hearing is Sunday hunting won't pass. They're going to wait until license sales fall below 500,000.

 

[jimbires]

The scuttlebutt I'm hearing is Sunday hunting won't pass. They're going to wait until license sales fall below 500,000.

license sales falling below that could happen quickly . I've just heard they are again asking for a license fee increase . if passed , license fees will increment up yearly , until they double in the next 3 or 4 years . nonresident license will be $200 .

 

[M14AMU]

Backwards state??

If the end of the world comes....I want to be here in Louisiana because we're always 50 years behind the times!! ;D

 

[hogpatrol]

PA game commission news release on hunting license fees increases.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=12775&PageID=648010&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/marketingsites/game_commission/content/resources/newsreleases/newsrelease/articles/release__066_15.html&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Watchable%20Wildlife&utm_content=News+Releases+9-10-15

 

[LHSmith]

PA game commission news release on hunting license fees increases.

Most certainly welcome by those who wish the PGC become more progressive and "come out of the 19th Century". While some may deem the recent game law change proposals as "progress", I believe it will alienate the traditionalists (who represent the majority of licensed hunters) and will only hasten the demise of hunting in PA.

 

[hogpatrol]

Hunting license sales in Pennsy are dropping every year. Unless progress is made in interesting the youth of the state in hunting, license sales will continue to decline.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=596054&mode=2

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^Those stats show we are loosing the seniors at a faster rate than the youth. If we can't keep the multi-generational heritage that hunting offers by keeping grandfathers interested enough to mentor their grandkids, then there is no hope what-so-ever in saving the sport. Attracting youth by allowing hunting with AR's on Sunday's is not my idea of teaching youth hunting ethics.

 

[potatoe]

Thanks for posting Hog!

 

[snert]

I might come back to PA as I see they are finally considering semi-auto for hunting. I love to hunt squirrels with my Ruger MK2 government target model 22. (Well, for that matter rabbits too)

Now if they would simply recognize that air rifles are not bb guns and that they make fine hunting tools, THAT would be a step in the right direction. Can't imagine not being able to swat pigeons out of the barn with my PCP.

 

[hogpatrol]

I might come back to PA as I see they are finally considering semi-auto for hunting. I love to hunt squirrels with my Ruger MK2 government target model 22. (Well, for that matter rabbits too)

Now if they would simply recognize that air rifles are not bb guns and that they make fine hunting tools, THAT would be a step in the right direction. Can't imagine not being able to swat pigeons out of the barn with my PCP.

A few years back, Delaware started allowing pellet guns for squirrels. Ironic that north of the C&D canal even though smaller than the rest of the state, there are probably MORE squirrels. Here's the regs.

Gray squirrels may be hunted with shotguns statewide, .17 through .22 cal. rimfire and pellet rifles and muzzleloading rifles up to .36 cal. south of the C&D Canal. Only shotguns may be used north of the C&D Canal. When a squirrel season overlaps with a deer firearms season, squirrel hunters must wear 400 square inches of hunter orange displayed on the head, chest and back.

 

[searcher]

I am amazed at the member comments about the use of semi-auto firearms - in regard to being more responsible for ricochets, school buses being hit and the other thoughtless rhetoric against them. Where were you clowns when Browning came out with BAR's, or when the M1 Garand, M1A, Remington 788, Ruger 444 etc., etc. came out? Were you hiding in caves and seeking shelter against logs from errant gunfire from them? You, as hunters, shooters and firearms owners have labeled the same people you want to carry on our sport as a bunch of idiots incapable of being safe or hitting what they aim at. Obama, Clinton and the rest of the anti-gunning community would be proud of your comments - and that is because you sound just like them. I can name a lot of guys whom are are equally inept hunters and marksmen who use single shot rifles, bows, pistols and whatever - who are of the type of unethical shooters you describe. It is not my right to put down an entire class of firearms users because of the retards I know of - because that is simply being another retard. And no apologies for my lack of political correctness.

 

[LHSmith]

Simple logic tells me that the less lead sent downrange equates to less potential ricochets. Likewise when faced with a limited number of rounds from a manually operated firearm , most hunters tend to take more precise aim to make those rounds count. If I were hunting Taliban, then semi's would be my choice. I personally don't feel the need to hunt the game animals of PA with semi-auto anything.

 

[hogpatrol]

Dumping a few dollars from an autoloader at a ground pounding tree rat doesn't make any sense to me but if that's what floats your boat, have at it. The critical issue is allowing guys and gals that work six days a week including Saturdays and youngsters who are involved in school sports the opportunity to take game on Sunday. If the farmers are against it, let the deer, rabbits and groundhogs eat their crops unmolested on Sunday and allow it only on state game lands. Something has to give or PA's game commission is going to find itself behind the financial eight ball for the foreseeable future.

 

[MrMajestic]

Some of us black rifle shooters actually load long and use a "Bob Sled". It's just another tool in the shed for attempting to rid the world of those dreaded marmots..

 

[potatoe]

Careful Majestic you might get labeled a commando. It seems like many Pa hunters are of the mindset that because you have a semi auto rifle that you will undoubtedly keep pulling the trigger until your empty and that because you have a semi your shooting skill is sub par.

 

[jghoghunter]

I personally dont see a need for semi's to hunt deer BUT to each his own. Who am i to tell you what rifle to hunt with. I would love to be able to hunt groundhogs on Sunday with my ar. Just my opinion.

 

[LHSmith]

As the member of a local gun cub (~ 900 members) who led the effort to expand and improve the rifle range, and who is responsible for maintaining that range.....I have seen firsthand the range rules are predominately ignored by those using semi-auto firearms. This is evidenced by security cameras directed at several locations around the range. Yes, those infracting the safety rules are in the minority, but the overwhelming percentage involves those with semi's. After a lot of damage, I succeeded in getting the membership to adapt a single shot, one cartridge only rule and the safety incidents virtually disappeared. I don't see how you cannot draw a conclusion that behavior in the hunting fields will be any different.

 

[potatoe]

This is so biased that its insulting. So you had a few bad apples that happened to be semi auto shooters, what happens when you have an incident with a muzzleloader? do then ban all guns? This seems very short sighted for your club to do this. My range has over 2k members and virtually no incidents ever, with semi, single shot or muzzle loaders because the vast majority enforce the rules. Actions like this really hurt the gun community, instead of punishing the violators you attack the group. Seems like a common thing to do these days.

 

[Larryh128]

I hunt with AR's and bolt guns depending upon what I'm hunting & where. Never been an issue, also we hunt Sundays because a lot of people (those that actually work) work 6 days a week. They also need to be able to get out, Sunday is your own land or land you are invited to hunt or state land. Banning magazine useage at a range is to me pretty short sighted, are you loading 1911's single shot? Or AR's, both could be dangerous to a bystanders health. It reminds me of a directive that came down this year from the person heading up the Michigan Hunter Safety program. Rifles were to be loaded single shot and no one was allowed to carry (instructors). Not only is that insulting to the youngsters that have completed 2 evenings and a day of class, testing, and range time, but also to the instructors. To think that someone is going into the field with only the chamber loaded is a joke. Teach safety , banning semi-auto fire only gives fuel to the anti's. The situation is corrected by talking to the individuals and showing them proper procedure. Believe me, it works much better.

 

[ARW]

Sorry but I can't agree at all with limiting a range to single shot only.

The title of this thread is "PA might come out of the 19th Century" but this type of thinking puts it back to the 18th Century!

Alan