“What are your thoughts on Sunday hunting?” With this question confronting the Maine State Legislature this month, I ran it by a number of Maine outdoor people whose opinions I value.
You can sample their outlooks on this difficult question below. Although the Sunday hunting issue has been a perennial one that lawmakers have always dismissed, this year’s attempt to get a limited Sunday hunting option on the books has a higher profile than past years.
For one thing, Gov. John Baldacci, at the urging of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM), gave the idea some emphasis and presence by including it in his overall budget package.
SAM’s executive director George Smith, a clever operator who knows an opportunity when he sees one, apparently convinced the governor that he could – excuse the expression – kill two birds. First, Sunday hunting might help generate some badly needed revenues for IF&W.
Second, the governor’s support of Sunday hunting might be considered an olive branch by sportsmen who haven’t forgotten that the governor a few years ago balanced his budget on the back of the Fish and Wildlife Department with disproportionate cuts.
It appears, though, that Smith may have underestimated general sportsmen opposition to the Sunday hunting initiative. For example, at the Augusta public hearing before the Legislative Appropriations Committee on Feb. 3, the Maine Professional Guides Association (MPGA), the Maine Bowhunters Association (MBA) and the Maine Trappers Association (MTA) all testified in opposition to the governor’s Sunday-hunting pacifier.
Of note is the fact that the Sunday hunting law, as proposed, excluded the November firearms hunt. You can only imagine who would have come out of the woodwork had the Sunday hunting proposal included November.
Still not sure
The question has me shaking my head. I don’t know which way to go. There are strong arguments on both sides of the Sunday hunting question. I have some trouble with the timing of the initiative so soon after the controversy over bear hunting. My wife and hunting companion Diane, who thinks it’s silly not to allow Sunday hunting the whole season, says that if we sweat the timing we are allowing the anti-hunting loonies to drive our agenda. Good point. She is most sympathetic with hardworking hunters who work Saturdays, or just can’t get vacation time in the fall.
She sees Sunday hunting as increased opportunity for bringing youngsters along. As for the argument that Sunday is the Lord’s day, she says, “If you ask me, hunting and church go together better than church and then a whole day of TV football and Budweisers.”
Augusta watchers are predicting that the Sunday hunting question is already academic, that it will be shot down. Perhaps, but I’ve learned never to underestimate George Smith’s political prowess or resolve. He might pull it out. And even if he doesn’t, the Sunday hunting issue will be back next year or the year after.
Their thoughts
What are your thoughts on Sunday hunting? Here are some responses that may get you on track, or, like me, leave you more undecided than ever:
• I think that Sunday should remain a day of rest, for me and the critters. – Wilmot “Wiggie” Robinson
• I doubt it will pass, I don’t plan to vote for it. It should not be in the budget but should go to the Inland Fish and Wildlife Committee for a policy decision. – Sen. Paul Davis
• I voted against Sunday hunting at the guides board this week. It was rejected unanimously by the group. The reason is many fold, the two biggest being:
1) Loss of hunting grounds by those posting land. (not an issue for us in the North Maine Woods)
2) Eight more bear-hunting days, which could in effect knock a week off the total season if we shoot too many.
I think a shotgun only season for upland game would be fine for October and would back that. This also could shorten the grouse season down the road, but probably worth the effort. I am not sure the timing is right for an all out Sunday season as proposed. I am against Sunday hunting for deer no matter what or where. – Matt Libby
• I can’t support it. I believe that Sunday hunting will result in much more land being posted. I also expect that many outfitters will oppose it as they use Sundays as their transition day. I could support allowing land owners to Sunday hunt on their land. – Harold “Brownie” Brown
• A major benefit of course is economic. I’ve met many, many out-of-state trappers and hunters, and have often heard the comment that they’d come to Maine if they could hunt on Sundays. Just for example, take serious bird hunters who spend thousands on out-of-state trips after grouse and woodcock. We lose many of these people to states allowing Sunday hunting. – Bob Noonan
• My feeling is that because most of our hunting and trapping is done on someone else’s land, it is imperative that we stay on good terms with the landowners. If we alienate private landowners on a large scale, we’re in big trouble. – Skip Trask
• Given the current political climate in Maine, I feel pushing for Sunday hunting (without deer) could very well be one of single greatest mistakes our lobbyists could make. – Stu Bristol
• I have mixed feelings. obviously in our business we like Sundays off to change groups and take a breather, but that shouldn’t be a factor. I think we have to look at it as organized and unorganized townships. We live in two worlds in this state and a blanket approach doesn’t work for a lot of issues. I think in southern Maine it should be tied to some kind of incentive for the landowners to allow it, or we’re going to find more posted land. I don’t think it will have any impact on game populations. – Hal Blood
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