As I understand the proposal,the Dept. Game & Inland Fisheries of Virginia is planning on sending out questionnaires to 5,000 license purchasers this year to see what their feelings are about Sunday hunting.
Unfortunately, the Game folks don’t control and can’t change the No-Sunday-Hunting ban in Virginia; that would have to come about through the Legislature.
Some of the previous reasons given for continuing the ban was that folks that were out fishing were afraid to have hunters afield at the same time; some said that they wear orange while fishing during hunting season (big game for deer and bear)and other folks said they wanted a hunting free day to enjoy hiking, biking, bird watching, etc.
Was curious as to your experiences in states that allow Sunday hunting? I believe Virginia is one of only about 7-8 states that do not allow Sunday hunting at the present. :?:
Well, Sunday hunting has always been allowed in Arkansas and as far as I know there has never been a fly fisherman killed or wounded by a hunter…
But if you’re sneakin’ through the woods to get to a honey hole, I would think an orange vest would be a good idea during big game season… especially deer or turkey. On the river, I wouldn’t worry too much… until the rises you see are followed by a loud report…
What a truly unique idea, but then wouldn’t this open up a debate about having a non-blood sport day each week. We’ll call it a Friendly Forrest Day, so there goes fishing. Seems to me the funds for the study would be better spent in a mandatory annual continuing education program for all hunters.
Alcohol was a contributing factor in the only negative encounters I’ve ever had with hunters, while hunting or fishing. I don’t think in either case those rummed up yahoo’s knew or cared what day it was.
My dad was out deer hunting many years ago and a shot was fired rather close by to where he was. A short time later, probably one of those “yahoo’s” you mentioned, strolled by and asked my dad if he had seen a deer go by. My dad asked if he was the one who just shot and the reply was yes. Dad then asked what he was shooting at and the “yahoo” said, “I don’t know.” When dad asked why not he replied, “Well - I was just taking a SOUND shot!”
When I asked dad what he did after that he said, “I asked the guy which way he was headed and then I went in the opposite direction.”
Don’t know as I’ll live long enough to see the ban on Sunday hunting in Virginia lifted; but, then, some years back never thought I’d see the “Blue Laws” shot down either. Referring to what you could and couldn’t buy on a Sunday in Virginia etc.
Hi GMM,
In my earlier comments about my misadventures, I really should’ve made the point that while these guys were licensed to hunt, they really weren’t hunters or sportsmen.
Something that I can only speculate on, since I don’t try to keep up with the statistics, is that while I live in a state that has a very large land mass and large population. I’d bet that the number of hunters per capita is low here, when compared to your home state. The participants in outdoors activities other than hunting in your state may be much more likely to encounter hunters afield and with that greater frequency comes more reports, concerns and stir. We Californians know a thing or two about creating stir, often over nothing. So believe me when I say, if these encounters were commonplace here, they’d bring Dan Rather out of retirement.
In all honesty, I’ve heard tell of more turmoil on the water between anglers than I ever had about hunters. Then again, with one or both sides being armed, what happens in the sticks, might well stay in the sticks - and that might explain the lack of complainants.
I would suggest an orange vest while making ones way to a trout stream at least. Here in my neck of the woods an orange vest is urged for just taking the dog for a walk!! (yes 2 years ago a man was accidently shot doing just that!)
A scary moment for me was during a Grouse hunt on State Land. I flushed one and my trusty 20 ga. brought it down. Another 30 yards through heavy new growth and I looked up to see a Bow Hunter in full camo in his tree stand. I saw him because he moved, and I knew I had just ruined his chances for a sucessful hunt. It could have been worse, I could have hit him had the flush been closer! I no longer bird hunt during the early bow season.
I always wear the orange hat when fishing during deer season. Never had a close call and hope I never will. Plus, it is a very similar color to some of the sucker spawn I tie for steelhead?maybe it attracts them?
Were they afraid to be out the other 6 days as well?
I’ve always lived in a state that allows hunting 7 days a week. Never thought about it until now - because it has never been an issue. (I have more concerns about a driver with a cell phone on the way to fish, than a hunter once I get there. That said, blaze orange during any hunting season is a resonable thing to wear while fishing)
I wish they’d open Sundays for hunting here…One of the reasons I’m not to sure the price of a hunting licence these days is all that worth it…The Lack of time to get my money’s worth from it…Pretty much limited to one day a week…as it’s dark thirty by the time I get off work during deer season…and most any other season…
I have never even heard of no-hunting Sundays until now. Up here, we certainly have a high number of both fishermen and hunters (although most fishing is done on lakes around here, not small streams).
My vote would be eliminate no-hunting Sundays. Legal hunters have the same rights to the outdoors as legal fishermen, why should they loose a day when there is no no-fishing Saturday.
I think it is the responsibility of the fishermen, when fishing in hunting territory, to protect themselves and wear the orange. Spooking a fish or two is worth your life if you need to be out there.
Likewise, however, if there are hunters who take shots when they are not 100% sure of their target and background, they deserve to have their gunstocks cracked over their heads and shoved up their ‘holsters’. There is absolutely no room for that in the sporting world. If you are not sure of your target, there is an equal chance of the ‘sound’ being a monster buck as there is it being another human. Is is worth the odds? NO WAY!!! If you come across someone who does this, please educate them.
Protect yourself and wear orange, protect others and do not shoot at what you can’t see very clearly.
So called fears about Sunday hunting are silly in my opinion. I have trout fished many times during hunting seasons with no problems. If people want to ban hunting on a Sunday, then why not ban mountain biking once a week or bird watching?
If I recall many hunting bans on Sunday’s were part of so called " Blue Laws" because communities saw Sunday as a day of worhship so no liquor sales hunting or other activities were banned.
We have no-hunting Sundays here in Connecticut and personally I think it’s a great thing.
Fall is a great time to be out enjoying the woods.
Not just for hunters but for everyone.
Familys out walking should not have to fear for their lives.
This is the purpous of having a non-hunting day once a week.
If hunters can’t understand this they are less tolerant than JC and his view on kayaks
I have had a shotgun pointed at my face as I reached the crest of a stream bank .
No harm was done, but during hunting season I always wear an orange hat while out fishing or when ever I’m in the woods…even on sundays.
her ein md we have 2 sundays we are allowed to hunt, in certain counties only. it can only be done on private lands as well.
the biggest reason they give for opening it up all over and on public lands it that its the only day non hunters feel safe in the woods. i can see thier point. but why not open it up on private lands all year on sundays?
i wouldnt go into public lands during hutning season any time of the year. there are too many of those idiots out there. ive seen goats checked in as deer!
there is a happy compromise, its just up to the lawmakers to find it.
As an avid outdoorsmen for the past 43 years I have never heard of any problem between fisherman and hunters. Think about, Sunday is not the only day people fish! In Pa. you can fish year round including hunting seasons (deer, bear, turkey, etc.).
In Pa. we also do not allow hunting on Sunday. As mentioned earlier, it has to do with tradition and the “Blue Laws”. With the new battle cry of our game management officials, “The only good deer is a dead deer!” rumors of Sunday hunting have surfaced.
Now as a very successful deer hunter, I have shot my fair share of deer over the years. Bagged more turkeys than most of my fellow sportman, and shot a couple of bear. Cooked up many a rabbit, squirrel, and pheasant supper. Yes, I enjoy catching and releasing fish but I am not ashamed to keep a few for a meal. I have never found the need for Sunday hunting and actually think it would be odd to do so in Pennsylvania (as I believe it would be odd to NOT do so in other states that allow this practice).
The “Blue Laws”? As a public school teacher for 34 years my experience tells me we parents should worry more about taking our children and grandchildren to church then taking them hunting or fishing on Sunday. Sound “corny”? Trust me, the lack of that activity (church) is starting to over take our schools.
For those who mentioned family fun and not looking down the barrel of a shotgun along with all the crazies hunting out there, you have no idea what your talking about. The vast majority of hunters are well mannered and very safe. I consider these beliefs the same mentality of those that believe every motorcycle rider is a member of Hell’s Angels. My family and I spend a lot of time outdoors and we are aware of what to wear as not to place ourselves in a position of being mistaken for game. Have I run into people that shouldn’t be in the woods? Yes, but I run into some of these types while on the streams that should not themselves fisherman. In fact, I run into people all the time that call themselves parents, citizens, christians, and adults and do not display any of those characteristics.
I think you hit the nail on the head about the “blue laws” etc. I agree with with your assesment of the situation.
Billknepp,
You touched on part of the growing controversy with the cost of licenses going up etc. Virginia hasn’t had a raise in fees in several years; so, they voted to up the price by $5.00. Not bad on the face of it until you realize that if you bow hunt, muzzle hunt, rifle hunt, big game hunt, fish, trout fish, etc. it’s $5.00 bucks a whack! Unfortunately, the Game Dept. only has license fees with which to operate their entire budget process as the state doesn’t give them a cent. In fact, a little while back they were cutting their budget while piling more work on them. If a person only has one day a week to hunt and/or fish it is going to really tick 'em off-rightfully so. Some folks are advocating licenses for mountain bikers, ATV riders, hikers, bird watchers and all the other folks using the great outdoors. Man - will that generate a fire storm.
