As this column is being penned, Governor Terry McAuliffe
awaits the arrival of a bill that will legalize Sunday hunting on private land
in Virginia—a bill he previously indicated he will sign into law.
House Bill 1237 (HB 1237), which has a twin in the Virginia
Senate (SB 154), was introduced and passed by the Virginia House of Delegates
last month by a vote of 71-27 and moved on to the Senate for approval. On Feb. 18, the Senate responded with a vote
of 28-11 in favor of the bill.
Governor McAuliffe, whose signature represents the last
obstacle for the bill, has been a supporter of Sunday hunting during his term,
and revealed through a spokesperson that he intends to grant his signature to
either bill when they land on his desk.
The ban on Sunday hunting historically belongs to a group of
regulations called “blue laws,” laws that restrict certain activities on the
Sabbath day, such as operating a retail store or the sale of alcohol. The blue
law on hunting was established in Virginia in the early 1900s, and has seen
growing opposition in recent years.
Finally in 2012, Sunday hunting activists had a breakthrough, as a bill
was passed in the Senate, only to be shot down in the House by an opposing
subcommittee. Heading into 2014 with a
fresh batch of executive and legislative officials taking seats in Richmond, and
with legislation already being passed, the future for Sunday hunting looks
promising.
With the bill’s passage, more hardworking Virginian’s will
be able to find the time and energy to hunt on the weekends, rather than have
to sacrifice a time-honored tradition to recuperate and prepare for the week
ahead. More kids will become involved
with hunting, as their parents find the time to introduce them. This will in turn result in the sale of more
hunting licenses and increased funds available to the Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries for managing and improving game populations and habitat.
On the contrary, the majority of the bill’s opposition comes
in the form of non-hunters. Trail
runners, bird watchers, horseback riders, and other non-hunting outdoorspeople
argue that Sunday is a safe day to be in the woods during hunting season, and
has been traditionally in Virginia for the past 100 years.
While I certainly understand this position, and recognize
regrettably that not all hunters are safe hunters, by my experience, the
majority of hunters are quite responsible and courteous. Just as the deer and bear hunters of the
national forests and wildlife management areas sometimes must share the woods
with fishermen in the fall, fishermen, small game hunters, hikers, equestrians,
and photographers all too must learn to respect the others’ space and right to
the woods. They must don blaze orange in
recognition of that seasonal relationship, and do their best to maintain a safe
and effective cushion. Those that hunt
on public land accept in doing so the possibility of crossing paths with
another sportsman. If that doesn’t
satisfy, consider private land or public areas where hunting is prohibited. It works for the majority of the country.
Overall, if (or when) this bill is signed into law, I firmly
believe that both the sporting public and wildlife will benefit.
Originally published in the Rural Virginian
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