Jun 5, 2011 By Rod Schoener 3 min read

?Sunday hunting has been a hot topic for many years.

Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that do not allow Sunday hunting.

Battle lines have been forming for years with those in favor of Sunday hunting on one side and those opposed to it on the other.

Both sides have distinct opinions.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the biggest opponent of Sunday hunting.

After sitting down for lunch with a group of area farmers a couple years ago, I can clearly see why they are opposed to it.

As a kid, my buddies and I hunted crows and groundhogs on Sunday, but, most of the time, we were were the only hunters to be found.

Opening Sunday hunting for all species may not be good.

The farmers I broke bread with were all in agreement that if Sunday hunting were put in place, they would post their property to all hunting.

In my opinion Pennsylvania hunters have more to lose than to gain if hunting is allowed on Sunday.

State Game Lands are already under extreme hunting pressure six days a week because of posting and development.

A large amount of the posting is being done by hunters, many who lease private property for their own use.

Some are individuals and others belong to hunting and sportsmen’s clubs, but still the property can only be used by select individuals.

If they want to hunt their posted land on Sunday, let them do it, but private hunting lands should be open for Sunday hunting at the discretion of the landowner, and trespass laws should be rigidly enforced.

I enjoy hunting as much as the next guy, maybe more than some.

As I get older, my hunting habits change, but I never had real desire to hunt on Sunday.

I don’t want to take sides one way or the other.

There is probably a good side to Sunday hunting.

We just have to weigh the good points against the bad.

I’m pulling for the resource. Ecosystems are fragile, and the resource is already under a great deal of pressure — especially the whitetail deer.

We have to move cautiously when addressing Sunday hunting.

House Bill 779 would repeal the Sunday hunting ban that is now in effect. The bill would allow the Game Commission to make Sunday hunting regulations as it sees fit.

If you would like to express your opinion and hear what others have to say on the topic you will have your chance this Thursday (June 9) when the Game and Fisheries Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives holds a public hearing on Sunday Hunting at Seven Springs Resort.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30?p.m. At the Wintergreen Room, 777 Waterwheel Drive.

The meeting was announced in a Legal Notice in last Friday’s Herald-Standard.