The Kent County Commissioners notified Del. Jay Jacobs, R-Kent, on Tuesday that they are withdrawing support of a hunting bill that would add 10 Sundays to the current deer hunting season. The commissioners withdrew their support after an outpouring of opposition from horse riding enthusiasts, farmers, and wildlife watchers who use those hunting free Sundays in the fall to plan activities.
Jacobs told the Spy on Tuesday that he would withdraw the bill upon receipt of a letter.
The Commissioners withdrew their support by a vote of 2-1, with Commissioner William Short still in favor of the bill.
Original story below
Many outdoor enthusiasts in Kent have voiced strong objections to adding ten hunting Sundays during the hunting season — which could adversely mix hunting with horse riding and other outdoor activities — possibly leading to injuries or even fatalities.
“Hunters in Kent County currently have a 126 days of nonstop deer hunting, including three additional Sundays that were granted by executive order…,” said local veterinarian Dr. Judy Tubman of Millington. “And now they want eight more Sundays.”
A bill sponsored by Senator E.J. Pipkin, R-Cecil, is now in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. Under the bill, only two Sundays of the 13-week hunting season would be free of the risk of hunting accidents, according to Tubman.
She said the measure would even allow hunting on the Sunday of Thanksgiving.
“I would love to walk my dogs on my 30 acres that Sunday and have a nice relaxing day—and not have to worry about dodging frickin’ bullets, ” Tubman said.
The bill restricts hunting on those Sundays to private property–with little comfort to opponents.
“Bullets don’t recognize property lines,” Tubman said.
Tubman said she has written Pipkin noting that “two percent of the population would hold the other 98 percent captive and unable to use their farms on those Sundays” if the measure passes.
“I have 15 properties adjoining mine, and when any of them are hunting, I do not ride my horses or walk my dogs, because it will scare the horses, and I or my dogs could get shot at,” Tubman said. “When you have properties adjoining yours, it makes a big difference when people are hunting.”
Of the eight hunting accidents in 2009, seven occurred while deer hunting, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Some of the arguments for the additional Sundays are to better control the deer population, avoid further damage to crops, and bolster economic development in the county.
But an analysis by the Department of Legislation Services estimates only an additional 125 to 200 deer could be harvested if the eight Sundays are approved.
“There are positively no hardcore statistics that say it’s going to decrease the deer population by a huge amount or decrease crop damage,” Tubman said.
The revenue argument has been flatly rejected by opponents. They say the additional revenue pales in comparison to the revenue generated in the state by other outdoor activities, such as wildlife watching, biking, and hiking.
The legislative report also said there would be no measureable economic benefit.
While hunting activities in the state generate about $127 million annually, equestrian and wildlife watching account for $1.26 billion annually, according to census data and data from the 2010 Maryland Equine Census.
A group of Kent residents went to Annapolis to voice strong opposition to the bill at a hearing of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Jan. 23, but Pipkin was not in attendance.
Other Senators sympathetic to opponents of the measure said the best course of action would be to have the Kent County Commissioners make a request of Pipkin to withdraw the bill.
The bill was initiated by Kent County Commissioner Bill Short to further economic development in the county.
There is currently nothing on the issue in the Commissioner’s Agenda for Tuesday, Jan. 29, but opponents are expected to show up and speak during the comment period, Tubman said.
Joe Shmoe says
You can already hunt on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. You should be able to hunt every Sunday during the season, especially on private lands.
Bob Cramer says
They should ban horse riding during hunting season, it scares all the deer away!
Joe Diamond says
Anyone else?
How about the deer numbers? Are eight more days needed to control deer numbers?
This looks like one person making his minor problem an issue for a few more folks?
Anyone else?
Joe
Keith Thompson says
My question is why the opposition is based on Sunday hunting? Other than religious reasons, what sets Sunday apart from any other day? For instance, why would Saturday hunting be more acceptable than Sunday hunting? If the problem is the danger or the annoyance to the public caused by hunters, is the distraction or danger any worse on Sunday? If the objection is due to religious reasons, aren’t we getting into the Constitutionally dangerous territory of legislating religious practice? Do we bring back blue laws next?
Bill Ghio says
It is not Sunday per se, it is that during hunting season the woods behind my house are off limits due to hunting activities. I don’t think having one day a week I can go out there w/o worry is too much to ask.
Keith Thompson says
Yes, but why specifically Sunday? Why not suggest limiting hunting on Saturdays or even Wednesdays? Why not rotate days depending on the week. To specifically suggest Sundays leaves the impression of other motives.
Rory Rivers says
It could be Saturday for all I care… the important thing is that there’s one day a week the rest of us can be out there…
Keith Thompson says
The point here being that having a government entity rule that a specific day of the week is set aside to disallow a specific activity, you run the risk of violating the rights of someone who may not for various reasons be able to participate in said activity on that day. Either hunting is an undesirable activity that shouldn’t be allowed at all, or it’s a beneficial activity that is beneficial seven days a week. By citing Sunday (or any other specific day) as a day to limit such activity, there is likely a motive that is largely unrelated to the concept of hunting rights.
Kevin Shertz says
Captain Obvious, reporting for duty:
Historically in the modern US, most people have worked Monday through Friday, and have had Saturday and Sunday off. The status quo allowed a hunter to hunt on Saturdays and a non-hunter to enjoy the same outdoors on Sunday.
This is the lamest WAR-ON-CHRISTMAS, EVER!
(note: personally I couldn’t care less whether this bill passes or not. Most hunters (and indeed I certainly did when in school and was still an active deer/goose hunter in Cecil/Kent) take time off from their daily routine to go hunting.
Both parties should have a reasonable opportunity to enjoy their circumstances.
Keith Thompson says
Kevin, this is not a War On Christmas argument (or a War Against Christmas argument for that matter)…it’s simply an acknowledgement that when one side wants to restrict the rights of another side there must be a constitutionally valid or non arbitrary reason for applying those restrictions. Sticking to established traditions are usually a good thing unless the origin of those traditions are legally shaky.
Kevin Shertz says
Seems to me you’re going out of your way to manufacture some outrage for this issue.
Why are cold water faucets on the right side of a sink? Um, because cold water was the first development as opposed to hot water, and more people are right-handed than left handed.
D LaMotte says
Good God. What is heavens name is that man hunting? A battalion of enemy forces or a little deer?
Joe Diamond says
Keith,
The Sunday thing is so the game wardens can have some time off. The deer are no big deal…they will wait. Landowners can blast away anytime to protect crops. DNR will issue additional tags to clear problem herds or at least thin them to a good size. Folks can run down a deer with their car if they want.
I suspect this one comes from hunting guides who want another day of shooting on their leased grounds.
Joe
Keith Thompson says
Precisely, this is an economic incentive bill that opens another day for hunting guides especially for a county where hunting is a traditional economic activity. So my question again is why is Sunday designated as the day when hunting is and should be limited? It’s simply a throwback to the archaic and constitutionally questionable concept of blue laws.
Joe Diamond says
D,
A man’s reach should exceed his grasp. But those scopes on a shotgun are just silly, methinks!
Joe
G Denny says
I have heard this comment about the Extending Sunday Hunting issue time and again, that it refers to private land only!! YES- but private land and public land share boundaries! Who wants to find out while riding, walking, bird- watching, etc.- that the rifle slug in the shot gun will not reach them? Or that the person holding that gun knows where the boundary is?!! It is a complicated issue- riders do not want to take a chance with their lives, and hunters want all seven days to enjoy what they do!!… and my husband is a avid hunter- he said ” we have enough days, you should have ONE to enjoy what you want to do, during the hunting season” The ‘Sunday issue’ has nothing to do with religion!
Keith Thompson says
If there’s no religious connotation, why not suggest Saturdays? …or alternating Saturdays and Sundays?
G Denny says
Simple- for years hunting schedules have been Monday- Saturday! Everyone not interested in hunting, have always scheduled outdoor activities around this, with no complaints, during the season. Now a bill has been activated to include Sunday to the already existing schedule- hence, the opposition! Leave it the way it has been for years!
Keith Thompson says
For years, the traditional retail shopping schedule was Monday through Saturday and businesses were off on Sundays. Somewhere along the way, many retailers realized that they could increase their profits if they opened on Sundays but they weren’t allowed to because of the blue laws. Eventually blue laws were either repealed or ruled unconstitutional. The connection here is if hunters are looking to add Sundays to the schedule (whether its for recreational or economic development reasons) it means that traditionally they haven’t been allowed to hunt on Sundays. Why question is why have hunters traditionally not been allowed to hunt on Sundays? If it is not for religious reasons, much like blue laws, then I can’t think of any other reason.
Jack Offett says
I believe that the structure of the industrial American week has included recreational hunting Monday through Saturday and reserving Sunday for family activities, that might include church attendance, ride in country, walk in the woods, or a horseback ride, which is also a Kent County eco-tourism business model. Maybe if we actually practiced this tradition, we would have stronger families enjoying more walks in the woods or horseback rides.
Rory Rivers says
Rhetorical question: Who does this proposed legislation really benefit: the locals who are here all week, or the Pennsylvanian visitors (refraining from “chicken-neckers, carpetbaggers…) who arrive on Friday afternoon in their fancy German cars? Are we so desperate for their affection as to give away our one day to ourselves?
Genuinte question: If the problem is population control, why not extend the season a few weeks into the Spring?
G Denny says
Rory- Or the heat of the summer?
Keith Thompson says
How much money would these Pennsylvanians in their fancy German cars be spending in Kent County if they were allowed to hunt here on Sundays? This is simply the county taking full advantage of one of its traditional economic strengths.
Rory Rivers says
I don’t know how much money they would spend… neither does Senator Pipkin. Hunting is a source of revenue for our farm, but we don’t see a penny of the money that they spend at the no-longer-locally-owned “Molly’s”. What about cutting firewood and improving our woodlot for lumber? Those are economic activities too, and regardless of any safety concerns, I’ve never seen a deer clear the premises faster than at the sound of a chainsaw starting up.
Keith Thompson says
Unless Molly’s is not paying property and business taxes in Kent County, why would it matter if Molly’s isn’t locally owned? If money is being spent in the county that otherwise wouldn’t be spent here, doesn’t the county and all of its residents benefit in some way? You may not directly see a penny of the money spent at Molly’s, but that penny will be reflected in the percentage of your property tax bill that won’t go up thanks to the increase in the county’s tax revenue.
Rory Rivers says
I think it’s unlikely that property values on the 213/298 intersection will see much change because of a few extra Sundays of shooting… Again I don’t doubt there would be some small positive economic impact, but there are negative externalities as well (their cars on our roads an extra day, fire and police, opportunity cost of other economic activities). Are we in such a bad way that we need to pawn off our only day to ourselves?
Keith Thompson says
Rory, you’ve precisely hit upon the crux of the issue. Somehow there’s this idea that allowing an extra day of hunting causes enough negative externalities that disrupts all other activity and that it can’t co-exist with other activity. It’s this same mindset that says that a small airport will disrupt all other activity in the county. It’s the same mindset that says that a Dollar General and/or a Family Dollar store will disrupt other business in Rock Hall. It’s the same mindset that says that a microbrewery will disrupt other activity in the Chestertown Industrial Park. It’s the same mindset that says that first floor residencies on Park Row will disrupt the Farmer’s Market. It’s the same mindset that country music concerts at Hopkins Game Farm on Saturday nights would disrupt all other activity in the area. It’s the mindset where folks complain about the manure smell from the farms in the spring. It’s even the mindset, as pointed out in this thread, that out of town ownership of a business like Molly’s is a problem rather than a economic benefit. This reveals a culture of “no” that focuses on keeping out problems rather than searching for opportunities and figuring out how to make these opportunities co-exist with what is already here. As long as a culture of “no” exists, this area will remain economically disadvantaged.
I’m still amazed that I’m apparently the only person on this thread that believes that somehow hunters can co-exist with all other outdoor recreational activity without having to be legally segregated.
Rory Rivers says
Kieth – not sure that it is the same mindset since all of those other things you mentioned (yes, including Dollar General, one of the the only affordable stores in downtown Chestertown) sound like great ideas to me…
The truth is that you can’t be in the same woods as someone who is deer hunting. The main thing is not the safety concern (although getting shot is something to take seriously, most hunters are very careful, and as is pointed out elsewhere, accidents are rare in Maryland), but the simple fact that you’re going to scare all the deer away!
Kevin Shertz says
The question is, is permitting an activity to occur 6 days out of 7 a reasonable accommodation, and would allowing it on a 7th day would keep people from pursuing other activities. Rifle bullets follow the law of physics, not property lines.
Keith Thompson says
Rory, I’m certainly not suggesting that one can go hiking at the same time as hunters are hunting, but what I’m suggesting is that you find ways to have both parties co-exist on a mutually beneficial basis rather than viewing one another as adversaries.
I grew up in a rural area into a hunting family (although I’m not currently a hunter myself but I did hunt with my father on a few occasions) and what we had was common courtesy. If hunting on a certain property was causing problems, the answer wasn’t to enact legislation that restricted hunting but was a simple meeting among neighbors where differences and compromises would be worked out on a voluntary basis. If common courtesy didn’t work, there would be other ways of dealing with problems usually with law enforcement dealing with jerks as a matter of disturbing the peace. For the most part, hunters are more aware than anyone else of the safety issues surrounding their sport and of the potential nuisance problems they present. You have a few bad apples, but you deal with bad apples on an individual basis and not by restricting the rights of the responsible majority.
As for the economic benefit arguments; the mindset I cite is valid on all counts because for many communities, especially rural ones like Kent County, depends on lots of small things rather than a few big things. You may not see the economic benefit of hunting, someone else may not see the benefit of a Dollar General, and yet someone else may not see the benefit of a brewery; but the potential benefits of each of these things add up. One thing doesn’t move the economic needle much, but lots of little things does move the needle.
G Denny says
The reason it is hard to co-exsist, at the same time? Sure it would scare the deer! But take this for example, most hunters do hunt on private land- and most other activities go on on public land, should not be a problem right? One of the state owned properties we ride on is shaped like a hour glass, with several private farms encircling it, each farm has its deer hunters, some put up specific stands, and tell the renters that is where you go, period. Other private farms let the hunters put up several stands throughout the property. They should be a certain distance from the property line, but not always the case , and sometimes when a deer is wounded, a hunter will track it. Needless to say there are points where a hunt will meet the trails and stands get closer to public land- why take a chance to see if a rifle slug can reach you at all- you dont!
Rory Rivers says
Excuse me while I shake the straw out of my shirt… Things that I am NOT suggesting:
* Enacting legislation to restrict hunting. (My position against the new legislation.)
* That hunters and non-hunters are adversaries.
* That hunters are unaware of safety issues.
* That hunting presents no economic benefit to Kent County.
My economic argument against the proposed new legislation is a purely marginal one. I think that adding an additional day of hunting has more costs than benefits, but that doesn’t mean the same is true of the other six.
Ted Capel says
Researching the Hunting Accident number reported in 2009, I came upon several facts not reported. There were in fact 8 hunting accidents statewide. One was careless handling of a weapon, six were falls from a tree stand, but only one was 2 party involved. A person was struck by a ricochet pellet while retrieving an injured goose on the ice. I fail to see how any of these would involve Sunday Hunting.
G Denny says
Why not so many accidents?- probably because most people respect the fact that hunters are out and stay out of their way, with no complaints for the most part. But Sundays have traditionally been hunt free, and alot of people are out and about. I ride my horse every Sunday, we share our trails with walkers, dog walkers, bikers, Bird-watchers, and hikers, Boy and Girl scout campers. We do this with absolutely no conflict! That is alot of people! We go to a state or County owned land park, for the most part, our horse group alone has people of every age group and over two hundred members from Maryland and Delaware, most rides include avg 6-30 riders, and several groups can visit parks the same day. Economically, we spend our money here in the county we live in- we buy grain at 15-30 $ a bag at our local co-op. We fill our diesels or large engine trucks to pull our trailers, here in town. We buy our hay, from our local farmers as much as possible. We are not out to change or take anything from hunters, my husband and son both are avid hunters, just want to leave things the way they have been for years, no change.
Joe Diamond says
All right Ted,
This is how it starts. First someone does some analysis. Another considers the source…….soon truth will be required.
John ( below) has the right idea………..but this place just is not great deer hunting ground. Deer are a nice sideline………nice to have some in the freezer……but not worth the trip just for deer.
Good idea to look at all this…………..I am intrigued by the idea of deer hunt from horses with dogs every Sunday. I remember encountering some on horses hunting foxes with horses and funny costumes once………didn’t see any guns and their dogs were blown out…………asked them to stay the hell off the crop fields because the foxes were in the brush anyway.
I see a day when one can rent a horse and a spear and run down deer on Sunday after church.
Joe
Keith Thompson says
Joe writes, “but this place just is not great deer hunting ground. Deer are a nice sideline………nice to have some in the freezer……but not worth the trip just for deer.”
Hmm, it may just be coincidence but I’ve spent most of my childhood living in rural southwestern Virginia with frequent trips to extremely rural West Virginia and my father has never hit a deer with any of his vehicles nor did I ever hit one with any of my vehicles when I was living down there. I moved to Maryland (Bel Air) in ’92 and then Middletown in ’95. I started working in Chestertown in 2007. Since 2009, I have hit three deer with my vehicles, two within a span of a couple of weeks last summer, meaning the only time I’ve had deer collisions is in Kent County. One of the greatest fears of folks I know who live in Kent County is that they’ll hit a deer with their vehicles. I know that around the time of my deer accidents last summer, work on my vehicle was slowed because of a rash of deer collisions in the county. Seems that Kent County would be rather good deer hunting ground to me.
Joe Diamond says
Keith,
You would think so but there is a difference between having deer present and being able to hunt them. The deer move from enclave to enclave by crossing roads. But that is not the same as good hunting ground. Deer seek wooded tracts with food and concealment. Here the crop fields are something they avoid during the day so you get moving deer right about the time people are driving to or from work.
The DNR has some survey numbers on the ideal vs the actual number of deer around here. I have never seen a count of hunting sites but mt sense is that there is an insufficient number to control the deer population.
Joe
John Mann says
Why does Saturday make more sense for hunting than Sunday?
Well, if you’re coming from out of town, you’ll probably arrive Friday night (possibly paying to lodge somewhere), hunt all day Saturday (possibly paying for another night’s lodging), and then travel home on Sunday.
If Saturday became the new “no hunting” day it would be less convenient for out-of-towners, and therefore less likely that they’d bring their business here.
As far as alternating Saturdays and Sundays… that just increases the chance that some party will get their weeks mixed up and be out there at a time when they shouldn’t.
K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, stupid). Sundays: no hunting! For me personally, I enjoy spending that day in my “church”, the woods!
Keith Thompson says
John, thank you for presenting the first logical reason I’ve read for Sunday hunting restrictions. To me, a more logical idea would be for those who are hunters and those who enjoy other outdoor recreation to learn to work together so that both sides don’t encroach on one another and respect each other’s boundaries. Of course, to do this is it would require the two competing groups to show some self responsiblity and mutual understanding in order to find a compromise (and we all know how difficult it is to do that in this day and age).
Kevin Shertz says
Seems to be most people in this commentary have been able to solve this issue quite well — that the status quo is adequate.
Keith Thompson says
When a problem is solved to satisfaction, it doesn’t require legislation. Whenever there is a conflict between the rights of two separate groups, the easy thing to do is enact legislation which generally results in one group’s rights being limited at the expense of another. True conflict resolution allows everyone to co-exist without rights being taken away which is harder to do. This conflict over rights is a microcosm of the direction we’re heading on the Eastern Shore as well as nationally, where getting your way through legislation is preferable to working out these issues independently. If the status quo is adequate, this story nor this thread would exist.
G Denny says
Keith- I agree, how much easier than to hunt Saturday, all others do what you want on Sunday? My life revolves around both hunting and riding, and the current schedule has worked for years.
Keith Thompson says
Apparently the current schedule it’s not working for everyone, thus the political debate over this issue. Whatever happened to the idea of having both sides co-exist and recognize each other’s rights without resorting to legislation to get their way? I simply want hunting critics to define why it is necessary to keep legislation on the books that limit hunting rights or the property rights of those who profit from hunting on their land.
Kevin Shertz says
Debate? Somebody introduced a bill. That’s all.
Stu Cawley says
I’m w/ Kevin (& a host of others ) here. One bill sponsored by Pipkin in no way means that the status quo re. hunting days is wholly inadequate. Keith, you keep hammering at how hunters’ & property owners’ rights are being ltd (& unfairly so, w/ your really-stretching-it Blue Laws logic) if they’re not allowed to get these extra sundays. Can you really not see that allowing hunting 6 days/wk is already a really good deal for hunters & that non-hunters having to give up their ONE DAY A WEEK of getting to enjoy the outdoors safely constitutes a major violation of THEIR rights? Despite property boundaries, the two land uses are mutually incompatible. Bullets don’t respect boundaries, &, even if 2-party hunting accidents are few in #, nobody wants to be (or wants their dog or horse to be) amongst that #. I’m sorry if 6 days out of 7 isn’t enough for you, but I’m worried that if pipkin’s bill passes you’ll soon be pushing for 8.
Keith Thompson says
Stu, if the argument is that bullets don’t respect boundaries and that somehow hunting is disruptive and hazardous to all other outdoor activity, then perhaps hunting should be banned altogether.
Joe Schmo says
What about just allowing bow hunting on private lands on Sunday? Arguments against this??
Kevin Shertz says
Already allowed. Bows are neither noisy nor capable of traveling thousands of feet onto someone else’s land.
Next question….
Joe Schmo says
Um… Not allowed in Kent County except for first Sunday in November and during shotgun the Sunday after Thanksgiving…
Kevin Shertz says
So your point is… confirming it’s allowed already during both bow and firearms season, yes?
Next question…
Bob says
Kevin,
I think he is just trying to say that you can’t bow hunt every Sunday. Bow hunting is only allowed one Sunday, and that is on private property only. I think allowing bow hunting on every Sunday would be a great compromise.
Judy Tubman says
In an effort to help those that are not familiar with horses. Horses will often spook badly when smelling or seeing a bow or gun hunter (because of the scent they apply to their cloths). Spooking can result in a rider falling off & breaking a bone or many bones. The point being that if bow or gun deer hunters are in the woods etc. dogs, horses, smell them & are frightened by them thus disrupting both parties.
Kieth your assessment that ” the current schedule is not working for everyone” is correct in that it is not working for one person & that is Billy Short. The current schedule has worked & is working just fine. Those of us that enjoy other outdoor activities other then deer hunting would simply like the common courtesy to continue to have one day a week to do so. That is NOT asking too much. We are not asking to have anything taken away from any hunters. We only want to see the schedule remain the same.
All hunting in Maryland combined generates 127 million in revenue. Equine related activities & wildlife watching generates 1.227 BILLION in revenue. If you allow 10 more days of deer hunting (the correct number of days added would be 10 per Billy Short at the past County Commissioners meeting) & thus suppress Equine & Wildlife activities on those 10 days it does not take an economics major to understand the negative economic impact.
DLaMotte says
Thank you, Judy. Very well said.
Keith Thompson says
Judy, here’s a simple question…where is the equestrian activity happening? If it is happening in public areas, then there should be very little fear of having equestrian activity happening near hunting activity, unless hunters are being wildly irresponsible (and if they are, this is a public safety and a public nuisance problem). Otherwise, equestrian activity is happening on private property, just as hunting is happening on private property. A hunter (unless he/she is hunting on their own property) is required to obtain permission from the property owner in order to hunt on the property. If there is no permission granted, the hunter is trespassing. The same holds true for equestrians; unless you are riding your own on your own property, you must obtain permission to ride on private property or you’re trespassing. It seems that many folks have this notion that somehow this idea has crept in that one automatically has the right to enjoy the great outdoors without interference without accepting that much of the great outdoors is privately owned property. I will grant that, yes there can be instances where you may have adjoining properties where you may have hunting bumping up against equestrian activities, bird watching, etc.; however in a country that supposedly prides itself on liberty and personal responsiblity, potential conflicts should be dealt with on a voluntary basis neighbor by neighbor. The fact that rules have been legislated that effectively segregates the activities reveals a cultural divide within the county and ultimately has the effect of reducing property rights (and values) and negatively affects the county’s economy.
As for your figures that all hunting in Maryland combined generates 127 million in revenue and equine related activities & wildlife watching generates 1.227 billion in revenue…I don’t argue with the numbers as far as the state of Maryland is concerned, however those economic figures have very little to do with Kent County (unless you figure that Kent County is getting back its fair share from the state which is a laughable assertion). The fact is that if you can encourage MORE of ALL of these activities in the county whether it’s hunting, equestrian, bird-watching, etc. it helps the county’s economic bottom line. As soon as you start weighing one as more important than the other, you automatically limit your economic options. This county’s economic strength is its rural heritage and like it or not, hunting is a vital component of a rural culture and a rural economy.
As for your figures that
Bob Schauber says
Not all hunters put scent on their clothing. And when they do it is usually only deer or fox urine. I have never seen a horse spook from seeing or smelling a hunter, people out west hunt using horses! People that run dogs with horses meanwhile have a very negative effect on hunters trying to deer hunt. The horses and dogs often scare deer away from a property, and when the deer do return it takes days for them to return to their normal patterns. I think a good compromise would be to only allow Sunday hunting on private property. That way if you own property and would like to hunt or ride horses on your privately owned property you can. I think if a little common sense was used this issue could be a non issue, but then that would be to easy!
Matt Gerstung says
How many reports have been filed this year by local law enforcement regarding hunting and public safety as it pertains to horses and their riders? Are there statistics that show a greater threat to the public in areas where hunting is allowed on Sunday verses any other day of the week?
As far as schedules are concerned it would depend on what is “the common good” and how it relates to public health. Is horse back riding safer on Sunday verses Monday for example?
I hope this process is not going to be decided on who makes more money but one has to generate more tax revenue then the other nationally.
Joe Diamond says
As this one drifts off……….RIFLED SLUGS are deer ammunition and have a groove manufactured into them to make them spin in the low range tubes
(shotguns) in which they are used.
RIFLES are long guns with a groove built into the barrel to make a bullet spin. These are very long range and not allowed
for hunting here.
on the Eastern Shore because of their long range. They are allowed and used in Western MD because of the hill country that will
limit their range
BOTH are very dangerous in the wrong hands.
But for the purpose of this discussion it should be remembered that most deer hunters sit in trees and shoot down on deer who do
not look up.
The picture attached to the initial article has several misleading flaws. Deer hunters BY LAW must wear hunter red to
show their position to other hunters…….the camo is illegal for deer hunting here.
As DLaMonte pointed out….those sights are way too strong for shotgun hunters. Most deer kills could be made by throwing a rock
because it is best to take the aimed shot at close range from above. Even with the rifled slugs, deer hunters do not / should not
take the long shots.
I submit this just to clarify what has been said in the thoughtful comments of others.
Joe
Bob Schauber says
Rifles can be used in Cecil and Dorchester counties. The modern rifled deer slugs are accurate up to 150 yards, muzzle loaders out to 200 yards. A lot of deer hunters now use ground blinds to hunt out of as well. Most muzzle loaders are equipped with scopes. Most hunters wear camouflage, with a blaze orange hat or vest as required by dnr. Bow hunters are not required to wear any blaze orange at all. I submit this just to clarify what has been said in the thoughtful comments of others.
Joe Diamond says
Ah,
Forgot about muzzle loaders! They will reach out and touch you. They are fifty cal and very powerful. Shooting them from a pit is just not smart unless you can see well beyond your kill zone. They are single shot, sound like a cannon and can benefit from an advanced sight. There are no accidental shots with them….you have to load each round and better not leave one loaded from season to season.
Also….I can see Cecil County maybe a little……..many trees & hills but also many people…rifles there? Really!
Dorchester, yeah ok! Few folks.
Joe
Edwin Obrecht says
I have owned a farm in Kent County for 41 years. In that time there has never been a horse on this property. You have been able to hunt “Thanksgiving Sunday” for the past several years…..no horses or dogs have been shot…..
D LaMotte says
Citizens would like one day a week without having to worry about hunters in the woods. Who cares if it is for riding, walking, running or
wanting all animals to be able to relax….please do not attach economics to everything. This is not too much to ask. We ALL share
This area.
Bob Schauber says
You can run, ride, walk, and let animals relax on your own privately owned property. Let me hunt on mine. Sundays are the only days that I have off work, it would be great to be able to take my children hunting with me. i am sure there are lots of other hunters in our area that are in the same situation. I think it would be a bad idea to allow Sunday hunting on public land. the public land should be set aside for people who would like to enjoy the outdoors while not having to worry about hunters. I agree that attaching economics to the issue is lame at best. It just seems that the only way to get our government to take any kind of action you have to make it seem as if there is something in it for them. I hope we can come up with a great common sense solution that we can all be happy with.
Keith Thompson says
Bob, if you can’t hunt I guess you can always set aside Sundays for skeet shooting or target practice on your private property.
Sunday Shooter says
Since I can’t hunt on Sundays next year, guess Ill just use them as days for shooting clay birds and target practice…
D LaMotte says
There, now everyone should be happy!
Brandy Pinder says
Thank you to the Kent County Commissioners that did not support this bill and to Jay Jacobs for the same.
Matt Gerstung says
“Can’t “County Maryland. Slow to no change. Will those brave commissioners that voted no on this bill propose a balanced budget with no tax increases this year? HELL NO !! Two proposals for expanding growth were shot down last week, hunting on Sundays and moorings. Time for a change Kent. Two more years to go. Soon Mr. Pickrum will get everyone worried that we have to cut the school budget, parks and police. “These are peoples jobs” will be the statements. We all heard it before. Commissioner Short, good luck “budget cut hunting.” Not going to happen with this group but thanks for promoting growth in our private industries and giving Kent County courage to move in new directions.