Contact: Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States
On June 18, the bipartisan and bicameral Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its Annual Cigar Reception at the Susquehanna Ale House in Harrisburg, where an important Sunday hunting-related bill was discussed.
Over 40 members of the Caucus were joined by Directors and staff members from both the Fish and Boat Commission and the Game Commission, as well as state and national partners from numerous conservation organizations and allied industry partners. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Senior Director, Northeastern States, Brent Miller, provided remarks during the event program.
A key topic of discussion at the event was the positive movement on Senate Bill 147, sponsored by Caucus Co-Chair Senator Daniel Laughlin and cosponsored by Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jim Brewster, which was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee a few hours earlier. The bill will now be considered by the Senate during the week of June 24.
“I am happy the Appropriations Committee realized the benefits of allowing Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Brewster in a recent statement. “Increased tourism to our state game lands, increased revenue from hunting licenses, and providing working hunters a little extra time to enjoy their sport are all positive impacts of SB147.”
The following groups were instrumental in their support of this event: Alta Resources, LLC; Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation; Chief Oil & Gas, LLC; Energy Transfer; Keystone Elk Country Alliance; Henderson Consulting; Hunters Sharing the Harvest; Hunters United for Sunday Hunting; Kline Associates, Ltd.; Marcellus Shale Coalition; National Rifle Association; Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Pennsylvania Game Commission; Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen & Conservationists; Range Resources; Reynolds American, Inc.; Safari Club International – Pennsylvania Chapters; Seneca Resources; Southwestern Energy; United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania; UGI Energy Services; and, Williams Partners, L.P.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
