Sunday Hunting Series… Part 1..Where I Stand
This is the first part in a series I’ll do over the next little bit
North Carolina along with a handful of states still does not allow hunting on Sundays and in hunting circles it is a divisive topic. My series of posts will focus mostly on the issue here in North Carolina but I’m sure the issues are the same else where. From the onset I must say that I’m for the most part opposed to lifting the ban but at the same time I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
Currently with the way things are other land users can get out and enjoy the outdoors with little fear of getting shot. Now I know that even during a hunting day the risk of such an accident is extremely low but we as hunters have allowed this fallacy to be painted of us and in many cases we have contributed to it;
“I got to find some private land to hunt cause it’s dangerous on Game Lands”
“Even if you don’t hunt you should wear bright clothing when you go walking because it’s hunting season”
I’m sure you’ve heard this said and maybe out of your mouth a time or two. The facts are that here in North Carolina you are far more likely to be involved in a hunting accident on private land then on public lands. That is certainly not the perception one gets when talking with hunters or reading posts on hunting message boards.
Wearing bright clothing makes you safer…. Really? I’m not so sure about that. If you know how to handle a firearm you know that one of the cardinal rules is “know your target and what is beyond it” you never shoot your weapon until you have properly identified your target. I believe that bright colored clothing only makes unsafe hunters safer and they really shouldn’t be in the woods anyways. The message you send to the non hunting community is that all hunters are unsafe because they will not properly identify their target before shooting.
When you have a deer season that currently runs September to January and a turkey season that runs April-May with only Sundays off for other land users to enjoy the outdoors I find it hard to support taking that day away. The Fall and Spring are the best times to really enjoy the outdoors here without the cold or the heat the other seasons bring.
I’m not sure how many stories I’ll have in this series but I welcome your comments just keep them civil. In the next few days I’ll respond to the Separation of Church & State Issues.
Sunday Hunting Stories I’ve Written
Did you enjoy this article? Check out these:
Did you enjoy this article? Check out these:
Add to:
...............
Moose, I look forward to hearing more opinions on this one.
Like you, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, but I’m on the other side of the fence when it comes to allowing Sunday hunting… I’d like to see it.
To be honest, it’s as much a selfish reason as anything else. When I travel home to visit, I usually don’t have as much time to get in the woods as I’d like to. Adding a Sunday to the mix would let me get back and enjoy the hunt with my brother and friends.
I’d extend this to any other out-of-state hunters as well. I don’t think NC makes a ton of money off of non-resident hunters, so it’s probably not a huge issue. Even so, those who do travel to the state could enjoy the additional day of hunting.
But, to me it’s really not that huge of a deal. I grew up with the Blue Laws, and while I saw some of them evolve over time, there’s a lot of support for keeping the remaining laws intact. It should be up to the citizens, the People, of the state.
Put it on the ballot. If it falls, it falls. The people will have spoken.
Comment by Phillip — November 26, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
[...] Sunday Hunting Part 1 1st Amendment, Blue Laws, First Amendment, Judaeo Christian principles, North Carolina Wildlife Commission, Separation of Church and State, Sunday Hunting Laws Posted under Sunday Hunting, Politics, Faith | Add to: …………… [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Sunday Hunting Part 2 “Separation of Church & State” — November 26, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
Moose,
You and I go way back on this topic. Both of us have been on hunting forums together for sometime and have heard just about every “excuse” as to why we should or should not allow Sunday Hunting here in NC.
As you know, I’ve always tried to keep my arguments factual and civil on the matter although at times I may get pushy when asking for facts rather than “opinions” when it comes to lifting the ban. I’ve read much of the same posts as you have over the years and quite frankly I don’t think there is anything anyone can say that we’ve not stumbled upon over at the hunting forums.
Now here comes my criticism.
Although the study was pointed towards allowing Sunday Hunting on Gamelands, you’re comment here……”Currently with the way things are other land users can get out and enjoy the outdoors with little fear of getting shot. Now I know that even during a hunting day the risk of such an accident is extremely low but we as hunters have allowed this fallacy to be painted of us and in many cases we have contributed to it;”……really has me wanting to ask you a few questions.
I’m in control of several hundred acres where I hunt, I am a landowner myself, the other landowners that make up the remainder of the land have turned the land over to us and do not even live on the property. Is it fair to tell a private landowner that because other landowners would like to utilize their land on Sundays you can not hunt on your own land due to the “fear” of them getting shot?
I can understand the ban on Gamelands but in no way can I understand the ban on private land. If the land is leased by hunters, ultimately the final say so would be by the landowner. If Sunday Hunting were lifted in no way does this obligate a landowner to allow it. I know of many clubs in SC and GA where even though it’s legal the landowners don’t allow it. This is by choice. Something I feel everyone should have, a choice, whether to hunt or not. I guess if everything else was still “banned” on Sundays I wouldnt have such a problem with it, but, when a man can stand in line at the grocery store and wait till 12 noon to grab a 12 pack on Sunday, or hit the lake and bassfish, one would think that a private landowner could take his/her grandson out on an afternoon squirrel hunt after church. Thanks for the conversation Moose. Brad
Comment by Southern Adventures — November 27, 2007 @ 12:11 am
Brad, I believe this is the approach that South Carolina took, allowing Sunday hunting on private land, but not on public.
In a pinch, that’s fine and good. Definitely better than nothing.
I can’t remember… has this gone onto the ballot in NC yet?
Comment by Phillip — November 27, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
It has not been on the ballot nor will it. The system here requires the legislators as our elected representatives to change this. Currently there is not overwhelming support by the citizens of this state to compel legislators to even attempt to make a change. There isn’t even support among the hunters of this state to make this change.
Comment by Moose — November 27, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
Well, I guess if the majority of hunters don’t want it, then that oughtta be it. It’s up to the people to move this sort of thing… or it should be.
Comment by Phillip — November 27, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
The study showed that 25 % of NC Citizens are in favor of allowing Sunday Hunting. Among hunters it rises to 38%. Needless to say not overwhelming support by any stretch. http://www.ncwildlife.org/news_stories/pg00_NewsRelease/SundayHuntingStudyNov06.pdf
Comment by Moose — November 27, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Wonder what effects the eastern part of the state had on this study? I know in my district here we had very little non-supporters. Id be curious if dog hunting came into play when some folks spoke out against it. I know you’d have landowners far and wide around here screaming bloody murder if we still had dog hunting.
Comment by Southern Adventures — November 27, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
If that was the case then one would expect the hunters number would have been skewed the other way.
Comment by Moose — November 27, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
[...] debate about that here in North Carolina. If you’re just joining us please be sure to check out part 1 and part [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Sunday Hunting Series… Part 3.. Give Landowners the Right to Decide — November 29, 2007 @ 12:31 am
[...] Sunday Hunting Series… Part 1..Where I Stand [...]
Pingback by hunting land — December 9, 2007 @ 3:52 pm