MOS OPPOSES Sunday Hunting
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Wed, 3 Mar 1999 04:30:23 -0500
Dear Friends:
Attached is the stance of the Maryland Ornithological Society with
regard to the proposed hunting on Sundays in Maryland. Please try to
circulate it as widely as possible to your members and to your friends.
You can write to your State Senator and Congressman electronically at
http://mlis.state.md.us EVERY letter and e-mail counts! We must be
heard on this critical issue!
Thank you!
Norm Saunders
Legislative Alert:
Notice to all MOS Chapters and interested conservation groups:
Hunting on Sunday bills to be heard in Maryland Legislature this week
Two companion bills, HB 906 and SB 566 entitled "Sunday Hunting-
Forest Game Birds and Mammals" will be heard in the Maryland
Legislature this week: HB 906, Del Weir, Guns, et al. in Environmental
Matters on Thurs, March 5, 1pm; and SB 566, Sen Collins in Economic
and Environmental Affairs on Fri, March 6, 1pm.
The Maryland Ornithological Society OPPOSES HB 906/SB 566 for the
following reasons:
Maryland has had a long history of not allowing hunting on Sundays.
This tradition and law have been valued by a vast majority of citizens
who know that they can hike, birdwatch, cycle, walk, run, horseback ride,
and simply enjoy Maryland's abundant natural resources without fear for
themselves, their families, and the wildlife they wish to enjoy. Sundays
are a day that can be spent in the out-of-doors without fear, and citizens
have a right to that simple pleasure.
Non-consumptive outdoor recreation activities, which by their nature are
silent, such as birdwatching, nature-study, hiking, and other similar
pursuits, are inherently incompatible with hunting of forest game birds
and mammals in the same areas. The non-hunting public, which far
outnumbers the hunting public, has a right to use and enjoy public
lands, as well as private lands, without fear or concern for safety for one
day per week.
Many citizens recreate in the out of doors on Sundays during the fall and
winter months precisely because it is one of the most enjoyable seasons
to be there. There are no objectionable insects, poisionous plants, or
oppressive heat to contend with. Wildlife can be enjoyed by all in a non-
consumptive manner.
Sound principles of game management dictate that allowing "days-off"
reduces hunting pressure on wildlife and also benefits non-game
species. No hunting on Sundays is an effective and beneficial way to
maximize wildlife stocks and better protect threatened, rare, and
endangered species in the same habitat.
The economic benefits that might accrue from allowing hunting on
Sundays for a limited sector of the population are far outweighed by the
much greater benefits to all sectors of the State's economy that occur
from increased tourism, outdoor recreation, and nature related activities
on the Sundays proposed for hunting.
The Maryland Ornithological Society is particularly concerned with the
negative impacts of increasing deer populations on the habitats of game
and non-game bird species in certain areas of Maryland and supports
effective, proven methods to reduce the negative impacts of
overpopulation of deer in such areas. MOS does not support the
provisions of these bills to allow hunting of forest game birds and
mammals on Sundays during hunting seasons.
For the reasons listed above, and others, the Maryland Ornithological
Society firmly OPPOSES HB 906/SB 566, and calls on Maryland
legislators to disapprove any legislation to allow hunting on Sundays in
Maryland.
Prepared by Richard J. Dolesh, Conservation Committee Chair, Maryland
Ornithological Society
March 1, 1999
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Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net