Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I'm probably beating a dead horse, but....

What is the rationale for this policy in this state? I bought a license for the first time since moving here a handful of years ago and am surprised to see that you can't hunt on Sundays. I guess that what were going to be my weekend hunting trips now will be day-only trips. My apologies to campgrounds, motels, gas stations, and other attractions where I would likely have spent a couple dollars during weekend hunting trips.

That still baffles me, but it's a blue law leftover from the past. And then some representatives (party starts with a D) in Richmond felt the animals needed a break so they kept it. It goes up every year to drop the no Sunday hunting reg but it keeps getting shot down.

Jim

I doubt if hunting on sundays will ever happen in Virginia. You can coon hunt 'til 2:00am and hunt on licensed game preserves ( released birds ). Every time it tries to get on a ballot the hard core bible thumpers raise hell.

That really is strange. I say that many feel closer to god to out hunting than anywhere else.

It's like this in North Carolina too. At least it used to be when I hunted there with my dad when I was younger. Never made much sense to me either.

lonestarag wrote:What is the rationale for this policy in this state? I bought a license for the first time since moving here a handful of years ago and am surprised to see that you can't hunt on Sundays.

You in the south now boy. Sundays are for church.

Legislatively Virginia should be adjacent to the gulf of Mexico on many issues... Sunday hunting is just one of them

There's no law against shooting on Sunday but I don't do it. Like my neighbors or don't like my neighbors, I give 'em a break from the noise one day a week. Sundays are a special day for some folks, so that is the day.

Like this in many states....maryland is another...but what really gets me is in VA you have to go to a special store to buy a bottle of Jack but you can carry a gun...in maryland you cant carry a gun but you can pull up to any number of drive through liquor stores and get a pint of Jack and a cup full of ice...

zephyp wrote:Like this in many states....maryland is another...but what really gets me is in VA you have to go to a special store to buy a bottle of Jack but you can carry a gun...in maryland you cant carry a gun but you can pull up to any number of drive through liquor stores and get a pint of Jack and a cup full of ice...

I love that each State gets to decide on the liquor.

It is the responsibility of the State to safeguard the morality of its subjects.

Diomed wrote:It is the responsibility of the State to safeguard the morality of its subjects.

Indeed and dont I feel quite moral this fine Sunday morning thinking about how its illegal to go hunting right now...

Well I did buy two boxes of shells at Wally World in Fredricksburg on my way to Phelps WMA on Sat morning. Hey, I'm trying to "spread the wealth around..."

When would Jebus hunt? Our betters seem to know.

Sporadically, an effort is mounted to lift the ban on Sunday hunting. The last effort (4-5 years ago) got smacked downs so hard, that the proponents basically gave up.

While the VDGIF technically has the authority to allow Sunday hunting, it has taken the position that it won't unless the legislature authorizes it.

In the past, farmers have been the most vocal opponents to Sunday hunting. More recently they have been joined by a sizeable number of non-hunting "towners" that have moved to the country. Since the rurual areas pretty much control the VDGIF, and there is no "need" for Sunday hunting in the rural areas, the pressure to change it isn't there and even discussing it brings up a hornet's nest of opposition.

Some of the arguments range from the ignorant, "give the animals a day of rest", to the tailiban like Christians, "Sunday is for church", others include the mess hunters leave behind, the trespassing, and noise and trouble. Even bird watchers have chimed in that with hunting seasons so long now, there is no day except Sunday when they can enjoy the woods in the fall.

Some states, like West Virginia, have made Sunday hunting a local county option. Most counties there still don't allow it.

Out West this really isn't an issue. In the East arguements for changing include increasing hunting days for working families, assiting hunters from urban areas, improving youth opportunities, esp since most school activities or sports wipe out Saturdays for kids in the fall.

The professional wildlife mangers support Sunday hunting. They know it will help control the populations such as deer which are out of control. But on an even more basic level it will delay the inevitable collapse of our modern hunting/game management system. The fact is the number of hunters is drastically declining. The number of license purchases is drastically declining. The professional wildlife mangers are trying every thing they can to help slow these declines and Sunday hunting is a great tool and resource in their view.

Hunting management as we know it is in a death spire. Read the statistics and weep.

Good point but the DGIF has already said that if sunday hunting is allowed the season will be shortened to make up for the added days.

Vahunter wrote:Good point but the DGIF has already said that if sunday hunting is allowed the season will be shortened to make up for the added days.

Their goal is to preserve the King's game. The fact that there's too much damn game matters little when it's an issue of bureaucratic turf.

We are making a major push this year for Sunday hunting. Obviously, we can use all the help/support we can get.

Check out our webpage for more information http://www.VirginiaDelta.org

We have a Delegate and Senator introducing sister bills this coming session. We have some major support behind us on this and are making some headway. We had a meeting tonight that, let's just say, was VERY encouraging. Shoot me an email if you are interested in helping or want to stay alert at NVCDeltaConservation@gmail.com

Thanks

I am sure I will see some of yall at the IWLA in Centreville on the rifle or skeet range.