Sunday hunting is no cure-all
By Marlene A. Condon
In 2012, Virginians spoke loudly and clearly to let state legislators know that they did not want hunting expanded from six days a week to seven by allowing Sunday hunting. Yet now, in 2013, we again have two senators trying to allow Sunday hunting in two separate bills by cloaking it in terms of “tick [and thus deer] control” and the killing of “nuisance species.”
Sen. Richard Black, R-Loudoun County, last year introduced SB 683, which will be considered again this year. It states that hunting of deer shall be allowed on Sundays within the boundaries of any locality, upon a finding by its governing body that tick-borne Lyme disease constitutes a serious threat to public health and that a reduction in the number of deer is necessary to control the spread of disease. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries must certify that there is an overabundance of deer in the locality, and an ordinance must be enacted to authorize hunting of deer on Sundays by the governing body of each locality.
Condon, of Crozet, is a naturalist and author/photographer.
January 11, 2013 - 6:15 AM
The only thing better than hunting on Sunday is liquor stores open on Sunday. “Two great tastes that taste great together.”
Two quick questions for Ms. Condon; you state yourself that there is science behind the fact that bumper acorn crops increase the whitetailed deer and mouse population, hence increasing the tick and lyme disease instances – how would giving deer hunters more access NOT help control the deer population and hence the tick / lyme disease boom after a bumper crop of acorns ??
Secondly, how many wildlife bioligists are on your staff and in the General Assembly vs. the staff of the Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries ?? ..whose biolists have stated there is NO founded science nor biology reasons to continue the ban on Sunday hunting. Not to mention the numerous bioligists in 43 other states that confirm there is no science/biologic reasoning behind said ban.