Seasons and Bag Limits

President Boop, Commissioners, Executive Director Roe, Commission staff, my name is Jeff Grove. I am here today on behalf of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; I thank you for the opportunity to share the views of our membership as they relate to wildlife issues.

Please continue to rely on science as the basis of your decision-making for “Seasons and Bag Limits”. We ask that you continue concurrent seasons for buck & doe, and that deer hunting season lengths not be reduced. We believe that “Seasons & Bag Limits” need to be a constant to enable the Game Commission staff to accurately measure the affects of the adjustments in their management of the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources. It is important that no dramatic changes to “Seasons & Bag Limits” occur, especially where deer management is concerned.

We respectfully ask that you cast a ‘yes’ vote on the proposed change to Deer Control Permit closure periods. The changes proposed in tomorrow’s agenda will eliminate uncertainty where diversified farming operations use the program. Uniformity of dates for crops and vegetables will make the program less confusing for farmers and hunters using the Red Tag Program, and provide increased opportunity for hunters to help farmers control wildlife on their properties.
A new issue of great concern has emerged. You are aware of the recent case where a jury in Lehigh County found that a local farmer who allowed a person to hunt on his property was 10% liable for injuries that the hunter caused in an accidental shooting of a person located on a neighboring property.  The hunter’s action in firing his weapon was clearly the only direct factor in causing the person’s injuries and only the hunter acted in violation of the Game Code in firing his weapon.  But the Court allowed the jury to consider whether any legal liability should be attributed to the farmer merely because of the farmer’s grant of permission to hunt.

Farm Bureau is working diligently for passage of legislation that will close the loophole in the landowner liability protection law which has been created by this incident. Farmers and landowners who allow free access for hunting and recreational activity on their lands must have absolute confidence in this safeguard. Solving the problem is a top priority for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. As more landowners learn that they may not be adequately protected by the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act of 1965, it is likely that more landowners will react by restricting access to their property. It would not be a good outcome for farmers, sportsmen and other recreational users.  We want to put out the cinders before the fire starts raging.

Today over 300 farmers from across the state are currently at the Capitol for Farm Bureau’s annual State Legislative Conference. A news conference this morning was devoted to the landowner liability issue.  We are calling for passage of two bills:

 H.B. 13 would safeguard landowners against liability for the safety of the people they allow to use their property for lawful activities, and from responsibility for accidents caused by people who are permitted access to their land.
H.B. 74 clarifies the Recreational Use of Land and Liability Act of 1965. The bill would make clear that a landowner who allows others to use his property for recreational purposes does not assume responsibility or incur liability caused by the recreational user. The protection would only apply if the user is not charged a fee.
           
Pennsylvania agriculture is worried about yet another new development.  Farmers are concerned about recent reports about an apparent rapid growth of feral pig populations within our state. As the Farm Bureau works with the Feral Swine Task Force, we will keep our membership informed on taskforce findings. We support policies that will protect agricultural operations from disease threats posed by feral pigs. We are concerned that a large population of feral pigs could introduce disease to farms, jeopardizing our pseudorabies and brucellosis free state status. If either is introduced, our industry could sustain significant long-term market and livestock losses. In other states, the apparent intentional release of pigs to the wild by hunters to create hunting opportunities has created environmental consequences, exposed farms to disease and created competition between wild pigs and other species.

Lastly, farmers remain concerned about the continued push by some groups and individuals to gain the allowance of Sunday hunting within the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s members unequivocally oppose Sunday hunting. They want their organization to continue to carry the message to you as commissioners and to the General Assembly; “There should be no further expansion of Sunday Hunting.”

Thank you for past support of programs that help address agricultural crop damage from deer and other wildlife. These tools are greatly needed and appreciated. During difficult economic times for agriculture, the policies will help reduce the dollar losses that farmers experience because of wildlife population problems.