By Bill Cochran
ROANOKE.COM COLUMNIST
BILL: Just read your article about proposed changes to the ban on Sunday hunting. When you described the problems encountered by nonresident hunters who travel to Virginia to hunt deer you wrote about a situation I experience every year.
I’m from out of state, but own land in Henry County and have access to land in Patrick County where I deer hunt. I often invite a friend or relative from out of state to hunt with me during the first week of the season.
With opening day on Saturday, having to sit out Sunday before getting back to hunting on Monday is always a source of irritation when my out of state guest is paying top dollar for a license he will only use for a few days.
AL KITTREDGE
Fayetteville, N.C.
BILL: I sincerely enjoyed reading this year’s folly regarding the Sunday hunting issue. In response to a series of letters sent last year to illicit additional public support in correcting the last major antiquated blue laws on Virginia’s legislative books, I received a response from a licensed hunting preserve located southeast of Richmond that bears conveying in part. I do not want to provide the name or exact location to protect the preserve’s identity.
(Said the preserve operator
“In Virginia it is legal to hunt a preserve on Sunday. Why would I support opening Sunday hunting and jeopardize losing business? Right now shooting preserves are the only game in town on Sundays and I would like to see it remain that way.
“The second reason is that I feel the wildlife need a day of rest at least one day out of the week. The third reason is tradition. We have never hunted wild game on Sundays and I do not intend to see that happen in my lifetime.”
I would like to point out the fact that this person’s arguments are tempered with greed. In the first point it clearly shows hunting preserve owners relish being the only facility to operate on Sundays.
On the second point, my daughter who is 8-years old realizes that wildlife do not rest on Sunday, but must live each and every day in pursuit of food and keep from being killed by another. (If they did need a day of rest) exchange the word Wednesday for Sunday. This act would…allow the Virginia sportsperson the ability to pursue hunting over the entire weekend.
The third point is almost laughable. Hunters who have known no better tend to think that hunting on Sunday is bad. Oh well! I am a transplanted Virginia who voted for Sunday hunting.
JOSEPH HIRTZ
Stafford
BILL: Concerning the Virginia Deer Hunters Association survey which asks: “Do you support Sunday hunting?” The people who feel neutral on the subject are forced to say, “No,” because of the way the survey is worded. “No opinion” is different that “opposed.”
You are perpetuating the inherent vagary of the survey by reporting the skewed result, and reporting an inaccurate assessment of public opinion.
Historic Sunday hunting survey responses are in thirds: for, against and no opinion.
JIM RIGGS
Norfolk
BILL: I had an unusual visitor at my house in Botetourt County. I live on Timber Ridge, near the Springwood Road intersection.
I was outside training dogs and heard a strange, rattling bird call. When I looked up, I saw this lone Sandhill Crane flying over the cutover cornfield next to my house.
The crane landed in the cow pasture adjacent to my field, where it stayed for about 20 minutes. I managed to get a few pictures of him. It took off and circled the area several times until I lost track of it.
I have never seen a Sandhill Crane around here. I am assuming it is unusual and wonder if he got blown off course during the windstorm.
KIRK MCCONNER
Springwood
ROANOKE.COM COLUMNIST
BILL: Just read your article about proposed changes to the ban on Sunday hunting. When you described the problems encountered by nonresident hunters who travel to Virginia to hunt deer you wrote about a situation I experience every year.
I’m from out of state, but own land in Henry County and have access to land in Patrick County where I deer hunt. I often invite a friend or relative from out of state to hunt with me during the first week of the season.
With opening day on Saturday, having to sit out Sunday before getting back to hunting on Monday is always a source of irritation when my out of state guest is paying top dollar for a license he will only use for a few days.
AL KITTREDGE
Fayetteville, N.C.
BILL: I sincerely enjoyed reading this year’s folly regarding the Sunday hunting issue. In response to a series of letters sent last year to illicit additional public support in correcting the last major antiquated blue laws on Virginia’s legislative books, I received a response from a licensed hunting preserve located southeast of Richmond that bears conveying in part. I do not want to provide the name or exact location to protect the preserve’s identity.
(Said the preserve operator
“In Virginia it is legal to hunt a preserve on Sunday. Why would I support opening Sunday hunting and jeopardize losing business? Right now shooting preserves are the only game in town on Sundays and I would like to see it remain that way.“The second reason is that I feel the wildlife need a day of rest at least one day out of the week. The third reason is tradition. We have never hunted wild game on Sundays and I do not intend to see that happen in my lifetime.”
I would like to point out the fact that this person’s arguments are tempered with greed. In the first point it clearly shows hunting preserve owners relish being the only facility to operate on Sundays.
On the second point, my daughter who is 8-years old realizes that wildlife do not rest on Sunday, but must live each and every day in pursuit of food and keep from being killed by another. (If they did need a day of rest) exchange the word Wednesday for Sunday. This act would…allow the Virginia sportsperson the ability to pursue hunting over the entire weekend.
The third point is almost laughable. Hunters who have known no better tend to think that hunting on Sunday is bad. Oh well! I am a transplanted Virginia who voted for Sunday hunting.
JOSEPH HIRTZ
Stafford
BILL: Concerning the Virginia Deer Hunters Association survey which asks: “Do you support Sunday hunting?” The people who feel neutral on the subject are forced to say, “No,” because of the way the survey is worded. “No opinion” is different that “opposed.”
You are perpetuating the inherent vagary of the survey by reporting the skewed result, and reporting an inaccurate assessment of public opinion.
Historic Sunday hunting survey responses are in thirds: for, against and no opinion.
JIM RIGGS
Norfolk
BILL: I had an unusual visitor at my house in Botetourt County. I live on Timber Ridge, near the Springwood Road intersection.
I was outside training dogs and heard a strange, rattling bird call. When I looked up, I saw this lone Sandhill Crane flying over the cutover cornfield next to my house.
The crane landed in the cow pasture adjacent to my field, where it stayed for about 20 minutes. I managed to get a few pictures of him. It took off and circled the area several times until I lost track of it.
I have never seen a Sandhill Crane around here. I am assuming it is unusual and wonder if he got blown off course during the windstorm.
KIRK MCCONNER
Springwood