Karen L. Myers photoA bill to allow the hunting of deer and other wildlife on private property and state waters on Sunday has been passed by the Virginia House of Delegates and sent on to the state Senate for their consideration. Proponents of the bill cite the falling numbers of hunting licenses issued in the state, and believe that Sunday hunting will help stem the loss in revenue.

Maryland lawmakers are also considering the hunting of deer on Sunday, but seemingly for a different reason—the culling of the expanding deer herds.

There is resistance in both states to the enabling legislation. Some of the resistance comes from predictable directions—anti-hunting activists, hikers, trail riders, religious leaders—yet some of the resistance comes from a surprising quarter—foxhunters.

Some foxhunters feel that Sunday deer hunting will conflict with their Sunday foxhunting, and are opposing the legislation. Other foxhunters, conscious of anti-hunting pressures in general and the advisability of maintaining a united front with all hunters, fear that by opposing our brothers-in-arms on this issue we may be playing into the hands of animal rights activists who would like nothing better than to fracture our solidarity.

What’s your opinion? Foxhunting Life invites your comments.

Posted February 15, 2014