On Wednesday, March 20, at 9:30 a.m., the Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to hear a bill with serious consequences for hunters. The proposed changes to trespass laws in Pennsylvania will result in criminal charges for hunters whose dogs stray onto posted property if Senate Bill 1087 is passed.
Sponsored by Senator Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry), the bill not only criminalizes a wandering dog, but also would charge a hunter who tries to retrieve a dog, even if the hunter is unarmed. The unintended consequences of this bill are obvious and far-reaching, potentially leading to the harm if not loss of dogs who wander onto posted property.
“SB 1087 makes it near impossible to hunt with dogs,” explained Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs with the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We can’t be serious that we want to make it a crime when someone is trying to recover their dog because the dog’s safety should be paramount at that point.”
Please use the Take Action Button to email the committee members urging them to vote “No” on SB 1087. The Committee needs to know that SB 1087 is overly broad and could lead to the harm, if not loss, of our best friend and hunting companion.
Here’s why SB 1087 is so problematic:
1. Existing law allows a hunter to recover a dog, provided they are not armed. That allows the hunter to demonstrate to the landowner that they are not hunting. This bill eliminates a hunter’s ability to lawfully retrieve their dog without risking a criminal record.
2. Worse, SB 1087 charges the hunter with trespassing when just their dog crosses on to posted land, holding the hunter responsible.
In both instances the hunter is facing fines and the loss of their hunting license.
“SB 1087 exposes people who hunt with dogs or hounds to penalties and a loss of hunting privileges, each and every time they are out with their canines,” said Adkins. “Whether you hunt ducks, upland birds, fox, coyotes, rabbits, or raccoons, this bill is a threat to your way of life, and your legislators need to hear about it.”
Don’t forget to share this alert with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen. Ask them to Take Action and email the committee urging them to OPPOSE SB 1087.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
