Well, it’s too late for St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, when the famous swallows fly back to Capistrano, California. But gentle readers will understand the analogy when the Blogster announces that yet again, the Connecticut House of Representatives, after a perfunctory debate, just voted its annual approval of the bill that would allow for Sunday bow-hunting on private property in overpopulated deer management zones, with owners’ permission. The bill, a victory for Bob Crook, president of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen who’s back in the Capitol after fighting an illness, heads to the Senate.
The fact that it would not take effect within 40 yards of blazed hiking trails was cold comfort for the opponents, who were outnumbered 113-32, including Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, Rep. Fred Camillo, R-Greenwich, Rep. Jack Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, Rep. Terry Adams, D-Stamford, Rep. Andre Baker, D-Bridgeport, Rep. Patricia Billie Miller, D-Stamford and Rep. Janice Giegler, R-Danbury. Camillo, in a back-and-forth with Rep. James Albis, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the Environment Committee, confirmed that an estimated $40,000 or less would be generated by the additional day or hunting. “I anticipate it’s going to pass here,” Camillo conceded. “I do know that in certain areas of the state that people are concerned about it. Having six days for hunting and adding a seventh, some don’t think it’s a big deal, some do.”
Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, a veteran animal activist who sponsors outings for kids on the rescue ponies she keeps on her property, said she’s worried about wounded and dying deer stumbling on to her property, which is abutted by other properties. Albis said the hunters would be allowed to chase them onto her land.
“My major concern is for hikers, people who want to go out on weekends and go along our blue-blazed trails and enjoy the outdoors whether it’s bird watching, whether it’s watching wildlife or whether it’s just being with their children and hiking,” Urban said. “There are very many people who really value recreation and time with their families on Sunday and I believe the amount of money they bring in with buying equipment, whether it’s kayaks, whether it’s canoes, whether it’s backpacks, more than offsets what we’ll be looking at in additional revenue for the Sunday hunting.”
Sure, deer are all over the place, smashing into cars and chowing down on expensive landscaping. But what’s one day going to do? In past years, Sen. Don Williams successfully killed the legislation coming from the House. It remains to be seen whether Senate President Pro Tempore Marty Looney will keep up the tradition.
Currently, Sunday hunting is a class D misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in prison and a fine of up to $250. According to a legislative analysis, the state DEEP has identified 13 deer management zones throughout the state and estimates that 11 are overpopulated, with at least 20 deer per square mile.