You think deer hunting is competitive where you hunt? Check out this incredible video clip of what one Pennsylvania hunter encountered a few years ago.
We’ve all been there: It’s opening day of gun-hunting season, and we’re excited to be out in the deer woods. Ah, but if you’re hunting a highly populated state — like Pennsylvania — you’re bound to run into other hunters.
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We’re not sure what happened after these incidents, but this hunter would have had great video proof to at least get the guy who was blowing the airhorn in legal trouble, big time. As is the case with most states, Pennsylvania has a law that protects hunters from such activity. According to Prince Law Offices of Pennsylvania:
“Known as the Pennsylvania Hunter Harassment Law, Section 2302 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Code provides that it is a summary offense of the second degree to intentionally obstruct or interfere with the lawful taking of wildlife of wildlife or other activities permitted by the Game and Wildlife Code (ie. trapping, dog training, etc.). The law provides that the interference must be intentional or knowing and not a mere accident. Specific activities which are considered as such violations include driving or disrupting wildlife away from the hunter; blocking, impeding or otherwise harassing the hunter; using natural or artificial “visual, aural, olfactory or physical stimuli” to affect the behavior of wildlife in order to hinder or prevent the harvest of wildlife; creating or erecting barriers with the intent to deny ingress or egress to lawful hunting locations; jumping into the line of fire between the game and the hunter; interfering with the conditions or placement of personal or public property intended for the lawful taking of wildlife (ie. treestands, blinds, etc.); entering or remaining upon public or private lands (without the permission of the owner) with the intent to violate this section; or failing to obey the order of any officer who is attempting to enforce this provision.
“The law also provides that either the Game Commission or the affected hunter or trapper may bring an action to restrain the conduct of such individuals or even sue to recover damages caused by such individuals. Exceptions to the law include activities such as farming, mining, harvesting timber, recreational activities and other lawful activities permitted on the land so long as the intent to interfere is not present. Of course, if and individual on an ATV continually circles your treestand during regular hunting season, you can be fairly confident the concept of intent to interfere is present.
“An individual convicted of violating this section is guilty of a second degree summary offense. Punishment includes a fine between $400 and $800, and punishment of imprisonment of up to one month. To this author, such willful and wanton interference should carry a far more extensive penalty. Of course, other violations of the Code are enforceable as well, such as trespassing.”
This video is one of the best ones we’ve seen here at Deer & Deer Hunting that depicts the harsh reality of hunting in close proximity to clueless hunters, disrespectful neighbors, and downright jerks. With neighbors like this, who needs enemies?
What would you have done in this situation?
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I’d make it a point to use a air horn by these guys homes as often as possible during the off season, especially around three in the morning. Childish I know, but can’t get any worse right?