Post by Woody Williams on Oct 17, 2006 10:36:27 GMT -5
Dove hunting finds place on Michigan ballot
By Tamara Audi, USA TODAYDETROIT —
Maybe it's because these pudgy birds are widely known as monogamists. Or maybe it is the irony of blasting shotgun pellets into a creature declared by Michigan's House of Representatives in 1998 to be the state bird of peace.
Whatever the reason, the state's bird lovers are rallying to ban the hunting of the mourning dove — as hunters are fighting for the right to kill it.
In a year when the state faces layoffs and major troubles in its lifeblood auto industry, a Nov. 7 ballot initiative over a common little bird has become one of the most emotionally charged issues in the state.
Hunters say a ban would unnecessarily rob them of an early fall hunting experience enjoyed in 40 other states and possibly lead to more bans. Dove advocates argue there is no reason to kill a harmless bird that has been protected by Michigan as a songbird since 1905.
"There's right and wrong in this world and people have to stand up and stop wrong when they can," said Julie Baker, director of the Committee to Keep Doves Protected.Baker said she was spurred to action because she felt the Legislature bypassed public will and Michigan tradition when legislators lifted the ban on dove hunting in 2004 without first consulting voters.
Soon after, Baker was organizing volunteers to collect signatures to force a referendum on the legislation. After 5,000 volunteers collected 275,000 signatures, dove hunting temporarily was suspended after one season.
On Nov. 7, Michiganders will vote on the 2004 law that allowed dove hunting.
There have been a gala and silent auction to protect the dove, pro-dove TV and radio ads, and newspapers have weighed in with endorsements on both sides.T
he Michigan United Conservation Clubs plan pro-hunting radio ads closer to the election. The group already has distributed thousands of yard signs. While its cuteness and penchant to coo have made the mourning dove a darling in some circles, its speed and agility have made it attractive to hunters who say the mourning dove hunt is a great way to introduce children to hunting.
The season begins in early fall before cold weather sets in, and the hunt does not require long, silent, leg-cramping stakeouts common in duck hunts.
"In September, there's not a lot of hunting options in Michigan," said Tony Hansen, a spokesman for the united conservation clubs. "(The doves are) extremely fast-flying. They're challenging."
Baker rejects that reasoning. "We have valued this bird as a traditional songbird for so long," she said, adding that hunters have other birds to hunt. "There is no good reason to hunt the mourning dove."
Brian Preston has a reason, and he points to Sept. 1.On that day, Preston, regional representative for the National Wildlife Federation, took his 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter to a wide field on a gorgeous morning. The family sat on the edge of the field, talking, joking and waiting for Preston to take some shots at doves (the children are too young to hunt).The Prestons cleaned the birds, took them home and cooked them for dinner, using a family-favorite recipe. "It's one of the best days you can spend with your children," said Preston, who lives in Ida, Mich.
His only complaint: The day was spent in Ohio, where mourning dove hunting is legal.
By Tamara Audi, USA TODAYDETROIT —
Maybe it's because these pudgy birds are widely known as monogamists. Or maybe it is the irony of blasting shotgun pellets into a creature declared by Michigan's House of Representatives in 1998 to be the state bird of peace.
Whatever the reason, the state's bird lovers are rallying to ban the hunting of the mourning dove — as hunters are fighting for the right to kill it.
In a year when the state faces layoffs and major troubles in its lifeblood auto industry, a Nov. 7 ballot initiative over a common little bird has become one of the most emotionally charged issues in the state.
Hunters say a ban would unnecessarily rob them of an early fall hunting experience enjoyed in 40 other states and possibly lead to more bans. Dove advocates argue there is no reason to kill a harmless bird that has been protected by Michigan as a songbird since 1905.
"There's right and wrong in this world and people have to stand up and stop wrong when they can," said Julie Baker, director of the Committee to Keep Doves Protected.Baker said she was spurred to action because she felt the Legislature bypassed public will and Michigan tradition when legislators lifted the ban on dove hunting in 2004 without first consulting voters.
Soon after, Baker was organizing volunteers to collect signatures to force a referendum on the legislation. After 5,000 volunteers collected 275,000 signatures, dove hunting temporarily was suspended after one season.
On Nov. 7, Michiganders will vote on the 2004 law that allowed dove hunting.
There have been a gala and silent auction to protect the dove, pro-dove TV and radio ads, and newspapers have weighed in with endorsements on both sides.T
he Michigan United Conservation Clubs plan pro-hunting radio ads closer to the election. The group already has distributed thousands of yard signs. While its cuteness and penchant to coo have made the mourning dove a darling in some circles, its speed and agility have made it attractive to hunters who say the mourning dove hunt is a great way to introduce children to hunting.
The season begins in early fall before cold weather sets in, and the hunt does not require long, silent, leg-cramping stakeouts common in duck hunts.
"In September, there's not a lot of hunting options in Michigan," said Tony Hansen, a spokesman for the united conservation clubs. "(The doves are) extremely fast-flying. They're challenging."
Baker rejects that reasoning. "We have valued this bird as a traditional songbird for so long," she said, adding that hunters have other birds to hunt. "There is no good reason to hunt the mourning dove."
Brian Preston has a reason, and he points to Sept. 1.On that day, Preston, regional representative for the National Wildlife Federation, took his 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter to a wide field on a gorgeous morning. The family sat on the edge of the field, talking, joking and waiting for Preston to take some shots at doves (the children are too young to hunt).The Prestons cleaned the birds, took them home and cooked them for dinner, using a family-favorite recipe. "It's one of the best days you can spend with your children," said Preston, who lives in Ida, Mich.
His only complaint: The day was spent in Ohio, where mourning dove hunting is legal.
