Anti-dove hunting bills appear on both coasts (2/28/2003)

The animal rights movement is working across the country to end America's hunting heritage. Legislation has been introduced in California and, for a second consecutive year, in Rhode Island to ban mourning dove hunting.

Rhode Island Representative Roger Picard (D-Woonsocket) introduced House Bill 5300, which would ban all mourning dove hunting in the state. The bill has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy. During the previous legislative session, sportsmen successfully persuaded lawmakers to kill a similar anti-hunting measure.

California Assembly Bill 1190, sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-Sonoma), would ban hunting seasons for western mourning doves and white-winged doves.

There are nearly 104 million mourning doves that migrate through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Eastern Management Unit, which includes the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways, and there are nearly 60 million mourning doves that migrate through California. Doves are the most popular gamebird, hunted in 38 states. Hunting has been proven to have no effect on the dove populations.

The legislature should not deny Rhode Island nor California sportsmen a hunting opportunity that millions of sportsmen across the country enjoy.

Take Action! Rhode Island and California sportsmen should contact their representatives and assemblymen today and tell them to oppose Rhode Island HB 5300 and California AB 1190. Let them know that doves are the most abundant gamebird in North America and hunting has not affected the dove populations.

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