News
Ten Reasons for Granholm to VETO
Putting aside the cruelty issues of orphaning young and the high unretrieved and wounded rate,
Here are just a few reasons for the Governor to VETO HB 5029:
1. The majority of Michigan citizens oppose the shooting of doves in Michigan.
2. The majority of Michigan hunters also oppose the "hunting" of doves as a legitimate game species. Even the bill"s sponsor, Rep. Tabor, has admitted that the lack of support from sportsmen has been discouraging, "I've been very frustrated with sportsmen, because I get letters that say, 'I like to hunt, but I don't care about hunting mourning doves.'" Lansing Community News.
3. There is no wildlife management reason to hunt doves in Michigan. As native birds, they are truly a benign and beneficial species. They provide a valuable natural control of pest weeds, are not over-populated, do not threaten or harm other species or crops, and they do not provide a viable human food source.
4. The DNR/NRC has proven it cannot be trusted with the mourning dove. In the mid-1980s, the NRC bypassed the Michigan Legislature, ignored significant opposition by the majority of citizens, and illegally established a mourning dove hunting season in Michigan. The Michigan Humane Society, a non-profit organization, was forced to file suit to right this wrong. Subsequently, the courts [1985] issued a permanent injunction that the DNR/NRC cannot promote the hunting of doves in Michigan. The DNR and NRC have since - and continue to - violate this injunction.
5. The mourning dove is more valuable to Michigan alive than dead. As a backyard bird, it is the second most popular bird reported at feeders in the United States [Barker and Tessaglia-Hymes 1999]. Millions of Michigan residents spend billions on feeding songbirds in Michigan [USFWS, 2001 Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Associated Recreation]. Bird watchers outnumber and outspend ALL forms of hunting combined.
6. Hunting doves is very inexpensive and does not contribute to the economy or tourism, as some might lead you to believe. Even the MUCC confirms "the inexpensive nature of the sport, since the birds are found almost everywhere in these states, hunters needn't travel far." Furthermore, doves are generally used as "warm up practice" for other seasons covered under the same "blanket" license. The DNR analysis states "it is not expected that a mourning dove hunting season will result in additional sales of small game licenses.
7. Lead contamination is a known environmental problem caused by hunting doves. A huge amount of toxic lead shot is used to bring down a fast flying target which is hunted over crop growing soils and water - 8 shots for each "bagged" kill is average [USFWS, and others], and cumulative lead deposits pose a deadly mortality risk to mourning doves [Franson 2003] and all wildlife feeding in the surrounding areas, not to mention the environment.
8. Long-term [38 year] population studies [Mourning Dove Breeding Population Status Reports, multiple years] conducted by the USFWS confirm significant declines in the breeding population with "dove populations from groups of non-hunting state in the Northeast and Upper Mideast have had much higher annual survival rates." Michigan's population - at its peak - is only about one percent of the total estimated population. Michigan's population has maintained stability and a non-migrating wintering population (enjoyed at feeders) because it is not subjected to human hunting pressure.
9. The mourning dove is Michigan's official Bird of Peace [House Resolution 244, 1998].
10. Governor Granholm promised to VETO: 1) VETO any dove shooting legislation that reached her desk and 2) VETO the dove bill if not put before the voters as an automatic referendum.
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