HSUS Decries Legislation to Allow Target Shooting of Doves in Minn.; Dove Hunting Has Been Banned for Nearly 60 Years

5/11/2004

From: Karen L. Allanach, 301-548-7778 or kallanach@hsus.org, or Nicholas Braden, 301- 258-3072 or nbraden@hsus.org, both of The Humane Society of the United States; Web site: http://www.hsus.org

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and The Fund for Animals expressed extreme disappointment with 34 state senators who chose not to support an amendment last night to remove a dove hunting provision from the omnibus game and fish bill. The Senate defeated, by a vote of 33-33 (with one abstention), an amendment by Senator Sandra Pappas (DFL-65) to remove the authorization for dove hunting. The Pappas amendment was first approved 35-31, but then the matter came up for reconsideration and two senators switched their votes to allow dove hunting. Minnesota has banned dove hunting for nearly 60 years.

"By the narrowest of margins, the Senate has decided to reverse a policy that has endured for nearly 60 years and to allow the target shooting of harmless mourning doves," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS Chief Executive Officer-Designate. "Legislators who voted to allow the needless target shooting of harmless doves dismissed the views of mainstream Minnesotans and instead sided with gun and hunting manufacturers who simply want to sell more ammunition."

More ammunition is discharged in dove hunting than any other type of bird or mammal hunting. Statistics show that upwards of 25 percent of doves shot by hunters are wounded and not retrieved. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's most recent mourning dove population estimates from 2002 show that mourning doves in the Central Management Unit, which includes Minnesota, have significantly declined.

"Hunting mourning doves serves no wildlife management purpose," added Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals. "There is no overpopulation problem and the birds pose no threat to any person or agricultural interest. In fact, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that dove numbers are dropping rapidly in Minnesota."

"Dove hunting is more akin to skeet shooting-except that lives are needlessly taken in the exercise," said HSUS Board Chairman David O. Wiebers of Rochester, Minn. "The Legislature's action will cause untold suffering, and, ironically enough, the victims are a national symbol of peace." --

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than eight million members and constituents, including 119, 731 in Minnesota. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. Visit The HSUS on the Web at http://www.hsus.org.