Media Coverage - Flock to the Polls
Published November 5, 2006. The Battle Creek Enquirer
It's an odd paradox being presented to the voters in Michigan, whether or not to allow hunters to kill the state's bird of peace.
On Nov. 7, voters will determine the fate of dove hunting in Michigan by voting on Proposal 3.
A "yes" vote would establish a dove hunting season while a "no" vote would continue the ban.
In 1998, the State House of Representatives officially designated the dove as the state's bird of peace.
However, the bird and the hunting issue has created anything but peace between sides for and against the issue.
Opponents of dove hunting, such as the Humane Society of the United States and the Committee to Keep Doves Protected, allege that Michigan hunters use the game bird as target practice, but not for food.
But for Sue Tabor, former State House of Representative that originally introduced the dove hunting proposal, that allegation is an outright lie.
"The one allegation that probably makes me the most angry is when they [Committee to Keep Doves Protected] say we're going to use them as target practice," she said.
"That is an absolute lie and I'm offended by that. Any hunter that does not make an effort to go our there and retrieve their game is not a hunter."
Most of the issues presented against dove hunting by opposing groups have been suspect at best, Tabor said. Her favorite: the birds are too small to eat.
"That's just baloney. We eat bluegill, perch and shrimp. Since when does the size of food make it delicious or not? That one is just silly."
Across the nation, the mourning dove is one of the most hunted game birds, as more than 20 million are harvested by hunters nationwide each year. At present, 40 states allow dove hunting.
"One of the first upland game seasons in the U.S. each fall, mourning dove hunting is a perfect opportunity for introducing youths to hunting," said Rebecca A. Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. "The weather is usually comfortable, access to hunting areas is easy and the birds are abundant prior to their migration."
The DNR has determined the population of the bird in the state is more than healthy.
"Mourning doves are abundant in Michigan; hunting of these birds will not change that. In fact, they are the most abundant game bird in Michigan," Humphries said.
According to Humphries, the Michigan legislature decided, based on scientific evidence, that a hunting season for mourning doves in Michigan was appropriate, and passed a bill that allowed for establishment of a mourning dove season in 2004. This bill was signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm (Public Act 160) that year. The Natural Resources Commission, which is the regulation-setting body for the Michigan DNR, established a hunting season in six southern counties on an experimental basis.
For Tabor, opening dove hunting in Michigan makes sense for a state that derives so much for the outdoors.
Michigan is third in the nation in the sale of hunting licenses.
"We should be creating new hunting new opportunities in Michigan, not shutting them down," Tabor said.
"We've tried to get factual information out there as much as possible," Tabor said. "The truth and the facts are always on our side."
