News

Keep target off mourning doves

Published November 13, 2003. Editorial. Rochester Essentric
Keep target off mourning doves

Michigan has survived nearly 100 years without a mourning dove hunting season and there's no urgent need to lift that ban now. Nonetheless, legislation that would put these small, sweet-sounding songbirds in the cross-hairs is pending. The legislation, H.B. 5209, introduced in August by Rep. Susan Tabor, a Delta Township Republican, was passed in the House on Nov. 4.

If passed in the Senate, the mourning dove - a traditional symbol of peace - would join the ranks of game animals open to hunting.

Backers point out that mourning doves are hunted in 39 other states and say Michigan is missing out on tourism dollars by not allowing the birds to be targets here.

Perhaps, but the argument that "everybody else is doing it so why shouldn't we?" is a relatively weak stance, especially since it wouldn't apply in so many other instances.

Other than a vocal hunting lobby that says gunning for mourning doves can make for a challenging and tasty experience, there's little reason to believe Michigan residents want to see these birds come under fire.

It's debatable whether mourning doves are a nuisance because of their numbers and therefore due for a controlled kill, but it's clear that they offer little in the way of meat and are about as threatening as puppies.

Michigan hunters are good folk and they contribute a lot to the state through their sport and stewardship. But isn't it true that there are plenty of species of animals to hunt and fish to catch already?

Adding docile doves to the list of animals facing lethal force won't do much good to improve the public's perception of hunting and may only inspire unnecessary ill will.

If our state's hunters really need to shoot mourning doves, let them go to Ohio or Indiana or Illinois or Wisconsin. No one is trying to deprive them of this pursuit of happiness.

But Michigan has protected these birds since 1905 and is none the worse for it. Our lawmakers in the Senate should respect this tradition and keep the bull's-eye off this particular target.

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