News

Deadline Nearing for Dove Petitions

Published February 28, 2005. By Chris Andrews. Lansing State Journal.
Deadline nearing for dove hunting petitions

If Marilyn Lee has her way, Michigan's first mourning dove hunting season will be its last. The 73-year-old Oke-mos woman has collected petition signatures on the Michigan State University campus, while she's taking her grandchildren to music lessons, at a cat fanciers show and countless other gatherings around mid-Michigan since the anti-dove-hunting drive was launched last August.

"People really don't want their backyard birds shot. That's the bottom line," said Lee, who enjoys a pair of doves outside her home. She has gathered more than 2,500 signatures to help put the question on the November 2006 ballot.

Mourning dove lovers have until March 29 - 90 days after the end of last year's Legislative session - to collect the 158,879 valid signatures needed to block the new Michigan law that permits dove hunting and let the voters settle the matter. Organizers say they are on pace to meet their goal.

The question of whether Michigan should permit the hunting of mourning doves has been an emotional one for years.

Supporters say the darting doves make a challenging target and a tasty dish. Opponents say the gentle birds known for their mournful songs should regain their status as protected songbirds.

Last year, the Legislature voted to add the mourning dove to the list of game species. Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the measure with an understanding that the Natural Resources Commission would establish a three-year pilot program in six southern counties.

According to a Department of Natural Resources study, about 3,000 hunters harvested about 28,000 doves. Sixty-nine percent of the hunters rated their experiences good or very good, and 95 percent expected to hunt doves again in the next two years.

But opponents have launched a petition drive for a referendum, which would put the law on hold - and block any additional dove-hunting seasons - until the public can vote on it in 2006.

The Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban said last week that it had logged 162,000 signatures into its computer and had thousands more waiting to be entered. The group is collecting 10,000 to 12,000 a week, said Julie Baker, who heads the campaign. It wants to turn in 225,000 signatures to ensure an adequate cushion to meet possible challenges.

Supporters of the dove-hunting season say the birds present a challenging target as they dart through the sky. They say a hunting season doesn't affect the dove population because the birds would be taken by other predators. Michigan is one of 41 states that permit dove hunting.

Dove hunters say the petition drive is part of a broader attack on Michigan's hunting heritage. "If we have to fight it, we'll fight it," said Sam Washington, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. "I imagine every outdoors group in the state will take up the challenge. " Terry Leverett of Lansing has had to give up deer hunting because of bad knees but would hunt doves if there was a statewide hunt. "There's still not a lot of access to it. I still think it's a great thing, especially for handicapped people like me," he said.

But dove-hunting opponents say the birds are among the most beloved songbirds and shouldn't be maimed and killed by hunters. "There's no doubt the majority of Michigan citizens, including the majority of Michigan hunters, oppose the hunting of doves," Baker said.

By the numbers

158,879: number of valid signatures petitioners need to block mourning dove hunting

162,000: number of signatures gathered so far

28,000: number of doves killed by hunters last year

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