News
Group to Submit Petitions Seeking Ban
Published March 25, 2005. By
Chris Christoff. Detroit Free Press.
Group to submit petitions seeking ban
A coalition to stop dove hunting in Michigan says it will submit enough petition signatures Monday for a statewide vote to reinstate a ban on shooting mourning doves.
Under Michigan law, the pending referendum would suspend dove hunting this year and next until the question of whether to allow it is decided on the November 2006 ballot. The Campaign to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban plans to turn in to the Secretary of State at least 225,000 signatures -- more than the 158,879 valid signatures required -- for a ballot spot, campaign spokeswoman Julie Baker said. "We still have them coming in. We're still counting," Baker said Thursday.
The campaign includes the Michigan Humane Society, Audubon societies and other animal-protection groups.
The petition drive began in September, the same month hunters took to the fields in six southern counties for Michigan's first legal mourning dove hunt in 99 years.
About 28,000 mourning doves were shot by an estimated 3,000 hunters, according to the Department of Natural Resources. However, hunting advocacy groups say that figure is only a fraction of the actual total.
Last year, lawmakers -- prodded by hunting advocates and former state Rep. Susan Tabor, R-Delta Township -- approved a limited dove-hunting season, despite polls that showed most Michigan voters were opposed.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the legislation, angering animal lovers who said she had promised to oppose dove hunting during her 2002 campaign for governor.
The new law allows the expansion of dove hunting statewide if, after 3 years, state wildlife experts find it does not endanger dove populations.
A ballot issue to block the hunt would be "very regrettable," said Sam Washington, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, a leading proponent for dove hunting, which is legal in 40 other states.
Washington said it will take $2 million to $3 million to defeat a ballot proposal -- money that he said could be used to advance other environmental causes, such as blocking harmful, foreign species and diversion of Michigan water.
"There are so many other legitimate issues that we have to sidestep now to try to protect our right to recreate through dove hunting in Michigan," Washington said. "It really, really is disturbing that it has come to this."
Washington said the dove-hunting ban is sought by organizations that want to ban hunting in general.
Replied Baker, "That's silly, and not accurate. We have so many hunters involved in this campaign. Polls have consistently shown that a majority of Michigan hunters oppose the shooting of mourning doves."
Baker said some 5,000 unpaid volunteers collected petition signatures around the state. She said the campaign cost around $125,000.
"No matter where they were, people would ask to sign the petitions," Baker said. "People stood in line to sign petitions."
The campaign has until March 29 to submit its petitions. The state Board of Canvassers then has 75 days to determine whether there are enough valid signatures.
If the ballot proposal is approved, the 2004 law that legalized dove hunting would be suspended until the statewide vote. That would block another dove season this year.
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