Protect Michigan's Bird of Peace: Vote "No" on Proposal 3

	Guy Hodge/HSUS

On Nov. 7, Michigan voters will decide whether mourning doves, the state's official bird of peace, should remain protected as they have been since 1905. The HSUS joins state humane societies, Audubon societies, farming groups, religious organizations, sportsmen and many others in urging Michigan voters to vote "no" on Proposal 3.

Poll after poll shows that a majority of Michigan residents—including a majority of Michigan hunters—oppose shooting doves. But in 2004, the legislature and governor sided with out-of-state extremist groups and pushed through a new dove shooting season.

The Committee to Keep Doves Protected then took the issue to the people with a statewide referendum. More than 5,000 volunteers circulated petitions in every county, and the committee submitted more than 275,000 signatures of registered voters, halting mourning dove shooting until the November election. But the shoot may resume unless voters say "no" to Proposal 3.

No Reason To Hunt Doves

Doves are gentle animals who are not harmful to people, property, or crops. These "farmer's friends" are ground-feeding birds who eat weed seeds. They are not overpopulated, and there are no management concerns.

Doves are so small that they are not generally shot for food. They are at their lightest weight during the proposed shooting season, and the 16 to 24 dove breasts needed for recipes are often supplemented with other meat, such as a pound of sausage. One website warns dove-eaters to "inspect carefully for shot" before preparing their kill—none too appetizing.

Doves are monogamous, forming bonded pairs for life. Both parents must participate to successfully fledge their young. Doves can still be nesting during the September and October shooting season, and the death of a single parent may result in the young starving to death.

It's The Economy, Stupid

Proponents of dove shooting are taking advantage of Michigan's struggling economy, making ludicrous claims that removing protections for mourning doves will bring in millions of dollars. But an economic study released in June proves otherwise.

That report concluded that a dove season in Michigan would not attract new hunters to the sport, that no new jobs would be created, that the state would not sell additional small game hunting licenses, and that non-residents would not visit Michigan for the purpose of pursuing doves.

Sportsmen recognize that they already have 40 other game bird species to shoot, and that doves have never been part of Michigan's hunting heritage. Even the proponents of Proposal 3 admit that a mere 1 percent of Michigan hunters would benefit from a new dove shooting season.

Harmful Impacts

Many of the mourning doves shot are never retrieved by hunters. Shooting them for live target practice is often referred to as "cheap skeet." One report published in the Wildlife Society Bulletin found that no attempt was made to retrieve approximately 30 percent of the fallen doves and that retrieval attempts were almost never made for "flying cripples"—birds severely injured but not killed.

Dove shooting would also contribute to toxic lead shot in the environment. According to a long-term study by the United States Geological Survey and the Fish and Wildlife Service, for every dove shot hunters discharge an average of eight shots, posing a risk to doves and other wildlife who may accidentally ingest the lead shot.

Also, protected species such as American kestrels, sharp-shinned hawks or killdeer are often mistakenly shot by mourning dove shooters.

Let the People Decide

Dove protection has more than 1,000 endorsements from religious, business, civic and other organizations. On Nov. 7, Michigan voters can save hundreds of thousands of birds from pointless death by voting "no" on Proposal 3.

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Dove Hunting