Multidigits
09-01-2005, 09:01 AM
Dove fight is about the right to hunt
August 25, 2005
BY ERIC SHARP
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
A coalition of hunting groups is gearing up to combat animal rights groups trying to stop dove hunting in Michigan. And the hunters know their big problem isn't the animal rightists, or even the mass of people who don't hunt but don't oppose hunting.
It's other hunters, who don't realize that in the long run this isn't about dove hunting but preserving the right to hunt for every species from doves to deer.
"The Big Three hunting states are Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas, and the animal rights groups would love to have a success in any of them," said Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. "They see the dove issue as a low-hanging fruit that's easy for them to pluck."
That's because many Michigan hunters who pursue deer, bear, rabbits and other species apparently decided that it's somehow unmanly or unsporting to shoot doves, even though doves are the most popular game bird in America. They're hunted in 41 states.
It's a silly position and one hunters have to get over unless they want to help people whose stated objective is to end all hunting in the United States. But it's why the Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other anti-hunting groups think they can get Michigan voters to ban dove hunting with a referendum in the November elections.
Two years ago, the state Legislature approved a three-year dove hunting trial in six counties on the Indiana and Ohio borders. But even that effort wasn't supported by some hunters, who seem to who equate hunting with masculinity.
It always seemed bizarre to me that people would try to make that connection because it doesn't take any more masculinity or skill to put a bullet through a deer with a rifle at 100 yards than to knock a dove out of the air with a shotgun at 30.
A Citizens for Wildlife Conservation committee has been formed to save the dove hunt. It includes Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the National Wild Turkey Federation, National Rifle Association and Safari Club International, with Dan Potter of the Michigan chapter of the turkey federation serving as chairman. These groups are not made up of dilettantes or wimps. They include many of the most dedicated of our hunters, people who put their money where their mouths are.
And that's what the coalition wants you to do as well.
Sam Washington, executive director of MUCC, figures it will take about $3 million to overcome the $1 million or so the anti-hunting groups have raised for a TV, radio and newspaper advertising campaign urging people to vote against hunting.
Polls show the anti-hunting forces with about a 20-point edge at the moment.
"It always takes more money to climb out of a hole than to start off even," Washington said. "The first part of our campaign isn't going to be against the antis but to get all of the hunters on our side. If you don't recognize that giving the anti-hunters a victory in Michigan is a blow against all forms of hunting, then you aren't thinking very clearly."
We hunters trounced the anti-hunting faction when we came together during the fight over bear hunting in the 1990s. Many of us knew some bear hunters were guilty of trespassing and other sins charged to them, but we also knew the problem was one of law enforcement and that the antis were using the bear issue as the thin end of the wedge in their fight against hunting.
In that one, we hunters also started out in the hole, with 66% of the voters saying they opposed bear hunting. But in the end we turned it around 180 degrees and won with about 66% of the vote. We can do the same thing this time, but only if hunters will put their money where their mouths and hearts are.
If you're contacted about a donation, please give whatever you can. If you would like to help now, donations may be sent to Citizens for Wildlife Conservation at 622 W. Coy, Hazel Park, Mich. 48030.
To get involved in the fight against the anti-hunters, contact the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at 614-888-4868, or by e-mail at
info@ussportsmen.org.
Contact ERIC SHARP at 313-222-2511 or esharp@freepress.com.
August 25, 2005
BY ERIC SHARP
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
A coalition of hunting groups is gearing up to combat animal rights groups trying to stop dove hunting in Michigan. And the hunters know their big problem isn't the animal rightists, or even the mass of people who don't hunt but don't oppose hunting.
It's other hunters, who don't realize that in the long run this isn't about dove hunting but preserving the right to hunt for every species from doves to deer.
"The Big Three hunting states are Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas, and the animal rights groups would love to have a success in any of them," said Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. "They see the dove issue as a low-hanging fruit that's easy for them to pluck."
That's because many Michigan hunters who pursue deer, bear, rabbits and other species apparently decided that it's somehow unmanly or unsporting to shoot doves, even though doves are the most popular game bird in America. They're hunted in 41 states.
It's a silly position and one hunters have to get over unless they want to help people whose stated objective is to end all hunting in the United States. But it's why the Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other anti-hunting groups think they can get Michigan voters to ban dove hunting with a referendum in the November elections.
Two years ago, the state Legislature approved a three-year dove hunting trial in six counties on the Indiana and Ohio borders. But even that effort wasn't supported by some hunters, who seem to who equate hunting with masculinity.
It always seemed bizarre to me that people would try to make that connection because it doesn't take any more masculinity or skill to put a bullet through a deer with a rifle at 100 yards than to knock a dove out of the air with a shotgun at 30.
A Citizens for Wildlife Conservation committee has been formed to save the dove hunt. It includes Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the National Wild Turkey Federation, National Rifle Association and Safari Club International, with Dan Potter of the Michigan chapter of the turkey federation serving as chairman. These groups are not made up of dilettantes or wimps. They include many of the most dedicated of our hunters, people who put their money where their mouths are.
And that's what the coalition wants you to do as well.
Sam Washington, executive director of MUCC, figures it will take about $3 million to overcome the $1 million or so the anti-hunting groups have raised for a TV, radio and newspaper advertising campaign urging people to vote against hunting.
Polls show the anti-hunting forces with about a 20-point edge at the moment.
"It always takes more money to climb out of a hole than to start off even," Washington said. "The first part of our campaign isn't going to be against the antis but to get all of the hunters on our side. If you don't recognize that giving the anti-hunters a victory in Michigan is a blow against all forms of hunting, then you aren't thinking very clearly."
We hunters trounced the anti-hunting faction when we came together during the fight over bear hunting in the 1990s. Many of us knew some bear hunters were guilty of trespassing and other sins charged to them, but we also knew the problem was one of law enforcement and that the antis were using the bear issue as the thin end of the wedge in their fight against hunting.
In that one, we hunters also started out in the hole, with 66% of the voters saying they opposed bear hunting. But in the end we turned it around 180 degrees and won with about 66% of the vote. We can do the same thing this time, but only if hunters will put their money where their mouths and hearts are.
If you're contacted about a donation, please give whatever you can. If you would like to help now, donations may be sent to Citizens for Wildlife Conservation at 622 W. Coy, Hazel Park, Mich. 48030.
To get involved in the fight against the anti-hunters, contact the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at 614-888-4868, or by e-mail at
info@ussportsmen.org.
Contact ERIC SHARP at 313-222-2511 or esharp@freepress.com.