BABH Outdoor News

Michigan's Proposal 3 - Mourning Dove Hunting

Attention: Michigan Sportsman

For our entire Michigan sportsman, this November election day should have showed us all what we are up against, and how our rights to our great outdoors is in jeopardy now more than ever. I’m talking about proposal 3, which would have granted Michigan sportsman an opportunity for us to have a mourning dove hunting season. For one thing I wasn’t aware that hunting seasons were all voted on, don’t recall the early gun season for 14-16 year olds, or even the archery deer season age limit changing, and when exactly was the late goose season on the ballet?

So I guess if the deer season comes to a vote, and doesn’t pass, deer will be protected? Do you see what I’m getting at? How about we vote to ban all types of shopping?? Would that be fair? It doesn’t really serve a purpose, right? Probably should ban taking the families for a Sunday drive also right, just burning fuel, and contributing to global warming, right?

Now I have even heard of a few supposable sportsman scoff at the idea of having a dove season. What puzzles me is their reasoning. I will respond to their supposed reasoning for not hunting doves:

My answer, simple, then we will have to ban shrimp fishing, (Forrest Gump and Bubba would be turning over in their graves),not to mention the impact it would have across the south, a lot of people out of work, so guess what ??No more shrimp cocktail, coconut shrimp, shrimp on the BBQ, Shrimp Creole, and (gasp) the smallest of the shrimp, Popcorn Shrimp!!!!!Ekkk!!! Which are smaller than a dime!!!! (sounds like the movie right?) etc…etc..

Well if we ban shrimp, got to ban all of these as well:

 Sardines, Kippers, Oysters, Mussels, Crayfish, Frog legs, perch fillets, Bluegills Smelt, Scallops, Bobwhite Quail, Wood cock, Dungeness Crab, Escargot( which I don’t like ,but hey what ever floats your boat).

 These are just a few off the top of my head, so the size thing cannot be a reason right? Otherwise, guess what all you waterfowlers?  No more hunting of Green wing teal, Blue wing teal , Cinnamon  Teal, Buffleheads, and in a few years , Wood Ducks , and most of the diver ducks , as they are a little on the small side too, and it’s just a matter of time before they pass a weight limit of a 4 lb duck. Sounds pretty ridiculous doesn’t it??

I love that one!! , any hunter or sportsman who would shoot anything, and leave it to rot in the field, should not only go to jail, they should be banned from ever hunting anywhere in the United States. I don’t think there is even one hunter nation wide that hunts quail and woodcock that would shoot these birds and leave them in the field? I believe most all are proud to be hunters, and relish the tasty dinners of wild game birds, and look forward to preparing them for their families.

I cannot even believe that someone would be so ignorant as to even suggest it , there are laws against this , no shooting within 450 feet of a occupied dwelling ,right??? Check your small game hunting guide. That should be enough said about this one….

You mean like the pretty sound that bobwhite quail make, or the tweeting of a woodcock as it flushes, or how about the whistle of a Green Winged Teal?

What does the sound a bird makes determines if it is to be hunted or not?

See what I mean?

Protect them from what? They migrate thousands of miles, and are hunted the whole way, except here in Michigan, one of the greatest hunting, fishing , outdoor states in the whole USA( at least I thought it was). They are a renewable resource, and bag limits will be established based on sound scientific conservation fact, and besides, Mexico, Central America, South America, generates a lot of money, from sportsman that come to their countries from all over the world to spend a few days hunting Doves. Oh I’m sorry, Michigan can’t use any extra revenue that would be generated from out of state sportsman, that travel to Michigan (Air fare),   stay at Hotels and Motels, eat at restaurants, buy gifts, Gas , hunting licenses, shells , clothing, snacks, beverages, etc…And how about the extra revenue for the DNR through taxes on ammunition and license sales? I think they could use a little extra money to conserve some habitat, wouldn’t you agree??  

Hello… Congressman, Governor, Department of Natural Resources, is anyone listening??

6 “Not very sporting, sitting there shooting them off the telephone wires”

You cannot be serious? ( to quote John McEnroe) If you think that is what we sportsman would want, you obviously have never hunted or even been outdoors. I would love to put a shotgun , with one box of shells  in this persons hands, and take them out into the field dove hunting,( Not in Michigan of course), And tell them, what they shoot with that box of shells , is the only food they get for the next 5 days . I think it would put the Aitkin’s Diet to shame the amount of weight they would lose, trying to hit a incoming dove on a windy day is akin to trying to swat a mosquito out of the air with a broom stick, yes it can be done, but not very often. Comparing hitting a dove to shooting a ring neck pheasant, or even a mallard, would be like batting against me pitching to you, or Roger Clemmons?? I think you would rather face my scorching 65 MPH fastball, than the 98-100 MPH rocket of his, but if you never played, you won’t even know what I mean, but then the uneducated, inexperienced, don’t get to make rules in baseball, probably should be that way in hunting and fishing as well, you agree?

If I sound sarcastic and disappointed, your right, I am saddened by what has happened this past November, this is just one more freedom that has been denied to Michigan sportsman. The whole thing got turned into a “cute” thing, and the public swallowed it hook line and sinker, something about the dove being a sign of peace?,(so I guess all the other states that hunt doves cannot possible have any peace?)

So for now, there will be no cool crisp August mornings, getting up early, taking my son out into the field, taking up seats overlooking a freshly harvested winter wheat field. As the rising sun just breaks the horizon, glowing a soft red, turning to a brilliant orange, as the first few birds fly over, and you just sit there, with a steaming hot cup of coffee, not even raising you gun, just watching your son try to hit one, and finally he connects and my Labrador retriever streaks out to retrieve his first bird, the ear to ear smile of accomplishment on his face will for ever be etched in your memory. And later after you clean each bird, showing him how to do it , and letting him help, then after he continues to ask ,”When are we eating the Doves ,dad??, You finally thaw them and enjoy a nice BBQ dinner of Dove and wild rice on you backyard deck, on a beautiful sunny August Sunday afternoon.

It will all have to wait for now, I just hope we all wake up really soon

_____________

Please call or e-mail the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and also your congressman.

And voice your opinion

Please send me any comments or facts to

Lloyd@becomeabetterhunter.com

Last Updated: October 16, 2007