Who's Really Behind the Dove Hunt Ban

[Neal]

Here are the facts that should be publicized far and wide.

For 2004

The Committee to Restore The Dove Shooting Ban reported income of $57,484.

Of that, a total of $54,236.56 or 94%, came from New York-based Fund for Animals
($25,000) and Washington, DC-based Humane Society of the U.S. ($29,236.56).

For 2005

The Committee to Restore The Dove Shooting Ban reported income of $214,764.87.

Of that, $125,000 or 58% came from Washington, DC-based Humane Society of the
U.S.

So far, out of the $272,248.87 that has been raised, $179,236.56 or 66% has come
from out-of-state animal-rights extremists groups.

The message needs to get out there that out of state animal-rights extremists
have already contributed 66% of the funds used by our opponents to get this
measure on the ballot.

Do the people of Michigan really want out-of-state animal-rights extremists
groups telling us what to do with our wildlife resources?

Jim Shaeffer
Citizens for Wildlife Conservation

[multibeard]

The Fund For Animals is [was] one of the oldest anti groups out there.

Last year they merged with the HSUS to become a monster anti organization. That is why they don't show up as a donor this year.

Must be Cleveland Amory, FFA founder, funneled off enough $$$ thru his expense accounts to last him the rest of his life. He always bragged that he never took a salary for running the FFA. You should have seen his expense accounts.

[Backwoods-Savage]

Humane Society used to be okay until they went anti-hunting.

[One Eye]

Those groups may be raising/contributing the money, but they do not pull the levers or mark the ballots come November!

Dan

[wild bill]

Those groups may be raising/contributing the money, but they do not pull the levers or mark the ballots come November!

Dan

maybe not but its there money and there opinion that may be changing the minds of the MI voters that are on the fence to this issue.

[dyemen]

Those groups may be raising/contributing the money, but they do not pull the levers or mark the ballots come November!

Dan

NO, But it does give them a year or so to start "educating" people on how to vote......which they did not have before....!
Just an idea that has come to mind........A lot of banquets(NWTF, Pheasants forever, duck unlimited...etc.) happening real soon, has anyone approached the idea of sending info to educate the attendees......???? Great oppurtunity to talk to those that are possible sitting on the fence.....I know of 2 banquets just in January.....HRC(great lakes chapter) and Ruffed Grouse Society(Kalamazoo chapter)!

Dave

[john warren]

ok i agree with you 100%
that being said your trying to educate a bunch of people that are using emotonal buttons to do their thinking. suzy treehuggs is just never going to read those numbers and change her mind. so much for the public education system huh?

[Zeboy]

John - I believe a majority of Michigan voters will not decide based on emotion. Sure, a portion will and we will not change their minds. In 1996(Proposal G), almost 70% of Michigan voters said that they did not want wildlife managed by emotion, but instead managed by our trained professionals.

It will be up to us (Sportsmen) to educate the general public on this isuue (Hunting vs. Anti Hunting). I believe it will be a HOT button for many people, that the anti - push is being funded from outside the state. Especially when we can prove that our money is being raised primarily within the state. For many people, regardless of what the issue is they don't want outsiders coming in and telling us what we can and cannot do.

Unfortunately, this ballot will be decided by the majority of voters that do not have strong feelings either way. We need to "get to them two ways".
1. Sportsmen need to speak up to those around us - relatives, co-workers, neighbors . . . We all have the ability to influence 50 people around us. All we have to do is to calmly explain our position on hunting and why it is something we should have the right to do. Remember, Every person we can convince to not vote "the anti-way" and vote pro hunting is like getting two votes. For every person that is prepared to vote anti that we can convice to just not vote either way is a plus 1 vote. If you can't convice someone to vote prohunting, at least convince them to not vote at all on this issue.
2. Like all ballot initiatives, most people will make up their mind the last 2 months of the campaign. We will need to blanket the airwaves with our message during that time. That message will include that this issue is far greater than just dove hunting. To fund this we will need to raise a lot of money. If everyone who purchased a hunting liscense in 05 would contribute $5 - $10 to this cause, we would have more than enough money to get the message out.

If we can get the message out, we will win. We have the facts on our side. That is why the majority of legislatures supported us. That is why the governor had no choice but to sign the bill. We have the message, we just need to be heard. All of us have a hand in being heard.

[brdhntr]

NO, But it does give them a year or so to start "educating" people on how to vote......which they did not have before....!
Just an idea that has come to mind........A lot of banquets(NWTF, Pheasants forever, duck unlimited...etc.) happening real soon, has anyone approached the idea of sending info to educate the attendees......???? Great oppurtunity to talk to those that are possible sitting on the fence.....I know of 2 banquets just in January.....HRC(great lakes chapter) and Ruffed Grouse Society(Kalamazoo chapter)!

Dave

We have been passing info to our RGS chapters, and I know of a couple PF Chapters that are, too. I am meeting with the RGS Regional Director tonight and guarantee it will be brought up. Doug was with us at the first meeting of the CWCC, so he is aware and has been informing the Chapter reps.

[dyemen]

We have been passing info to our RGS chapters, and I know of a couple PF Chapters that are, too. I am meeting with the RGS Regional Director tonight and guarantee it will be brought up. Doug was with us at the first meeting of the CWCC, so he is aware and has been informing the Chapter reps.

If we have info to hand out....including the map and the money statistics and where it is coming from.........I would be glad to get that info out to RGS and HRC....that should be at least a 100 people. NOW, for NWTF.......our chapter was the ones that hosted the inagural hunt with those who were key to getting this passed...... I know at that banquet(st. joe)....there will be over 250 people. Steve Sharp ussually hosts it and I would bet between the chapter president and Steve.....we could even get a little time on the mic! Have they designed any info yet to hand out....?

Dave

[Due51]

Those groups may be raising/contributing the money, but they do not pull the levers or mark the ballots come November!

Dan My sentiments exactly. That's two groups versus how many actual voters.

The ban on dove hunting was laid to rest because enough signatures were gathered on petitions to put it on hold.

Are we gonna let these ANTIs out-vote us for our right to hunt?

[Tolmite]

The ban on dove hunting was laid to rest because enough signatures were gathered on petitions to put it on hold.

But the signatures were received too late and our governor still decided to allow the late petitions to put the ban on. Now I agree we need to take some action but I also keep in mind the cards don't seem to be stacked fairly either with mindsets like our current governor.

[Zeboy]

Dyeman

Send me a PM with your address and how many brochures that you are in need of. I will make sure that they are sent to you.

Thanks!