Save the Doves

[rabbit whacker]

Was reading the Lowell Buyers Guide tonight and found an ad for Saving the Morning doves. Just to let you know that the anti's are out there trying to drum up support also. If you haven't called, written, or emailed your Representatives, do it ASAP.

Save the Doves (http://www.savethedoves.org/)

[rb1]

I'am not an anti; But I'am against shooting the doves. Rb1

[SARDog]

Why? Just not what you would want to do? Too closly related to pigeons? Not enough meat for one bird? curious, that's all. I buy my sportsman's license every year, but hardly go fishing, just can't sit there and not catch anything so I don't fish much unless I know I am going to catch something.

[tdduckman]

This is why michigan will never have a dove season. When hunters and fishermen don't base their attitudes on science and conservation but on likes and dislikes.


Last time this was seriously attempted too many deer hunters said "who would want to shoot a dove"

Don't blame the antis there are too few of them, blame your fellow sportsmen and women who can't see past their own likes and dislikes.


IF the 1 million deer hunter or 3 million fishermen of this state wanted a dove season we would have it.

Facts:

The most hunted bird in north america : mourning dove

The number of states with seasons : 38

Number of doves in the US : 500 million

Number harvested every year: 40-50 million

every dove that is raised in michigan is hunted in every state as it migrates south.

IF anyone can give me facts as to why we shouldn't have a season I would love to hear them.



Oh well this is no longer my fight as I am relocating to missouri and will be hunting doves from september 1st on.

[fredbear50]

What fun is there in watching a bird feeder and waiting for doves to land on it and shoot them? Why don't we just have robin, cardinal, and finch season while we're at it?:o

[Luv2hunteup]

There's room for all God's creatures, right next to the mashed potatoes. :D

If eat your kill and not use them for target practice, I see no reason to not have a season.

[Zeboy]

I got a C Note - As in $100 bill that says . . . you go to Indiana with me on September 1 and I bet you can't hit 25% of the doves you shoot at. Let's go if you really think there's no challenge to it.

. . .If you had even the first clue about dove hunting you wouldn't have made that bird feeder comment.

[Lunker]

Come to Toledo and try to shoot one. Theyre Quick!!! ...and tasty.

[flyer]

fred bear 50:
when we get a dove season i just invited you to come to zeeland and hunt in my cornfield for doves i walk my dog every day and in the fall it would be just like the good old days for pheasants you have a dog crossing and all of a sudden 5 birds are coming out of the corn it will be great and then you can help with putting up nest platforms in the tree row for next year or you can sit on the couch and try to understand why people hunt and i will invite someone else.

[rabbit whacker]

freddy

You may want to do some reseach on Dove hunting. If your idea of dove hunting is shooting them off of a bird feeder you have no clue what dove hunting is about. I am hoping that you were saying that tongue in cheek.

I would guarantee you couldn't hit 10% of the birds if you went with flyer, Lunker, or zeboy.

[stevebrandle]

You know, I don't like to get into these "your kind of hunting is dumb" discussions, but fredbear50, the bird feeder comment has convinced me I should.

I'm assuming that you never use bait for deer Fred. And if you don't, you must be a recurve shooter. No, gee, what sport is that? Wow, I hope you don't shoot does, too. Let's take the high road here guys.

[baydog2]

The good old backyard birdfeeder what an excuse to use for not having a season. I have more Rabbits, pheasants, an every once in a while turkey in there than doves, but there are seasons on those. That shows the mentality of the lazy antis, something has to come to them. There are all kinds of ways to hunt doves, flushing, pass shooting,decoying, and even dogs. Sorry thats just a P#$$ poor excuse. Baydog

[Lunker]

Ive never even seen anyone even talk about shooting off a bird feeder. We go to state game areas or farm feilds and wait till they fly by and I dont know how fast but they are Very fast!

[east bay ed]

if we decided what we could or couldn't hunt based on what comes to a bird feeder, fall would be pretty short. no more deer, turkey, duck, goose, grouse, racoon or squirrel hunting anymore.

look i don't know for sure that i would be out dove hunting if we do get a season. but i will tell you this, i will give it a try and if i like it fine otherwise good luck to those that do. not everyone bow hunts but that does not mean we should stop bow hunting.

one other thing to think about,

how many young kids can we bring into the fold if we had a fast and plentiful game bird for them to hunt that can still be found close to urban areas and in the fields of near by farms? this could actually be the future of our sport that we are talking about here.

[ESOX]

Originally posted by Lunker
Ive never even seen anyone even talk about shooting off a bird feeder. We go to state game areas or farm feilds and wait till they fly by and I dont know how fast but they are Very fast!

And the flight is erratic. I find doves to be very humbling when I go through a box of shells for 5 birds.:eek:

[Outdoorzman]

My guess is Fred Bear 50 is an Anti here posing as a hunter.

[fredbear50]

Alright guys,
I know that you don't hunt doves from a bird feeder. I know that hunters usually sit in fields or near farm ponds and wait for the birds to fly over and shoot at them. I also realize that these fast flying birds are very difficult to hit and i'm sure i'd miss my share of them. OK. I'm not an anti. I do use bait for deer hunting. I do shoot does. I don't use a recurve bow. I was just trying to say with my previous message that dove hunting doesn't sound that challenging or time consuming (besides trying to hit them when they're flying) compared to other game that is hunted in Michigan. Sorry for offending all of you dove hunters and thanks for the invites from everyone.
-Fred
PS Some of you guys seem to have come up with some pretty childish responses (including my own post concerning dove hunting) to my post. How do you plan on proving to people opposed to dove hunting that it should be a legal gamebird in Michigan? I'm pretty sure responses like "he's an anti" and "i bet you couldn't hit 10% of the doves" is not going to win antis and undecided people's votes over for dove hunters.

[Luv2hunteup]

I don't consider hitting just 10% an insult for a first time dove hunter. Twice that for a seasoned hunter is not a bad day.

I would love to see Michigan have a dove season.

I also would like to see a sharptail grouse season. I see more of them than ruffed grouse and phesants combined.

[Gr8 Scout]

It's not just anti-hunters fueled by propaganda from PETA; Just plain old everyday folks who do not hunt don't like the idea of a dove season. There is a difference between anti- and non-hunters. The former of course are beyond all hope; the latter we can get through to, on some issues.

A couple of letters to the editor (in a special wildlife section) of todays State Journal (8/26) seem to have been written by people who just can't understand the need... And a dove hunting season might just push them over the edge into the Anti's camp.

Spare me, please, all the great benefits of dove hunting. It's not me you need to convince.

[Shotgun]

There are 5800 plus members on this board, and I can't see any harm if there's a little action supporting the addition of mourning doves to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to include them on the list of approved game animals in Michigan. You misunderstand your importance if you think that any effort is directed toward you in particular. Since you're a recent arrival around here, or have been away, you might cool your jets and show a little respect for the interests of other participants of this board. If the current effort to add this Michigan resource to our hunting opportunities bothers you, I suggest that you get over it, or read something else.



:confused:

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

It is my passion.

There are many arguments for and against all hunting.

Why should we have a dove season?

Are there plenty of birds=yes

Are they edible=yes

Would they bring in extra revinew in for all conservation=yes

Do you disagree with hunting doves because youre not interreasted? Or because you feel it's wrong?
Well there are many anti's out there that feel you shouldn't hunt anything...


I like to hunt doves. It is fun and it's a great way to spend an extra day outside doing what I like to do most HUNT.



We must all hang togeather or we will surely hang apart;)

[stevebrandle]

Gr8Scout,

To all of the Non-hunters:

Over 50% of the nourning doves born and raised in Michigan, will be dead and rotting on the ground this winter. If there was a dove season in this State, many of these wasted birds would have been eaten by sportsmen and their families. Another couple of hundred thousand birds (reared and raised in this state) will be shot in their migration south beyond our border.

Michigan sportsmen aren't asking for an increase in filling the freezer, we're just asking to harvest the birds that will die another day.

Will the "Bambi Mentality" ever cease to exist? :rolleyes:

I could live out my life without shooting a mourning dove. I could live out my life not killing another bird or animal. But, I won't tolerate humanistic or "blind sided-ecology" from ignorant people that want to spend their lives in a petting zoo. The Humane Society or PETA will gladly accept your contributions, so get off the fence, OK?

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

I was trying to say it a little differant than that but I guess that works.LOL:D

[Craig M]

stevebrandle,

I thought the mortality rate was in the 70% range. Nice to learn something new every day. Now bring on some of those tasty & tender breasts and someone pass the rye bead.

[Lil' Tanker]

that a boy fred bear 50 way to stir the pot.
come on over to the thumb sometime and we can sit on my deck and hunt. it will be great!:D

[Gr8 Scout]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=356662#post356662

Mr. Gr8

[Linda G.]

GR-So, you don't think Michigan wants a dove season. Well, there's undoubtedly a lot of people who didn't want bear hunting, either. But they supported the folks who did.

Education is the name of the game, and the best way to do that is to show someone hands on-I applaud everyone here who has actually offered to take someone who isn't sure about dove hunting with them this year to Ohio or Indiana. That's the way to do it. Fred Bear or whoever needs to go dove hunting in the worst way.

GR, I'm sure you probably enjoy doing something in the hunting/ fishing vernacular that a lot of us don't-but none of us would ever question your right to do it. Not a lot of people bear hunt, either, but we applaud those who do. We need to show a united front to the world, that's critical even if onlly a few of us want to eventually enjoy the sport of dove hunting as 39 other states will this year.

[rabbit whacker]

Well said Linda. I can guarantee that I will never go bear hunting. Don't know why exactly: chicken, wouldn't know where to go, not interested, to many other hobbies.

Whatever the reason it doesn't matter, but I support all that do.

[Steely-Head]

This thread is interesting. Hunters flaming hunters. I think tdduckman's post hits the nail on the head.

[Steely-Head]

Originally posted by trout
Last thing we need to do is create problems within our own ranks.

Exactly. Focus the war on the enemy, the PETA freaks and such.

[MadCatter]

Hmmm ... I have read through most of the debating on dove hunting .. I have a few questions . One, why is it that someone that doesn't support dove hunting gets labeled as an anti:confused: :confused: Isn't the dove the symbol of peace .. excuse me if I am misinformed on that matter, I always thought it was.. Second, you say that the mortality is near 70% in the winter ... It would seem nature is doing a good job at keeping them in check by that percentage.. It is also my understanding, and again I could be misinformed, but don't doves mate for life .. so for every dove that is killed, you are essentually killing off a breeding pair, that might have otherwise produced many offspring:confused: :confused: ... Third .. Doves are a birdfeeder bird, they come to feeders and are fed by people that watch them daily ... I am in no way suggesting that any of you would shoot or hunt off of a feeder .. I am just stating that there are people that love it when doves come to their feeder .. and can invision single doves showing up, whos mates have been killed by hunters ... Things are different with the Dove, quail pheasants,grouse, ducks ect. have all been game birds and are not looked upon with the same caring eye as the Dove.. It would seem to me, that there should be a better approach to the hunting season, then by stating they are just going to die anyway, or that you want to shoot them because they are plentiful. I have never had the urge to hunt or shoot a dove. I am not against hunting doves, but it would seem to me that if I wanted to convince someone that was, I would try to show some of the advantages of hunting doves ... Instead of I would just like to go out and shoot a few, to see how many I can hit.

I will say that I am against dove shooting .... there are some that go out and pass shoot doves and leave them lay ... These people are not your friends if you are a hunter... If someone wants to go out and hunt doves to eat .. that is a whole different ball game than using something for target practice because they are plentiful and hard to hit... Anyway that is my opinion on the matter more than likey not worth much to some of you, but keep in mind there are alot of people that need convincing..
If I were against dove hunting or on the fence these are some of the questions I would be asking myself. That is the purpose of my post, simply to show what some are feeling, not to attack or to judge anyone..

Good luck to all

[Sawcat]

What a crock! I have never seen any hunter ever kill game and leave it lay, poachers maybe but they are certainly not hunters. This type of argument comes directly from the ignorance of P.E.T.A. and other anti groups, and is a direct insult to any hunter or anyone who values the outdoors as all sportsmen do. White doves are the symbol of peace, not Mourning Doves.
Birds do not breed with one mate for life, none of them, they will pair up and stay together unless something happens to their partner then they move on, and even when paired that relationship is far from exclusive. Ask anyone who has ever raised Pigeons, another "Mated for life" bird.
The fact of the matter is that Michigan is the largest Mourning Dove rookery in the nation and yet is one of a handfull of states that can not hunt them. Mourning Doves are are a fast challenging and fun game bird and they are great on the bar-b-que. These attributes seem to be all it ever took to get any present game animals on the list of huntable game , why are doves treated any differently?
By Madcatters insight he would rather see 70 percent of the Mourning Dove population rot instead of being utilized by hunters as a re-newable resource without hurting the population .

[Zeboy]

It is obvious you have already been in contact with the anti hunting rhetoric (also know as half truths, distortions and outright lies) on this subject. They follow rule number 1 of interrogation - Accuse someone of 10 things, no matter how far fetched and unsubstaniated, and hope the public remembers even one of the accusations.

WHO are all these hunters that only shoot for target practice?? I personally have been on roughly 20 dove hunts with up to 25 hunters on a hunt. I have witnessed at least 400 other dove hunters. I have yet to witness even one hunter shoot and not retrieve the birds. The are DELICIOUS. Would you like me to fix some for you???

Regarding mating for life. . . this is from an article by David Scott - Project leader for Upland Wildlife Reserch for the state of Ohio:
"Is it true that doves mate for life? Answer: No, not really. Even though doves are monogamous and form pair bonds that last throughout a nesting season, most doves are unpaired at the beginning of each nesting season. So, if a dove loses its mate, survives the winter and returns to nest the next year, it will form a new pair bond with another dove and breed again. The loss of a mate during the summer may prevent additional nesting attempts that season, but will not likely impact mating and nesting in future years"

The symbol of peace is actually the Mediterranean Turtle Dove. Genetically, the closest new world bird to the turtle dove is the Pigeon. We currently have NO Closed Season on Pigeons. Why aren't the anti's up and arms over that? Furthermore, there are many references in the bible to the relish with which the ancient Israelites killed turtle doves and ate them and the animal sacrifices with them.

Hopefully all of this helps as you continue to gather FACTS from which to base your opinions on.

[stevebrandle]

Maddcatter,

What is there to explain or defend?

Do you hunt deer or______ (fill in the blank)? Tell us how your favorite critter is above shooting a mourning dove.

[Linda G.]

I have never known ANYONE who deliberately shoots doves, then leaves them to lay there-they are too hard to shoot to do that, believe me. And too good to eat-they taste like quail. Ever heard the story of the $1200 woodcock-well, every dove, if you really want to abuse your psyche that much by figuring all the logistics out, is about $1800 apiece...;) I once spent 45 minutes searching a piece of ground about 30 feet wide right in front of me one blade of grass at a time...I found that dove.

Again, before you believe things like that, go dove hunting and find out for yourself...or at least watch someone else dove hunting. The real thing, not what you see on TV.

I offer this up, which was posted today on the MON board, from Senator John Dingell's statement to the Michigan Senate during the last dove campaign:

Senator Dingell's statement is as follows:

"If one listens to the previous speaker, you'd believe armies of
hunters
are going to be invading suburban backgrounds and blasting doves off
backyard birdfeeders, and this is not true at all. It's a catchy
word-picture that the press likes to pick up on and the Audubon
Society,
which really doesn't like hunting, and the Humane Society, which
really
doesn't like hunting and likes to portray dove hunters as doing such.
It's just plain false because there's nothing in this bill that would
take away cities' rights to prohibit hunting in suburban or urban
areas,
and also, the restrictions on hunting close to homes and other
buildings.

It's interesting to note that the mourning dove is classified by the
Audubon Society's books as a game bird. It's also interesting to note
that John Audubon shot as many as a hundred in a day, and ate them
with
relish. He even wrote notes about good recipes for them.

Now there's lots of people who like to talk about how this is going to
endanger dove populations in the United States. Hogwash! There are 45
million doves in Michigan at least. There are at least 450 million of
the little buggers in the United States. Ninety-eight percent of the
doves that exist in Michigan during most of the year migrate South.
Every state south of us has a dove season. So doves here in Michigan,
raised here, are going to be shot at, if not in Michigan, they will be
shot at down South.

Mourning doves fly nothing like other species. It's not hard to get
members of the Audubon Society to admit this. Other species may look
like them, but they don't fly anything like them. Hunters, when they
identify a species, they don't identify it by the look of the bird.
They
identify it by the flight characteristics, which are quite
distinctive.


Average life span is about nine months. That's mighty short. This is
an
animal that breeds in incredible numbers. They'll raise as many as
five
sets of young in a year. The only reason that they overpopulate like
mad
is because of their mortality through predation as well as just dying
on
their own is so high. In other states that have a dove season, the
number taken by hunters is not capable of being established or noticed
by scientific studies of the population.

There are more mourning doves taken in the United States than any
other
species of bird--any other. This isn't just a game bird because of
classification; it's a game bird because it is hunted so much. And
does
it make a difference in the population? The answer is "no." If
anything,
the population in states that have instituted a mourning dove season
has
actually gone up, not down.

I note discussion regarding the bird of peace. This is a reference to
the Mediterranean turtle dove. If you want to pull out your Bibles,
many
of us have them on the Senate floor, you will find abundant references
to the relish with which the ancient Israelites killed them and ate
them, and they made animal sacrifices of them, and they did many other
things with them. Mention was made of the supposed, actual small size
of
dove breasts. It's actually the same size of a quail, about two and
half
ounces. I don't know how much meat all of you eat at a sitting, but
only
a couple increments of two and half ounces makes a meal for me, and it
does for most hunters. This is considerably larger than robins.

I would also like to talk about the hearings we held and where doves
were hunted. It was interesting to hear that the hunting of doves
happens in strictly very rural areas, usually in stubble fields that
have been scalped, a small blind, usually of the remaining whatever it
was that was harvested is left, and the hunters will crouch in that.
It's a relatively easy matter to pick up the doves that are shot
because
they are easy to pick out.

With that I recommend the bill as passed by the House to my
colleagues,
and hope for your affirmative votes."



That bill, as we all know, lost by one lousy vote...don't let it happen again...
:eek:

[Sawcat]

Thanks Linda!

[rabbit whacker]

Mad catter -

There are many other animals that visit bird feeders and are hand fed by humans: Squirel's, Racoons, Pheasants, Ducks, and a whole host of other animals we hunt, I use the term "we" loosely because I don't believe that you are a hunter. If you are, why don't you fill out your profile?

[MadCatter]

Let me state for a FACT, that I have been in contact with NO ONE .. I HAVE see people kill doves and let them lay ... didn't say it was hunters .... Just like I said, I didn't have all the facts, just stating what I have heard all my life, yet I am attacked and basically accused of being in with PETA ... That was my first question .. why ... why would you accuse some you don't even know as being an anti:confused: :confused: I think it would be simple to see that I am a member of this site, and post on it .. how many peta types do that:confused: :confused: Attack away .. I just asked questions .. the same questions anyone might ask .. not everyone is informed of all the facts ... it is up to people who support the sport to inform, so people can make honest informed choices .. not choices based on anger or misinformation .. you had a chance to tactfully inform someone that just asked questions .. and you choose to attack me .... That is the biggest problem you face ... your own inhibitions .. not mine.

[stevebrandle]

Good post Linda.

That was a fine example of simply telling the truth by Mr. Dingell.

[stevebrandle]

Madcatter,

You may feel that folks here are attacking your posts. What I see are hunters bonded together that have heard all of your questions and comments one too many times.

[Linda G.]

and we now know what a threat they are to a number of other birds, not to mention an erosion threat for their love of sensitive wetlands vegetation...Maryland has asked for limited swan hunt, and if you read the latest issue of MON, the MI DNR has a permit to shoot 300 of them if they so choose. The Little River band will be taking 25 from Hamlin Lake in the next year....

and have a chat sometime with a farmer of soybeans or corn in Ohio, Indiana, or any state south of us.

Ask him about the huge flocks of migrating doves that descend on his fields every fall FROM MICHIGAN and points north JUST as those beans and corn are ready for picking. Can a flock of doves destroy an entire crop? Most of the time, no, but they can sure lower the quality of it by damaging just enough to make it of lower value for sale...

[I'llbeoutside]

I just got back from my in-laws farm down south where there is a dove season. I was supposed to go on my first dove hunt but we had to go a few weeks early and I missed out. I had a big debate w/ my new father in law who has a large cattle farm but is not a hunter. He could not understand why anyone would want to shoot a dove. He assumed that people just shot them and did not eat their kill. After throwing a few facts out and convincing him to join me and his son on a hunt and hopefully a dove dinner next year I'm sure he will be humbled and see the light. I did get a chance to taste some birds at a cookout last year and can't wait to cook my own. I hunt mostly in southern Michigan and am amazed at the number of birds I kick up while in the field. I am also amazed with the number of people that are misinformed and guided by thoughts of two doves by a bird feeder that have been mating for years. I hope we can get the facts out and get together on this or the people down there will continue to enjoy a season that we do not have.

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

This is sadly why we will never see a dove season in this state.
:confused:

[MadCatter]

Well, it looks like I inadvertently stirred things up quite a bit, if all it takes is a few honest questions... which I admitted that I didn't know if they were true or not, just what I had heard and believed all my life. I attacked no one, yet get attacked ... Yes I am sure those types of questions have been tossed around 10s of thousands of times ... but, when someone don't know something, shouldn't they try to find out before they make a desision:confused: :confused:

Robert .. thanks for not saying anything unkind ... Have faith, I believe you will get a dove season in the near future

Illbeoutside .. I am like your fatherinlaw in the fact that I feel almost the same way as him about shooting doves, and eating them. I have no problem with the people that do.. It was a nice post.. and I truly think you grasp the meaning of my questions although I was not looking for a debate, I just inquired to questions on my mind ... I could have looked it up on the web, I just figured I would post on since this thread was already here.

Linda ... Thanks for the facts in your post .. you answered most of my questions.

Steve .. yep I feel I was attacked ... You, and I both have to defend, and or exlain our rights everyday .. they are always under attack by someone .. if you hunt or fish, enjoy outdoors .. it is up to every sportsmen to explain .. teach .. and defend their sport .. not only to protect it, but to encourage others to enjoy it..

Rabbit .. I don't fill out my profile because I choose not to, if I filled it out would you believe it.... You don't feel I am a hunter, well in that regard you are somewhat correct .. I used to hunt every chance I got when I was younger, deer, grouse, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels quail .. I hunted all of these with my dad .. he got in ill health and I hated to go without him so I kind of lost interest ... I own close to 50 firearms, and mostly hunt paper targets now .. not because I don't believe in hunting but because, me nor my family really enjoys eating the game so it would be a waste for me to hunt... Before for my dad passed away, I would take him turkey hunting .. he loved to do that, I never hunted turkeys, so I just went to look after him .. Luckily he got one before his time passed ... So now I mainly fish, when I can get out .. I don't get out near as much as I used to .. I think my boat has been in the water 3 times this year and its almost over.... I don't keep many fish either .. a few walleyes here and there that is about all I like to eat .. and of course perch .. So now you know more about me than you could learn in any profile.. if you choose to believe it or not that is up to you.. Also if you will look at my original post .. I stated that there is a different attitude towards doves than game animals .. and used the birdfeeder as an example .. I was not comparing the 2


I know emotions run deep on the dove issue, I almost didn't post but figured what the harm .. hind site is 20/20.. When it comes to the point where someone can't ask a few simple quesions or express an opinion like someone did on the first page without getting flamed .. I can't see how that can help any issue

What I have learned from my post
1 Doves don't mate for life .. Although I will say that pidgeons sometimes do .. my dad raised those nasty birds off and on for most of his life .. he started out selling them to hospitals to serve for food during the depression .. Alot of our vacations were spent hauling homers around .. turning them loose and letting them return home .. I know some of them mate for life .. I have seen it first hand
2 The mourning dove is not the mythical bird of peace, I really didn't think it was, but once again, it is what I had heard .. a common misconception I guess

Anyway .. goodluck to all ... I hope you get your season .. I never implied in my post if I was for it or against it

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

No problem.

For me it is something I would like to see for the young ones in the sport.

It was always the highlight of my summer to go down to Arkansas and hunt doves and catch cat fish.


I feal we can get more done by simply talking to each other. It is often hard to express how and what you are saying over a key board.



;)

[I'llbeoutside]

Thank you for your post Linda G. Your post will be my fact sheet in the future. I believe you read too much into my post MadCatter. My father in law thinks, like you,who can also afford to own 50+ firearms, that he can keep all of the freedoms he has without the "label" of being a hunter. That is great and I have had lots of fun shooting with him, but what happens to the next gun bill without the sportsman(ha-ha). Sounds kind of stupid right?????? I will be at your house for the auction.

[rb1]

In my Sept issure I just got of Outdoor life there is some good articles on Dove hunting and some on squirrels too; well worth reading. RB1

[stevebrandle]

Madcatter,

On these boards a rebuttal of a post is allowed as long as the comments don't get too personal. Sometimes the passion overboils and an honest question is takin the wrong way. That's just how it is sometimes because this form of communication excludes facial expressions, body language and quick follow up questions; things we use every day in speaking. Most people type and post remarks without examining the essence of the words, because they're "new" to the written word and the power words have.

All this said, your first post appeared to be your opinion on dove hunting. Enough said about that.

Let me just say this, I believe the mourning dove is a renewable, plentyful and sporting resource that is being withheld from hunting because some see it as a victory for animal rights.

[MadCatter]

I never read too much into your post .. my reference was to me being attacked on the basis that I was against dove hunting which I am clearly not .. never have been .. its just not my bag of tea bottom line.. Just as some of my hobbies might not be someone elses bag of tea .. I don't believe that just because I wouldn't shoot or eat a dove, is a valid reason for some of the responces that I got.. I will also state, that responces like some of the ones I got, do more damage to the cause than they help. Society is changing and it is becoming increasing harder to keep the rights we have, adding to it by attacking someone that is not even against a particular issue, just because they asked a few questions, I did not state them as facts .. merely questions.. I can take the criticism, I am only one individual .. But I can't for the life of me see how that kind of behavior helps any sportsmans cause.. I also wouldn't catch and eat a trout ... I don't like trout fishing, or the taste of trout .. does that make me an anti fishermen:confused: :confused: I would bet that most memebers of this site don't fish for and eat certain types of fish .. carp .. sheephead... things of that nature .. would it be fair to label them anti fishermen .. peta types, or tree huggers.. This site has alot of very good members .. people that care about their sport and outdoors in general, but in the big picture when it comes to the population of an entire state it is not even a drop in the bucket to that amout of support needed.. To attack our own, to make insinuations is not very healthy for anyone.. This site might be monitored by Anits .. I have no idea .. If it is, it would be a waste of Anti resources .. they aren't going to get any members to cross over to their beliefs ... they are after masses of ill informed impressionable people. If dove hunters want a dove season, that is fine .. but lots of people need convinced that it is a worth while venture that benifits everyone, or at least most people in someway ... Attacking one of your own is in my opinion not the best way to go about it .. As for a gun auction at my house .. I do everything that is in my power to protect my right to keep and bear arms .. that is all I can do .. if it comes to that I am sure they will go to melt down not auction so I can save you the trip:D :D. I would say that development, loss of animal habitat, the constant encroachment of urban areas into rural areas is more of a threat to our way of life than a few fanatics.. In the end that is how I believe our rights will come to an end.. Sportsmen will become a minority with no real voting power .. states like New York, California, Most of the east coast states will have us so out numbered that will be of little consequence to anyone and eventually be forced to conform.. All you have to do is look back at the last hundred years or so .. see how life and attitudes have changed.. What once was a way of life .. Hunting, fishing .. shooting .. has now been reduced to a hobby by a ever diminishing select few of people... That is why it becomes more important then ever to unite .. not divide.. Although I really wish I would never have posted in this thread .. I wish everyone the best

Hope everything works out of your season

[rb1]

Well said MadCatter; RB1

[ArrowHawk]

I feel that we should have a dove hunt. Even though I wouldn't hunt them, just not for me. I'm into deer, turkey, and bear hunting. There are so many people that go to other states and hunt them. Money that could be kept right here to help support more of our own wildlife. Every hunter should support each other on this one, who else is going to.

Where do I sign up to support those of you who want the dove season?

[stevebrandle]

arrowhawk,

See the thread titled " Susan Talbot Needs Your Help" for a email address and more info.

[Stalker]

Very well put Madcatter. " A soft answer turns away wrath". I have learned alot about the dove hunting issue form this thread. Linda G. Thanks for the facts. I have not had the opportunity to hunt doves. Maybe if there is a season in MI I will get a chance. This is a great site with terrific people.
You are right Steve B. we sometimes struggle with putting into written words excatly what we mean. I am in the service industy with over fifty thousand customers to keep happy everyday. Believe me people are easily offended, while taking no thought to how they offend others. Thanks again rabbit whacker for starting this threadand for everyones posted on it.

Happy hunting, shooting or just plan enjoying Gods great gift of the outdoors.:)

[kbkrause]

More miss informed people...
Choose KFC over doves (http://www.mlive.com/columns/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1061909831127020.xml)

Mourning doves soothe (http://www.mlive.com/columns/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/106182344434500.xml)

[Linda G.]

remember the passenger pigeon...on that point, this poor uninformed woman is right on...the passenger pigeon was never managed as a species...and at the present time, neither is the mourning dove in Michigan except for the oversight provided by USFWS, which only applies if and when the mourning dove is hunted....

If the mourning dove were a game species, it WOULD be managed, and undoubtedly, numbers would probably rise...look at what we've done for the antelope, the wild turkey, and a number of other almost extirpated species...my next column in MON is on this exact issue.

[rb1]

Here is a receipt or two; RB1

Roast Stuffed Doves

1 onion, chopped fine
Butter or margarine
1 cup fine soft breadcrumbs
1 cup chopped ham
1/2 cup pine nuts
(or 1/4 c. pine nuts cut w/ 1/4 c. chopped walnuts)
1/4 c. chopped parsely
1/2 tsp. thyme
4 cleaned doves approx 1 lb @
2-4 pcs. fat bacon
1/4 c. white wine
Poultry Seasoning.

Saute onion in 6 tblsp. butter until golden brown. mix w/ next 5 ingredients. Stuff birds
w/ the mixture, close openings w/ poultry pins & laceing them would be a good idea. Put
them breast side up in a shallow roasting pan. Cover the breast of each w/ at least half a
slice worth of bacon. Melt 1/4 cup butter & mix with the wine. Roast in preheated slow
oven for 1 hr 15 mins, basting frequently with the wine & butter mix, dash of poultry
seasoning after you remove the bacon for the last 15 mins of roasting.
Serves four.


Hannibal's Easy Crockpot Dove
Based on 12-15 mourning doves, cleaned & dressed (fashionably, of course!) Adjust
recipe accordingly for more.


1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

2 pinches each of: Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme

4 pinches Ground Sage

1/4 teaspoon Ground White Pepper

5 New Potatoes, quartered

5 Small Carrots

Place all in crockpot. Do NOT add liquid to condensed soup, as copious juices from birds
will be sufficient. Cook for 8-9 hrs on low until critters are tender. Baby carrots give the
best results, but small young carrots will do if necessary. Makes its own delicious gravy!
Serve with buttered French bread, Fava beans, and a good CHIANTI if desired.

[Linda G.]

Take 3-6 doves, breast them out, and split the breasts. Marinate breasts in italian dressing, cherry juice (my favorite) or orange juice for 6-12 hours.

Place doves on skewers with chunks of fresh pea pods, green pepper, tomatoes and pineapple. Grill at medium heat for 10 minutes, serve on white or wild rice....

:p :p

[kingfisher 11]

I hunted doves last year in KS. All I can think about when someone talks about shooting doves is something I once heard. They are nothing but flying livers. I have no problem with others hunting them. I just don't like liver and if you have to do that much marinating them, then the meat is not that good.

Give me a good old pheasant or partridge breast any day.

[Linda G.]

and I've often prepared them without any marinating. I like to marinate ANY kind of meat, whether it's beef, pork or bear...it tenderizes and enhance the flavor of the meat. But it isn't necessary. If you want to try those kabobs without a marinade, that's fine. They'd taste just as good. To me, they taste almost exactly like a bobwhite quail, and they are a white meated bird. Any wild game that isn't properly prepared is going to have a gamey flavor-and I will go ahead and say this-most people don't know how to prepare wild game.

I know of only one type of wild game that truly tastes like liver, and lots of us eat those, too. Woodcock...some of us like the flavor of calves liver, it's considered a delicacy by many.

[kingfisher 11]

I know a lot of people who do like liver, just not me. Now if those doves were all white meat, you can bet I would be taking my shotgun again this year to KS.

When I lived in Antrim county I did quite a bit of woodcock hunting. I had a lot of fun but. I don't hunt them anymore because I don't like to harvest anything I won't eat myself. Mainly do to lack of time, to many other interests to keep me busy.

I hope this bill does pass, this is a very large tradition for states that do have the season. This is definitately a hunt that the youth can participate in.

KS requires you to purchase an additional $1 stamp to hunt doves.