Saddened by dove hunting

September 17, 2012

Washington, Iowa

and Egg Harbor, Wisconsin

To the Editor:

I was saddened when reading Steve Anderson?s article titled ?Tracks and Tales: Lessons Learned During My First 2012 Dove Hunting Experience? which I found in the Evening Journal?s Sept. 12, 2012, issue. He said it was ?in search of harvesting the No. 1 game bird in North America ? keying our efforts on habitats that attract them.?

How can it be called ?hunting? when the birds are shot while enjoying ?lots of mowed sunflowers, a few rows of standing sunflowers, and a nice variety of tree, brush, and other habitat?? That sounds great for the doves, but then he goes on to say that ?judging by the numbers of shell casing lying around the first three have been a lot of fun for many people.? I cannot imagine the FUN in shooting (not hunting ? as in the wild) a small bird, which is also a symbol of PEACE.

I note that the limit is 15 birds. I cannot imagine there would be much to eat after being shot by a shotgun. Therefore, do they end up in a landfill somewhere?! Also how about having shooters pick up their shell casings. I think that Mr. Anderson, as a Conservationist, would be concerned that shell casings were being left on the ground.

When it became legal for doves to be shot, I was appalled and could not imagine how much ?sport? that would be, especially when there is habitat being especially provided so that doves can be easily shot. Since ?sunflowers are hugely attractive to a wide array of songbirds, most notably goldfinches and red-winged blackbirds,? I wonder how many of those are killed in the process, since they are lured to the habitat also.

Sadly, Wisconsin also has a law allowing for the shooting of doves and, through the years, we had two pairs of doves come to our patio and now there is just one lone dove.

Donna Koehler

(Mrs. Bob Koehler)