John Hansen: “As the author of H.Con.Res. 275, I am pleased to present this legislation to provide badly needed relief to millions of…”

“As the author of H.Con.Res. 275, I am pleased to present this legislation to provide badly needed relief to millions of dove hunters throughout the United States. Mourning doves are the most widely distributed and harvested game bird in North America. Dove hunting is a cherished and honored tradition in this country. Dove hunters pay millions of dollars in excise taxes each year that are deposited in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund. These monies are used to acquire and manage thousands of acres of critical wetlands that provide essential habitat for many species of migratory birds. Under current law, the hunting season for doves and all migratory bird games is September 1 to March 10 of each year. I am not aware of the rationale for these arbitrary dates and there is little, if any, discussion as to why that period was selected. While these dates may be fine for dove hunters in Southern California, they have a long-term negative impact on sportsmen in dozens of northern States. In fact, because of rapidly changing weather conditions, it is not unusual to have a dove hunting that lasts less than a week or even just a day in States like Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, et cetera. Furthermore, this is not simply a western States problem. I have been told that even States like Maryland have a very short dove hunting season.”