The Man Who Blocked Dove Hunting in Wisconsin Until 2003
Three Take Home Messages
NY Dove Hunting stresses that dove hunting opportunity will enhance opportunity for bird watchers, not the vice versa as instigated by the Humane Society of the United States. We also understand that bird watching organizations, particularly parent organizations, do not necessarily oppose dove hunting. Never the less we caution advocates that an element of opposition does exist in numerous individuals within the bird watching community and organizational opposition is present among many chapters of larger parent organizations. We urge our advocates to establish cooperative dialogue with the bird watching community, while exercising extreme prudence in dealing with them.
One person can have a big influence on either passing or blocking dove hunting legislation. Therefore, get involved, because you can make a difference. Equally important and along the same vein is learn who is behind the opposition so that you are awaken to the fact you are dealing with a mere person or persons, not a mysterious entity. If you constantly reference “they”, without knowing exactly who “they” are, you have homework to do.
People who oppose dove hunting often claim that they themselves are hunters or former hunters. Although that is on rare occasions true, the vast majorities of persons who make this claim are not actually hunters yet will put up a convincing front and go to great lengths and extremes to carry out this charade. The outliers, who are in fact hunters, demonstrate that the hunting community is not like-minded nor a unified group. Other persons will indicate that they are not opposed to hunting in general, but do not believe in dove hunting (and/or state pheasant stocking programs, Sunday hunting and hunting other species such as woodcock, rails, snipe, and sandhill cranes). Persons who make such statements will often be cordial with deer hunters and indicate to legislators that they have reasons to oppose bird hunting but do not oppose deer hunting or hunting in general.
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