Help Save Our Mourning Doves!

[raynjudy]

The following cross-posts explain everything and will bring everybody up to speed...

--Ray

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Hi Ray and all,

Thanks for the info on saving the mourning doves. I hope we can prevent Wisconsin from becoming like California. Every hunting season (which is going on now), hundreds of thousands of mourning doves are blasted out of the sky. I don't know how many I've received, with their wings shot apart, chests split open, eyes blinded, lives destroyed. They have no chance.

Behind each baby dove that I raise is the spector of knowing that they will be targets for hunters. I hate to release any of them, they are such dear little birds.

Let's do all we can to keep the Wisconsin doves safe from the people who want to kill them.

Marian

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Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 8:58 PM
Subject: More From John On Wisconsin's Mourning Doves...

Hi, all!

As I said, we have at best a reprieve.

This just in (see below)...

We have an historic opportunity here, to drop in its tracks, this Mourning Dove Hunt proposal. The purchase of the print offered on the WCCCD page of www.pigeons.com, will mark your participation in this terrible battle. Win or lose, you were there, defending what you care about. Each print will be signed and numbered by the artist, and each and every sale benefits the legal fund to keep Wisconsin a safe haven for Mourning Doves.

Carl at Pigeons.com writes recently: "I do not have any mourning dove pictures and there are no morning doves around here anymore. I do not know where they went..."

As John says, the science on the migratory habits of this species by Wisconsin's DNR is sloppy at best. The population of this gentle songbird is in flux!

I know I cannot draw the specific analogy, but my mind keeps going to the Passenger Pigeon, and the role Wisconsin played in its destruction. We've got a real shot at beating this thing, this time. If you've even considered helping, make your move now, while we have the upper hand! Buy a little piece of history!

Thanks for indulging me one more time.

--Ray

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Ray,

...When I related the early news, I was using the words of our attorney. We both understand more now. The Judge is giving the State until Sept. 19 to respond to the injunction and his initial ruling. We than have 20 more days to respond, and the State finally has 10 days. Then the Judge will consider any new information (briefs) and make a final ruling. Then we go from there.

Thanks Again!

John

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Dove Hunting proponents are flooding newspapers with their version of what
happened in Madison last week. They need to be answered.

1. We were required by law to file in Madison.
2. We drew the Judge at random.
3. This action was filed June 19, it was the State's choice to delay the
proceedings until the last week in August.

Below is a letter I submitted two to three weeks ago.

Dear Editor & Readers,
The Circuit Court for Dane County will be asked to make a decision
regarding the hunting of Mourning Doves in Wisconsin. The presiding Judge
is expected to rule later this month if the Department of Natural Resources
had the authority to render the rule change allowing Wisconsin hunters to
hunt Mourning Doves beginning September 1, 2001.

Much will be written regarding this decision and what it means to Wisconsin
hunters. The readers of this newspaper should understand that the argument
is a simple one. They should understand that the State of Wisconsin,
through its agency the WDNR, claims that ALL wild birds in the state are
considered "Game" and can be subject to hunting. The Wisconsin Citizens
Concerned for Cranes & Doves contends that the Wisconsin State Statutes
clearly define which types of wild birds are "Game Birds" and that ALL of
the rest are "Non-Game Species".

This isn't about "Hunters' Rights" Vs "Anti-Hunters"; this is about a state
agency over-stepping its authority. Not one of our elected representatives
in Madison seems concerned about the WDNR exceeding their authority under
the Wisconsin State Statutes and usurping the Legislatures responsibility
to decide whether or not to institute a change in the Statutes.

I reviewed our legal expenses with our attorney yesterday. If any of you
are considering and can afford to help more, PLEASE do so now. WCCCD,
P.O. Box 103, New London, WI 54961

We want to see this through.

Thank You all very much for your support!

John Wieneke
WCCCD

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change
the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."--Margaret Mead

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