The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Says Dove Hunting is Not Harming Dove Numbers.
Wildlife Legislative Fund of America

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released a study saying mourning dove populations have not been adversely affected by hunting in Ohio. This is good news for sportsmen in Iowa, Wisconsin, and other states where dove hunting might be threatened. Sportsmen should share this information with key state legislators and other officials. Animal rights groups claim that hunting will lead to the demise of the mourning dove, but scientific facts say it will not.

(posted September 14, 2000)
 

Hunting Heritage Protection Act Needs Sportsman's Support

The WLFA offers the following suggestions to sportsmen and sportswomen on how they can help H.R. 4790 progress through Congress:

Send a letter to the WLFA on behalf of your organization or club saying you would like to sign on in support of the Hunting Heritage Protection Act, H.R. 4790.

Send a letter, on behalf of your organization, to your state’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. Ask for a commitment for a yes vote when the measure reaches the House floor.

Have your membership write their representatives individually to ask for a commitment for a yes vote when the measure reaches the House floor.

Consider a contribution to the WLFA to defray expenses.

Many sportsmen and sportswomen have already committed to supporting H.R. 4790. The WLFA is leading a coalition of almost 90 state and national conservation organizations seeking passage of the bill, and support of the policy continues to grow.

WLFA President Bud Pidgeon noted, “H.R. 4790 needs all of our support. It provides an opportunity to not only secure the use of hunting as a wildlife management tool on our nation's public lands, it also provides a grand opportunity to increase the public's awareness that hunters have been and will continue to be the leaders in the conservation movement.”

This national hunting policy is popular among sportsmen because it would establish in law Congress’ recognition of the significant role that hunters play in conservation. It also directs federal agencies to support, promote and enhance recreational hunting opportunities and it contains a vital stipulation for “No Net Loss” of hunting opportunities. Under this provision, the government is directed to maintain, at the minimum, current levels of federal hunting lands to be open for sportsmen’s use.

The Hunting Heritage Protection Act has made its way through the U.S. House of Representatives Resources committee and is set to go before the House floor in September.

Sportsmen and sportswomen need to contact their representatives and encourage them to vote in favor of H.R. 4790. For more information about how to contact your legislator, visit the WLFA website at www.wlfa.org. The Legislative Action Center on the homepage is designed to help you find out who your legislator is and allows you to communicate with him or her through an email link.

The Wildlife Legislative Fund of America (WLFA) is a national, non-profit organization which provides legislative, legal defense and public education services to defend and advance sportsmen's rights in Washington, D.C. and in the states.

(posted September 13, 2000)