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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 196 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 196

Expressing the sense of the Congress that hunting seasons for migratory 
mourning doves in the Pacific Flyway Region should be modified so that 
 individuals have a fair and equitable opportunity to hunt such birds.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2001

  Mr. Hansen submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that hunting seasons for migratory 
mourning doves in the Pacific Flyway Region should be modified so that 
 individuals have a fair and equitable opportunity to hunt such birds.

Whereas 75 percent of mourning doves that hatch, fledge, and nest in the 
        intermountain States of Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming migrate south 
        beyond the boundaries of these States before the national hunting season 
        opening date of September 1, thus denying hunters in these States an 
        equitable opportunity to harvest this species;
Whereas mourning doves are the most widely distributed and harvested game bird 
        in North America;
Whereas current regulated hunting for mourning doves has been conclusively found 
        to cause no significant effects on recruitment of fledglings in mourning 
        dove populations;
Whereas western sportsmen have a strong commitment to the health, conservation, 
        and enjoyment of wildlife, as demonstrated by the millions of dollars 
        they have voluntarily paid over the past 70 years into the Federal Aid 
        to Wildlife Restoration Fund established by the Pittman-Robertson 
        Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.);
Whereas there are well over 354,000,000 acres available for the harvesting of 
        mourning doves and other migratory game species in the Pacific Flyway 
        Region;
Whereas mourning dove hunting has been a cherished and honored tradition in the 
        Pacific Flyway Region States for generations, most notably in Utah;
Whereas migratory bird hunters in the Pacific Flyway Region annually provide 
        $423,000,000 to wildlife conservation and local economies; and
Whereas hunters in the Pacific Flyway Region are currently unable to experience 
        hunting conditions similar to the rest of the country with respect to 
        game availability because of the current unfair hunting season 
        restrictions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that, to provide a fair and equitable 
opportunity for individuals to hunt for mourning doves--
            (1) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 should be 
        modified to allow for mourning dove hunting during the last 
        week of August in the Pacific Flyway Region, as approved by the 
        parties to the appropriate international agreement;
            (2) such an extended hunting season will--
                    (A) improve hunting opportunities in the western 
                United States without causing negative impacts on 
                mourning dove populations;
                    (B) through the sale of hunting permits, generate 
                additional revenue that may be used for the better 
                management and conservation of mourning doves and other 
                wildlife species; and
                    (C) continue to provide for the conservation and 
                enhancement of mourning dove populations;
            (3) the United States should take immediate steps to begin 
        discussions with the appropriate parties to ensure that all 
        Americans have an opportunity to harvest migratory mourning 
        doves in an equitable manner; and
            (4) hunters in all States located in the Pacific Flyway 
        Region and the wildlife management agencies of the States of 
        Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming should support an earlier 
        opening date for the mourning dove hunting season.
                                 <all>
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