IV

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;
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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

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that, to pro3 vide a fair and equitable opportunity for individuals to

4 hunt for mourning doves—

5 (1) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

6 should be modified to allow for mourning dove hunt-
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1 ing during the last week of August in the Pacific

2 Flyway Region, as approved by the parties to the

3 appropriate international agreement;

4 (2) such an extended hunting season will—

5 (A) improve hunting opportunities in the

6 western United States without causing negative

7 impacts on mourning dove populations;

8 (B) through the sale of hunting permits,

9 generate additional revenue that may be used

10 for the better management and conservation of

11 mourning doves and other wildlife species; and

12 (C) continue to provide for the conserva13 tion and enhancement of mourning dove popu14 lations;

15 (3) the United States should take immediate

16 steps to begin discussions with the appropriate par17 ties to ensure that all Americans have an oppor18 tunity to harvest migratory mourning doves in an

19 equitable manner; and

20 (4) hunters in all States located in the Pacific

21 Flyway Region and the wildlife management agen22 cies of the States of Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wy23 oming should support an earlier opening date for the

24 mourning dove hunting season.

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