[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION ENSURING A FAIR AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY 
       TO HARVEST MIGRATORY MOURNING DOVES IN THE PACIFIC FLYWAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today a House 
Concurrent Resolution calling for a renegotiation of the Migratory Bird 
Treaty of 1916 to promote fair and equitable hunting opportunities for 
sportsmen in the western United States.
  Specifically, my legislation provides for a lengthening of the 
migratory mourning dove hunting season in the Pacific Flyway Region. 
This region includes the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, 
Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
  The nationwide hunting season opening date for migratory mourning 
doves is September 1st, as established by the Migratory Bird Treaty. 
However, in the Pacific Flyway Region, 75 percent of the migratory 
mourning dove population has already moved south by this traditional 
opening day. Because of this naturally occurring event, sportsmen in 
western states, including my own State of Utah, are denied the same 
hunting opportunities for mourning doves as millions of other 
Americans.
  This Resolution is the first step towards correcting this problem by 
urging the President to take immediate action to begin discussions for 
the necessary renegotiation of the Migratory Bird Treaty with the 
appropriate counties who are signatories to this document. It is only 
through these modifications that sportsmen across the United States 
will be able to enjoy equally fruitful hunting experiences.
  It is important to note that migratory mourning doves are the most 
widely distributed game bird in North America, as well as the most 
harvested. Current hunting regulations for mourning doves have been 
conclusively found to cause no significant effects on recruitment of 
fledglings in mourning dove populations. An extended hunting season of 
one additional week at the end of August will pose no threat to 
migratory mourning doves as game managers will be free to update any 
regulations necessary to allow for a lengthened season.
  This resolution has already found approval with many sportsman groups 
and wildlife managers throughout the Pacific Flyway region, especially 
in the intermountain states of Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming.
  Mourning dove hunting remains a time honored tradition in the Pacific 
Flyway region, and it is essential that more equitable harvesting 
conditions be established. Congress should pass this resolution as an 
act of fairness and as an expression of our gratitude to western 
sportsmen who have consistently demonstrated a commitment to conserving 
wildlife by contributing millions of dollars to the Federal Aid to 
Wildlife Conservation Fund. I urge the expeditious passage of this 
Resolution so that we can start the process of resolving this 
inequitable situation.

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