[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E430-E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE MOURNING DOVE HARVEST ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. C.L. ``BUTCH'' OTTER

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2003

  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before the House today to reintroduce 
the Mourning Dove Harvest Act, a bill that will give individuals who 
reside in all states a fair and equal opportunity to hunt mourning 
doves.
  Hunters in states north of the 37th parallel often find that mourning 
doves already have migrated south for the winter by the time hunting 
season opens on September 1st. It is not uncommon for the fall hunting 
season to last less than one week or even one day in such northern 
states as Idaho, Montana and Washington. Many sportsmen unable to 
follow this migration are left without a hunting opportunity. States 
south of the 37th parallel, meanwhile, have a full season and ample 
opportunity to harvest these birds. Hunters in Mexico have the 
additional advantage of no harvest limits. Passage of this bill is the 
first step toward creating a season that will give residents of 
northern states an equal opportunity.
  The designated hunting season for mourning doves that begins 
September 1st and ends March 10th is the result of the Migratory Bird 
Treaty Act of 1918, which in turn stems from the Migratory Bird Treaty 
of 1916. The Treaty signed by the United States, Canada, Mexico, Great 
Britain, Japan and Russia covers a multitude of migratory birds, 
including mourning doves. There is little legislative history 
justifying the selection of this fall opening date, and migration 
routes, hunting practices and conservation efforts have changed 
significantly in the 86 years since the Treaty's ratification. The last 
week in August has been identified as a period when these birds are not 
nesting, but are preparing for their annual southern migration.
  Passage of this bill will allow hunters in states north of the 37th 
parallel to hunt mourning doves seven days earlier--during a time when 
their migration south is about to begin. Hunters in the north will be 
on a more equal footing with their counterparts in the south.
  Scientists have found that regulated hunting has no significant 
effect on the mourning dove population.
  This legislation amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and 
asks the Secretary of State to begin discussions with the signatories 
of the Migratory Bird Treaty to include this change in the Treaty.
  It is important to note that (1) this legislation offers hunters in 
the north a more equal opportunity to harvest mourning doves; (2) the 
morning dove is the most widely distributed and harvested game bird in 
North America; (3) in states north of the 37th parallel, mourning doves 
often begin their southern migration prior to September 1st, the 
opening day of the hunting season; (4) this change will not impact the 
mourning dove population.

[[Page E431]]

  After exhaustive studies, analysis and discussion of this issue, the 
time to pass this measure is now. In the name of equitable access to 
this resource, I urge the passage of this bill.

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