Dove hunting should not be banned

Two of Ms. Hansten's statements are lies.

One: "Hunters lure doves to fields that are artificially planted with safflower and sunflowers, then gather each fall to shoot the birds." Hunting baited fields in California is illegal, period. California Department of Fish and Game wardens strictly enforce this law, and hunters strictly abide by it.

Two: She says "doves are too small to provide much of a meal... ," implying that birds are harvested for sport and not consumption. Wrong. The amount of money and effort sportsmen and sportswomen spend each year to pursue game is directly because they enjoy the privilege of consuming wild game. No one, I repeat, no one hunts and purposely leaves game in the field.

Assemblyman Nation's legislation will hurt wildlife, not protect it, by robbing tens of millions of dollars annually from efforts to conserve habitat for hundreds of wildlife species, including mourning and white-winged doves.

California hunting licenses provide critical funding to foster wildlife areas in which doves themselves thrive. In the past decade, California hunting licenses have provided $154.6 million into state coffers, and provided essential habitat restoration monies. Sales of California Upland Game Bird Stamps, necessary to hunt doves, have contributed $11.4 million to the California economy since their inception in 1993.

In addition, sportsmen and sportswomen -- thousands of whom live on the Peninsula -- pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into the California economy through the purchase sporting goods and ammunition, clothing, supplies, lodging, dining and gasoline sales.

All of these funding streams for the already ailing state economy will be decimated if dove hunting is banned.

What Ms. Hansten did not convey is mourning doves are the most populous gamebird in the United States. They are also the most prolific of breeders, nesting six times annually (the most of any bird in North America).

I hope readers are not swayed by extreme animal rights groups or individuals who want to infringe greatly upon the rights of hundreds of thousands of Californians -- not just hunters -- who rely upon the sport and the dollars spent on outdoor activities, to support their families.

Please write your local representative and ask them to oppose AB1190.

Robert J. Devincenzi

San Mateo<