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Wildlife Management Institute 



1101 14th Street, N.W. • Suite 801 • Washington, D.C. 20005 

 Phone (202) 371-1808 • FAX (202) 408-5059 



ROLLIN D. SPARROWE 

 President 



LONNIE L. WILLIAMSON 



Vice-Presidenl May 20, 1996 



RICHARD E. McCABE 

 Secretary 



The Honorable Don Young, Chairman 



House Resources Committee 



233 1 Raybum House Office Bldg. 



S. Capitol St. and Independence Ave., SE 



Washington, D.C. 20515 



Dear Chairman Young: 



I am writing to comment for the Hearing Record concerning the Florida Charity Dove Hunt and 

 Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Baiting which was the focus of your Oversight Hearing on Wednesday, 

 May 15, 1996. The Wildlife Management Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving 

 wildlife management in America. Our organization has been involved in migratory bird treaties, 

 legislation, implementation of management programs, past citizens committees on baiting and 

 waterfowl feeding, and other aspects of migratory bird management for many decades. 



The first part of the hearing reviewed the Florida Charity Dove Hunt and the actions taken by 

 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning that hunt. We at the Institute know nothing other than 

 what we heard in testimony before you at the hearing. All that we heard leads us to believe that a 

 group of persons hunting on a heavily baited field were cited for breaking the baiting laws, and that 

 the events regarding the Florida situation have no relationship to confiasion by the public regarding 

 wording of Fish and Wildlife Service regulations. Statements made by Fish and Wildlife Service agents 

 and representatives at the meeting, photographs and descriptions of activities, and responses to 

 questioning by your committee, all lead us to the inescapable conclusion that an illegal and 

 inappropriate hunt was intercepted by the Service and appropriately shut down. The circumstances 

 which led to entering the field with 10 Service Agents, their acknowledged courteous treatment of 

 those they apprehended, and their carefiil explanation of the circumstances which led to a several hour 

 delay before acting at the site, seem plausible and responsible based on everything we heard fi^om all 

 participants. We suggest that the circumstances surrounding the Florida Charity Dove Hunt as 

 presented at your hearing oflFer no reason to move to change, or justify congressional intervention in, 

 the law enforcement processes of the Fish and Wildlife Service. 



There are issues concerning the baiting laws that may need clarification to assist the public in 

 understanding and obeying them, and to enhance the job of law enforcement. These relate to changes 

 in agricultural practices, innovations in management of natural vegetation for waterfowl, and regional 



