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A National Dove Protection Bill 
By PauuL H. LosBik 
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Rep. JOSEPH E. KARTH of Minnesota has introduced in the House of Repre- 
sentatives a bill, H.R. 9882, which would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty 
Act to prohibit the hunting of Mourning Doves. The proposed new sub- 
section of the act would be as follows: 
“Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall not allow the hunting, taking, capturing, killing, possession, 
sale, purchase, shipment, transportation, carriage, or export at any time 
of the Mourning Dove.” H.R. 9882 is now in the House Committee on Mer- 
chant Marine and Fisheries. 
This bill will be welcomed in the many states that now prohibit dove 
shooting, as it will make such shooting a federal as well as a state viola- 
tion. The bill will also be welcomed in the many states in which Audubon 
Societies and other groups have been working for local dove protection. 
It is apparent that some State Departments of Conservation regard the 
Mourning Dove as a “compensatory target’? — i.e., since there are less 
ducks to shoot, the season and bag limit for doves should be increased. 
Let us make this clear: We oppose dove shooting because we feel that 
the dove is a songbird and not a target. We are not concerned with popu- 
lation statistics. Mourning Doves are plentiful. So are Robins. We feel 
that neither species should be shot. By a peculiar logic, many game tech- 
nicians — self-appointed and otherwise — proclaim that doves are abun- 
dant and therefore should be hunted. By the same logic, do they recommend 
shooting cows? Or people? Must we wait until a species is nearly extinct 
before we demand its protection? 
Audubon members who favor this bill should write to their Congressman 
(see the list of names of your Representatives published in the Feb. 1962 
I1.A.S. NEWSLETTER), saying that they would like to see H.R. 9882 reported 
favorably out of committee. A copy to Rep. Joseph Karth, House Office 
Building, Washington 25, D.C., will be helpful. 
22W681 Tamarack Drive, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 
Hawk and Owl Law Education Campaign 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
A Goop LAw which is unknown is as bad as no law at all. Several years 
ago the Illinois Audubon Society led state-wide efforts to obtain protection 
of hawks and owls. We are receiving reports that despite this law, these 
birds are still victims of hunters unaware of the facts. To correct this 
condition, the Conservation Committee has asked Mrs. C. F. Russell, Box 
287, Decatur Illinois, to serve as Coordinator for our Hawk and Owl Law 
Education Campaign. Mrs. Russell is a long-time Director of the I.A.S., 
former President of the Decatur Audubon Society, leader of Junior Audu- 
bon Clubs, and a charter member of the Natural Resources Council of 
Illinois. Audubon members throughout the state are urged to report any 
violations of the law (with full details on location, time, type of hawk or 
owl found, and numbers killed) to Mrs. Russell. She will present these re- 
ports to the Illinois Department of Conservation. 
615 Rochdale Circle, Lombard, Ill. 
