Dove shooting’s benefits not enough to be legal

Dove shooting should not be legalized in Iowa. Dove shooting is little more than target shooting. Many doves that are killed are not picked up and many that are wounded are not retrieved. Dove shooting is cruel and inhumane. That should be reason enough for legislators not to pass SF 83.

Economic reasons cited for dove hunting are not true. About $3 million would be sent out of Iowa for the purchase of shotgun shells. Dove shooting would not bring many people to Iowa since most states around us already have dove shooting. Dove shooters usually do not travel more than 20 miles to shoot doves.

Sen. Dick Dearden has introduced this bill annually for at least the last 10 years. He is the Senate Natural Resources Committee chairman and has brought this bill out of committee to keep it alive this year.

Survey after survey indicate that most Iowans do not want our doves killed and wounded. Opposition to SF 83 must be made clear to the governor and your legislators.

Harold Hensel

Cedar Rapids