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Past Animal Legislation
MOURNING DOVES
Mourning Doves have been protected from hunters in Minnesota since
1946. There is no legitimate reason to hunt Mourning Doves, or to
change Minnesota’s longstanding protection of these lovely birds.
Doves have no meat or trophy value, and therefore would be used
primarily for target practice. There are many other species of
birds for hunters to shoot. These gentle backyard birds do not
cause any damage, pose no threat to agriculture, and there are no
overpopulation concerns.
In 2002 & 2003, hunters pushed hard for passage of legislation to
open a season on Mourning Doves. With the help of MHS and its
members, the bill was defeated. Unfortunately in 2004, though MHS,
the Humane Society of the United States & others worked hard to
protect the Mourning Doves, the bill to allow the hunting of these
birds was passed.
HUNTING BEARS WITH HOUNDS
Minnesota has had a
long tradition of banning hound hunting of black bears because the
majority of citizens, hunters and non-hunters alike, oppose the
practice. In both 2004 and 2005, hunters pushed hard for passage of
legislation to allow bear hunting with hounds. In both 2004 and
2005, this bill was defeated thanks to the help of the Minnesota
Humane Society and its members!
The Minnesota Humane Society opposes the use of hounds for hunting
bears for the following reasons:
- Hound hunting
is highly stressful to prey. Hounds may pursue the bear for
hours. Long chases can severely stress bears, causing overheating
and potential brain damage.
- Bear cubs are
often killed. Mothers and their young are frequently separated
during the chase, and hounds are sometimes known to tear apart the
young.
- Hound hunting
is unsporting. The hunter releases a pack of hounds to pursue a
bear. The frightened animal climbs a tree to escape and is then
shot by the hunter.
- Hound hunting
is very cruel to the dogs. Bears will fight their
pursuers—sometimes crippling or killing the hounds. In one bear
chase study, a dog died four hours into the chase from
“exhaustion”.
COYOTE BOUNTY HUNT
In 2005, the Minnesota Humane Society and others spoke out against a
bill to allow counties to offer bounties to hunters taking coyotes,
and the bill was defeated. This bill was introduced as a measure to
decrease the number of coyote attacks on sheep and livestock.
Bounties were used in the United States, including in Minnesota, but
were discontinued in the 1960s because they were not effective.
Bounties do not work and do not target the problem animals. Also,
wolves may be taken accidentally. Other more effective options
include using professional trappers and improved livestock security
measures.
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