For the first time in nearly a century, the mourning dove has been declared a game bird in the State of Michigan.

What this means is that this previously protected songbird is now fair game for Michigan hunters. Between September 10 and October 30, hunters in six counties will be allowed to shoot up to 15 doves a day.

As the United States Humane Society indicates, "dove hunting serves no wildlife management purposes." Mourning doves are primarily ground-feeding birds that pose no threat to other species or the environment. There is no need to manage the dove population through hunting.

Concerned Michigan citizens have banded together to form the "Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban." The committee hopes to collect 225,000 signatures to have the ban vote added to the 2006 ballot.