Court rules to allow dove hunting
in Wisconsin
News from the National Wild Turkey Federation
www.nwtf.org
An appeals court has ruled
in favor of sportsmen in a decision that will make Wisconsin the
39th state with a season to hunt mourning dove.
On March 27, Wisconsin’s
District Four Court of Appeals reversed a decision by Dane County
Circuit Court Judge Daniel Moeser. It ruled that the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has the authority to
establish the mourning dove hunt that was approved by the Natural
Resources Board and the legislature in 2000. The U.S. Sportsmen’s
Alliance Foundation’s Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) joined
the DNR in appealing Judge Moeser’s decision, which asserted that
the DNR did not have such authority.
“The SLDF was confident
from the beginning that the Department of Natural Resources had
the authority, according to Wisconsin law, to establish a dove
hunting season,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation Field
Director Tony Celebrezze. “The appeals court decision clears the
way for a dove hunting season this fall.”
The SLDF joined forces
with Wisconsin sportsmen’s groups to initially win and later to
protect the state’s dove season. The Wisconsin Chapter of the
National Wild Turkey Federation, Wisconsin Chapter of Safari Club
International (SCI), Badgerland Chapter SCI, Lake Superior Chapter
SCI and others led the way in defense of the dove hunt.
“Thanks to the many
sportsmen’s organizations that worked to obtain the dove season
and defend it in court. We appreciate the many great partnerships
that were formed during the legal battle,” said Celebrezze.
Even though the NWTF is a
conservation organization focused on the wild turkey, it is also
concerned about preserving our hunting heritage. The NWTF’s
Wisconsin Chapter contributed $5,000 to help pay the legal bills
and to show that they stand behind the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
as it worked to overcome the anti-dove hunting issue.
“This court case was about
protecting wildlife conservation and stopping the anti’s from
stripping authority from the DNR,” said Greg Shermo, president of
the NWTF’s Wisconsin Chapter. “To that end, we challenged other
Wisconsin conservation clubs and organizations to step up and help
defray the legal bills incurred by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
on behalf of Wisconsin Sportsmen.”
