Hi All, To clarify the questions about the seasons for hunting Eurasian Collared-Doves, I looked that up on the official CDOW website. Below is the info.
According to the 2009 Small Game Rules/Regulations, you can hunt an unlimited number of Eurasian Collared-Doves five months out of the year. There are essentially two seasons for them: September 1 - October 30 AND December 1 - the end of February, 2009. Note: These seasons can change from year to year. Link to the official 2009 Rules/Regs Brochure... (from "http" to "smallgame.pdf") http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/780A905D-8639-4EB1-BBA0-20BBE1F915A8/0/smallgame.pdf As copied from the website... DOVES: MOURNING, WHITE-WINGED & EURASIAN COLLARED Sept. 1-Oct. 30 Areas:Statewide Daily bag limit:15 singly or in aggregate for mourning and white-winged. Daily bag limit: Unlimited for Eurasian collared. Possession limit:30 for mourning and white-winged. Possession limit: Unlimited for Eurasian collared. Note: See “Species Identification” for transit requirements. DOVES: EURASIAN COLLARED Dec. 1-end of Feb., 2009 Areas:Statewide Daily bag limit:Unlimited Possession limit:Unlimited Note: See “Species Identification” for transit requirements. Good Birding, or would that be Hunting . . . Marcel Such Lyons, CO suchboys.blogspot.com On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 12:33 PM, Dave Leatherman <[email protected]>wrote: > > Kathleen et al, > First off, let me say I am not a big fan of Eurasian Collared-Doves and > will > admit (somewhat ashamedly) that I did make the pilgrimage to The Good News > Barber Shop in Rocky Ford on 20 July 1996 to see these birds first verified > in Colorado (at the time) by Tony Leukering in June of '96. I have since > seen a photo of what certainly appears to be a Eurasian Collared-Dove on a > wire near Walsh in 1992, taken by Janeal Thompson. But philosophically > this > discussion sort of reminds me of "problem deer", "problem mountain lion", > "problem feedlot", and the "problem landfill near the newly constructed > upscale housing development" discussions. In all these instances the > wildlife or the problem human institution came before the objectors, OR the > situation being objected to was created by or at least enhanced by the > objectors. Humans imported Eurasian Collared-Doves to the West Indies from > continents to the west, where they then apparently on their own jumped over > to Florida and began to proliferate. Human land-use greated aided their > spread in that these doves like the sorts of places that exist in cities > and > particularly in rural-urban interfaces. In part this is because of what > they eat - plant seeds, including agricultural grains like wheat, milo, > corn, weed seeds (many of them introduced by human endeavors), bird feeder > fare like millet and other common offerings etc.. In my mind, even though > they exist in many different habitat situations, they are the poster child > for urban sprawl, climate change, drought, and other prominent > social/meteorological issues of relevance to Colorado and much of the West. > That their numbers have exploded should not be a surprise when we look back > at where they are and what they like. > > By the same token, because we are a large part of why collared-doves have > become a nuisance in many settings, I personally believe it is morally > justifiable for us to be part of the solution. Similarly, I thought it was > ecologically correct for the agency I worked for during my career to find > and eradicate the exotic gypsy moth, to prevent and warn folks about the > potential for importation of the exotic emerald ash borer, and even to > moderate the impacts of the native pine beetle made worse by human-demanded > fire suppression. > > Others have commented on the legality of hunting doves in season and > hopefully the final, correct version of this will be summarized on this > list-serv. A while back I asked the question of this group which avian > predators birders have observed to take advantage of the new item on the > menu. Many of you responded and it looks like Cooper's Hawk, Great Horned > Owl, and many other raptors prey on Eurasian Collared-Doves. Probably the > relationships are still being sorted out and will be interesting to follow. > It would seem the vulnerability and year-round availability of > nestlings/fledglings would be this bird's Achilles' heal, but it appears > their ability to reproduce outpaces checks and balances somewhat. This > cannot continue indefinitely and at some point a balance will be struck. > Maybe legal hunting can help. Maybe experimenting with feeder types and > foods can help. Maybe minimizing agricultural practices that spill and/or > waste grain can help. Maybe weed management can help. But my bet is they > are here to stay because we are here to stay. > > Dave Leatherman > Fort Collins > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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