As pigeon shoot season begins, a call to end what lawmaker calls a "blood sport"

[SecularMotion]

To the NRA and few dozen men - many of them from out of state - who unloaded their guns on hundreds of pigeons launched from boxes this weekend in Berks County, pigeon shooting is a "proud Pennsylvania tradition."

To pretty much everyone else, as evidenced by polling results, it's a cruel blood sport that must be outlawed.

The Humane Society of Berks County and the Humane Society of the United States used the start of a three-day shoot at Wing Pointe Resort in Berks County on Friday to call for end to the practice of what they describe as a mass killing for cash.

“Thousands of pigeons will be shot and wounded or killed this weekend in an event that is no more sporting than shooting chickens coming out of a hen house," said John Goodwin, director of animal cruelty policy for HSUS at the news conference. "The legislature needs to uphold mainstream values and common decency by passing legislation to end these cruel spectacles.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/As-pigeon-shoot-season-begins-a-call-to-end-what-lawmaker-calls-a-blood-sport.html

[gejohnston]

1. These rich 455#0135 again

In case you don't know Leet, I don't like them. I prefer the company of guys and gals with Mossbergs who drive Toyotas who eat what they kill and buy their skeet targets at Wal Mart over shooting live animals with Fuches that the butler cleans for them.
This private shooting club buys pigeons from an exterminator. It comes up every once in awhile.
Before the state leg acts: get the word out to leave pigeon nests alone and not call the exterminator. If you do, they will either land up in the hands of these assholes or a gas chamber.

[Eleanors38]

2. In Texas, they are called "Rock dove," and are

legal game during dove hunting season. These birds, while fairly common in urban areas, are not prolific in most rural areas, even where dove occur. I have taken a few (same family as dove game birds), and they are delicious when prepared like dove. The ones I have encountered are near rural neighborhoods. They are bigger, but still present a challenging wing shot.

The HSUS is primarily a front-line anti-hunting organization, and spends few resources on animal rescue & rehab, though they have a $100 million budget to toot their horn. They and other anti-hunting groups have had one positive benefit: Causing states to pass constitutional amendments to recognize hunting and fishing as s RIGHT. Incidentally, the invasive Eurasian collared dove have no bag limits or closed season. I have shot a few of these, and they are excellent table fare as well. Dove season is predicted to be Excellent this year!

[Paladin]

3. It's way past time for this revolting practice to go away.

I was living in Dallas, TX back in the mid-1970's when an exclusive gun club there was publicly shamed into giving up its annual pigeon shoot. Give that a passing thought: people in Dallas walked away from the practice, 40 years ago. There's no excuse for this sort of wanton, pointless blood lust at this late date---unless you don't mind the public perception of shooting sports falling into further disrepute.....