Looks like there are two bills going forward in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, House Bill 1411 and Senate Bill 843. Both have identical language. NRA is asking folks to contact the committee heads here for the Senate, and here for the House, in opposition.
The good news is that the bills are pretty narrowly defined, such that they ought not to affect legitimate hunting and dog training activity. The bad news is, it’ll make it harder to defeat. I have no love of pigeon shooting, but I do not wish to see it banned, and embolden HSUS, who is behind the ban. If they win, they will be back with more money (which they have plenty of) to push for more restrictions on hunting.
Consider how they used this issue in Michigan, and you’ll see what I mean. Dove Hunting, which is legitimate hunting, with hunters eating their catch (I know a few dove hunters myself) was banned by referendum there, because HSUS was able to smear it as a not legitimate hunting activity. Also remember that HSUS supports a comprehensive ban on lead ammunition.
Every legislative victory will bring them more money and more power. This will be an awful pandoras box we’ll be opening, if we allow HSUS to achieve an easy victory in Pennsylvania,. Let’s not make this easy for them.
Banned?
In most cities it should be mandatory.
Pigeons are not only edible, but actually a choice table bird and legitimate game animal in many places–the common park pigeon in America descends from the European rock dove, shot by the score in modern Britain and eaten in restaurants all over Europe. I grew up hunting band-tailed pigeons in Northern California, and can attest that they (and mourning doves) make superb table fare.
A formal live-pigeon shoot is not hunting, but a form of shotgun competition using live birds (launched out of a thrower before they take flight) as the target. It’s an old and obviously somewhat anachronistic sport, though like bullfighting it still has its devotees. Hemingway was a fan–his youngest son tied for the Cuban live-pigeon championship at age eleven. I’m not sure what happens with the birds after a live-pigeon shoot, but in many places I’m sure they’re eaten by someone.
If modern Americans suffer from anything, it’s a psychologically fatal disconnect with our own food. An acquaintance of mine recently went to France, and in a Paris restaurant asked if the establishment had anything for a vegetarian. Without missing a beat the waiter replied, “This is a restaurant, not a pharmacy.” Touche!
Geese and pigeons are vermin around here. Big flying rats that shit everywhere. They turn ball-fields and parks into disgusting, unusable, health-hazards.
Shooting them should be encouraged anywhere it’s safe.