dab4 American Hunter - Iowa May Finally Get Dove Hunting Season (UPDATED)

Iowa May Finally Get Dove Hunting Season (UPDATED)

By Kyle Wintersteen (RSS)

March 22, 2011

It's incredible that a state as rooted in the hunting culture as Iowa continues to deprive its sportsmen of one of the all-time greatest outdoor traditions: opening day of dove season.


Fortunately, despite anti-hunters ratcheting up their misinformation campaigns, it appears this may be the year in which Iowa finally joins the 41 states with dove seasons. An NRA-backed bill to allow dove hunting is likely to be debated by the Iowa state Senate today. Most believe it has enough votes to pass, which would move the bill to the Republican-controlled House and ultimately to pro-hunting Governor Terry Branstad.


A similar bill passed in 2001, but it was vetoed by then-governor Tom Vilsack, who has since been appointed USDA secretary by President Obama.


UPDATE (03/23/11, 9:00 a.m. EST): The Iowa Senate approved the bill in convincing fashion, voting 30-18 to give the Natural Resources Commission the authority to establish a dove season! Political insiders believed there were enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill, but it was still thought to be a bigger hurdle than the Republican-controlled House. The House may approve the bill as early as today, which would send it to Governor Branstad, who has promised his signature.


UPDATE (03/24/11, 10:00 a.m. EST): Victory in Iowa! The bill passed in the House and was promptly signed by the governor, lifting Iowa's ban on dove hunting. NRA-ILA has further details.


Tags:  bird hunting,  blogs,  dove,  dove hunting,  mourning dove,  wingshooting,  wintersteen

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2 Responses to Iowa May Finally Get Dove Hunting Season (UPDATED)

Kyle Wintersteen wrote:
March 24, 2011

Jim, thank you for saving me the time of posting an update! The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Branstad, who has vowed to sign it.

Jim wrote:
March 24, 2011

Yesterday (23 March) the Iowa House approved the bill to allow dove hunting. The Senate approved the bill on the 22nd. All we need is the Govenor's signature.
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