The NRA is urging its supporters to contact Governor Branstad, asking him to overturn this rule. In April, Branstad overruled a different proposal from the Iowa Natural Resource Commission that would have banned lead shot in certain areas. The NRA's action alert is here: http://www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/4856/will-branstad-overrule-ban-on-lead-shot-for-dove-hunting People who want to protect birds and other wildlife from lead poisoning should contact Branstad's office at 515-281-5211 or sending a letter to the governor at 1007 East Grand Ave, Des Moines IA 50319. ________________________________ From: Jane Clark <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Sat, July 16, 2011 10:47:53 AM Subject: DNR press release regarding commission passage of final rule allowing dove hunting Pasted below is a press release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources regarding the Natural Resources Commission passing the final rule establishing a hunting season for doves and the banning of toxic shot for hunting doves. For immediate release: July 14, 2011 COMMISSION APPROVES DOVE HUNTING, ADDS NON-TOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENT DES MOINES – Final approval of a rule that will allow the hunting of mourning doves in Iowa was approved Thursday by the Iowa Natural Resource Commission which also added an amendment that would require hunters to use non-toxic shot. The non-toxic shot requirement follows several discussions by the commission during the past year concerning the impacts of lead shot to the environment and on wildlife. Lead – or toxic – shot used in hunting can be ingested by wildlife. There has been a national ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting since 1991 with non-toxic shot for waterfowl being in place in Iowa since 1987. The rules approved by the commission allow for a dove season starting Sept. 1st and ending Nov. 9th. The final rule allows the harvest of 15 doves a day and can be either mourning or Eurasian collared-doves. The possession limit is 30 and the season is open state-wide. Commissioners added and approved an amendment on Thursday that would require hunters to only use non-toxic shot while hunting doves anywhere in the state of Iowa. The decision to ban toxic shot for dove hunting was based largely on the fact that much of the hunting occurs over a small area which would increase the likelihood of lead concentrations being created. “There will be a number of hunters who will be opposed to this decision, but at the end of the day, this action by the commission will help protect Iowa’s environment and wildlife from the adverse affects of lead,” said DNR Director Roger Lande. Media contact: Greg Drees, chairman of the Natural Resource Commission, 712-320-0610. -30- Kevin Baskins Communications Bureau Chief Iowa Department of Natural Resources 515-281-8395 [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp