Outdoor Underground Presents...

PROVIDENCE, RI -- The Rhode Island Red might be the state bird, but it is no secret that the mourning dove is the king of all game birds in The Ocean State. House Bill 5668, introduced by Rep. Charlene Lima, D-Cranston could end all of that. The bill would ban all dove hunting in the state and carries a stiff penalty for violators: loss of license and a $20 fine per bird.

    “This is the hottest destination for dove hunting in the Northeast. Every dove hunter in America should feel pretty betrayed by this,” says Chet Ortega, a Rhone Island hunting guide.

Ortega, who has owned and operated Ocean State Dove Shooters from the Narragansett Bay since 1985, bemoaned the thought of losing his livelyhood.

    “This bill will put me and the one other dove hunting guide in the state completely out of business. They don’t realize how the dove flock is tied to the purse strings of our local economy. Hunters from all over the world come right here, to Rhode Island, just for our famous dove shooting. Everyone knows about it.  I’ve got clients traveling from as far away as Argentina!”

Not only will the local economy likely suffer, but so will major ammunition manufacturers. The nation’s top shotshell producer, Federal Premium, definitely has its eye on the political climate in Rhode Island right now.

    “Eliminating dove hunting in Rhode Island would be like saying there’s no Christmas shopping season to Wal-Mart this year,” says Tom Bodenchek, Federal’s Director of Wad Conformity.  “Federal stands to lose a lot of money.  And, of course, hunters and their children across America stand to lose a great hunting opportunity.”