Could pigeon shoots be a thing of the past in the state of PA?
Last week, Senator Patrick Browne (R-Allentown, pictured) introduced SB 510 (formerly SB 626) that will end the use of live animals (pigeons and fowl) used as targets at trap and block shoots. The bill also states traditional hunting activity is not included in the ban. An individual who willfully organizes, operates or conducts one of these shoots commits a summary offense.
In other words, pigeon shoots could no longer be held in the state where they openly hold them. Pennsylvania is the place where participants enter contests by invitation only for the sole purpose of killing innocent birds for no other reason than to kill them.
SB 510 would prohibit the launching of pigeons out of boxes. Block shoots involve a live, tethered animal (typically a turkey) being shot within yards of it. I’ve witnessed a live turkey shoot up close and personal and what I saw was nothing less than nauseating and left me thunderstruck to observe “hunters” aim at a completely helpless animal and kill it. Depending on the type of shoot (archery or gun), turkeys are mainly killed in the head; otherwise, the body would be destroyed if shot at close range.
What kind of hunting is this when an animal has no chance of escape? Pigeons and turkeys have zero chance to elude their killers.
PA is known nationwide for its pigeon shoots particularly in Berks and Bucks Counties. In Berks County, Winge Pointe, located in Shoemakersville, is the place for these shoots where many out-of-state participants compete for prizes and money. These shoots are typically held as a two or three- day day event where gambling is rampant.
SHARK, an international organization based in Illinois who has been fighting against this type of cruelty for a long time can be found at Winge Pointe and at the Philadelphia Gun Club, Benasalem, Bucks County, documenting live pigeon shoots.
They document the annihilation and massacre of thousands of birds. They witness not only the killing but those who survive but with serious consequences. SHARK tries to save all the birds they can.
If you frequently read my blog, you know I support SHARK and their efforts to end pigeon shoots in PA. They have been fighting and advocating for pigeons for a long time. I applaud their work, time and dedication they have done to rid PA of this heinous “sport”.
In this day and age, it’s hard to comprehend the legitimacy of pigeon and turkey shoots. In other states these shoots are a criminal offense but are secretly held where no one can find them. In PA, they are held in the open despite committing animal cruelty which is against the law. I know what you’re thinking. It makes no sense.
It appears an order written by Judge Scott Lash isn’t being by upheld by our District Attorney, John Adams. This order was prepared in 2002 and it relates directly to pigeon shoots: “At no time shall anyone kick, swing, stomp or otherwise abuse any bird.”
So far, this order has not been enforced by police or Berks County District Attorney, John Adams. Adams was quoted as saying he does not make the law, he enforces it and he will enforce this code as it relates to pigeon shoots. Unfortunately, no one has been charged with animal cruelty by police or the DA.
This order came into question last fall during a court proceeding I attended where PA Humane Officer,Johnna Seeton, filed animal cruelty charges against Winge Pointe. She filed these charges after witnessing the most grievous animal cruelty committed against pigeons. Johnna told me she had never seen such atrocious cruelty against these birds as she did at one of their events last year.
That is why it is imperative that SB 510 becomes law. PA, the last state in the nation to openly hold pigeon shoots, needs to end this barbaric and cruel practice.
It will be an arduous road with the NRA backing the efforts to squash this bill in its tracks. The NRA is known for its full-blown efforts to halt similar bills in previous years. For three decades, we, who live in PA, with the help of others have tried unsuccessfully to stop these shoots.
The NRA held the belief that if pigeon and turkey shoots were banned, it would lead to banning hunting. SB 510 specifically states legitimate hunting practices will not be included. The NRA can no longer use this as a defense.
What tactics will the NRA use this time since their old defense won’t work? They have also said banning live animal shoots will also lead to the banning of having guns. With our current President’s administration addressing the issue of gun violence, this very issue will likely be addressed, I presume.
If this bill shouldn’t pass, what message does this clearly say? Animal cruelty will continue to thrive in the state of PA. How can anyone justify allowing animal cruelty to not only exist but encourage people to participate in the savageness of live pigeon and turkey shoots? Legitimate hunters are against these shoots. What does this tell you?
I applaud Senator Patrick Browne for introducing SB 510 and once again, fighting to ban these shoots and helping animals. It’s good to know we do have lawmakers who are on the side of animals.
This legislation was cosponsored by Browne, Pileggi, Costa, Tartaglione, Fontana, Kitchen, Boscola, Ferlo, Greenleaf, Hughes, Leach, Williams, Farnese, Alloway, Washington, Dinniman, Stack, Blake, Solobay, Smith, Teplitz, Erikson and Wiley.
Do you think the NRA will be a deterrent for SB 510 being passed into law this year?
Absolutely! The NRA is going to fight this all the way. I hope it passes but I won’t hold my breath.
The NRA doesn’t care about the welfare of animals. They have their own agenda and they will fight all they can since they have tons of money to do so.
The NRA is a huge lobby group and won’t back down. I hope lawmakers haven’t been paid off by the NRA or have the guts to stand up against them and do what’s right for the animals!
I agree with Brittany about the NRA. As long as they (legislators) can’t be “bought”, the bill stands a chance since so many senators are co-sponsor.
Never knew about turkey shoots. That’s beyond cruel. If anyone constitutes that as hunting, they need their heads examined.
My senator isn’t sponsoring this bill and I want to know why. I will be calling her. This bill is good and it needs to pass.
Fighting for decades is ridiculous since animal cruelty is against the law and goes against what is morally right.
The time has come for PA to stop live pigeon and fowl shoots.
The time has come for the end of live pigeon shoots! We ended gassing as a means of killing shelter animals in PA last year. Now it’s time to end these horrible shoots since no one will enforce Judge Lash’s order.
The NRA is HUGE hurdle to jump over and get around. They will stop at nothing to stop this bill from becoming law. I hope they don’t win and SB 510 becomes law.
Pigeons are treated so cruel and a small group of people who participate in these shoots is what stands between saving the pigeons or killing them. So sad it comes down to one small section of people and to satisfy their hunger for killing.
Fine way of describing, and good paragraph to get facts about a presentation I’m going to do about this subject matter. I plan on conveying some of your info in my presentation in school.
Sen. Browne introduced this piece of legislation in 2011. You can see what happened to it. Let’s not allow that to happen again. Call your state senators asap! We need them to move this bill. We saw what happened with the gassing bill last year. Anything can change at any time. Politics at its best.
The good part is the majority of PA senators have co-sponsored it. I wonder why Schwank hasn’t. Wasn’t she on your show for the gas bill? She supports bills that pertain to animals. Why isn’t she supporting this? Come on, Judy, we, the animals, need your vote!
Woo-hoo! Yay!
There is no plausible reason why pigeon and fowl shoots should be allowed despite what the NRA feels. They’re speaking for this small group of people who take pride in injuring and killing pigeons by swinging their heads in a circle until their necks are broken or stomp on their heads. They do this because they only kill 70% of the birds at a shoot. The surviving pigeons either suffer a long death or die by the actual hands of the shooters’ kids as described above.
To pacify a small group rather than do what is right and stop this form of animal cruelty is irrational, illogical and shows the pandering to a bunch of unbalanced people.
“What kind of hunting is this when an animal has no chance of escape? Pigeons and turkeys have zero chance to elude their killers.”
Answer – this isn’t hunting and doesn’t even come close to what real hunting is. It is about what you wrote. Gambling. Betting to see how many pigeons someone can kill or brutally injure while shooting at them with a gun. That’s it, in a nutshell. How pathetic and moronic is that.
It’s about people who put alot of money on betting on the odds of winning.
Gambling to see how many animals can be killed. What kind of deranged society do we live in?
Forgot to mention that it is also about watching a turkey being tied to a fixed object and unknowingly waiting to be killed as others stand around and look at at the fowl die right in front of you. Yeah, that’s real hunting. I don’t care what these shooters think of my remarks because they’re the ones who are, once again, pathetic in their attempts to kill and/or maim an innocent animal.
Why isn’t the order being enforced? If a judge issued it, I imagine it would have to be enforced. If the police and DA aren’t enforcing it, aren’t they breaking the law?
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There’s definately a great deal to find out about this issue. I really like all the points you have made especially about the explanation about fowl shooting and how a turkey is tethered while waiting to be shot. I will keep reading to learn more.
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Please stop these shoots by passing SB 510. The killing of these animals is animal cruelty. It isn’t hunting by any stretch of the imagination and it must stop!
Please lawmakers, do what’s right. You have the power to make it right!!
Caught some of your show last night when Stuart said some NRA members are against live pigeon shoots. I think people should look into what an organization stands for-any organization you join-before you sign up. I agree with alot of what the NRA does but not this. I’m a hunter and this in no way reflects hunting in any way, shape or form.
My friends who are also NRA members agree with me.
I know animal advocates think all of us are bad. We hunt and we make no apologizies. Hunting is better than factory farming. We kill animals and aim to do in one shot whether if it’s gun or bow and arrow. The animals die immediately when shot properly. The meat helps to put food on the table for my wife and kids. We also donate some of our meat to others less fortunate.
If I shoot a pigeon, I would use the bird for its meat.
Nothing is gained out of the live pigeon shoots other than to kill thousands of birds for gambling.
We’re not all bad and we don’t all agree with the NRA’s stand on this despite them saying we stand behind these target shoots.
Don’t judge all of us. Some of us find these shoots to be quite horrible and completely disagree and are against live pigeon and turkey shoots.
Please open up your minds a bit more before you lump us all together.
Your harsh judgment of us hunters and NRA members is short-sighted and is bad as how the NRA is handling this situation.
Before you judge us, check yourself out first.
Thanks.
PA is so backwards. The NRA keeps paying so pigeons will continue to die. Doesn’t this show what our politicians are made of? It’s on both sides of the aisle. I don’t care if it’s a democrat or republican because they’re both guilty of allowing this to happen.
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one. A must read article! Pennsylvania is backwards and it shows by allowing pigeon shoots to continue. The last state in the nation to do so. PA is bad for animals!
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