In a blast from the past, state officials may soon try again to put our mourning doves in the crosshairs.

To make matters worse, they’re also targeting our sandhill cranes.

A little background is in order: Mourning doves had been protected as non-game birds in Michigan for more than a century. But in 2004, politicians in Lansing bowed to special interest lobbyists and passed unwanted legislation that authorized an open season on them.

But voters would not hear of it. In the 2006 general election, all 83 counties resoundingly rejected the hunting of mourning doves by an overwhelming 69 percent vote.

Just last year, another law was passed prohibiting the state’s un-elected Natural Resources Commission from adding any species to the targeted game list that had been rejected by Michigan voters before 2013—namely, mourning doves.

However, power-wielding trophy hunting groups, including the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, are disrespecting that citizen mandate and pushing to reopen a debate already decisively settled by Michigan voters.

In June, MUCC members adopted resolutions calling for annual hunting seasons of mourning doves and sandhill cranes. Now, they will pressure the Michigan legislature to repeal that prohibition on the NRC designating mourning doves as a game species, so that the NRC can quickly authorize a hunting season.

Let’s call a mourning dove hunt what it would really be: target practice.

There is no reason to shoot these backyard songbirds. They’re not overpopulated, and there is little edible flesh on their tiny bodies if they are retrieved. Proponents simply want a fast-flying target to shoot at as “cheap skeet,” pure and simple.

Sandhill cranes were hunted to near extinction in Michigan and are still considered a genetically vulnerable species due to a fragmented population bottleneck. While proponents will claim that a statewide recreational hunt on cranes would prevent crop depredation, even the USDA says they lack sound scientific documentation to support that.

The International Crane Foundation has also correctly pointed out that a fall hunting season won’t prevent damage to corn crops planted near wetland habitats, because cranes only eat seed in the spring shortly after planting — when they nest and raise their young colt.

Instead, the ICF has helped develop a non-toxic, non-lethal deterrent called Avipel. Pre-treating seed with this coating has proven to be the most effective deterrent from crane-related crop issues.

Hunting is a time-honored tradition in Michigan. The majority of Michigan hunters have openly opposed the shooting of doves and cranes, and in particular, said that they don’t want the negative image that it would project on hunting.

They’ve also affirmed that they enjoy the mourning doves at their bird feeders and watching the majestic ancient cranes near their homes.

There’s simply no good reason to shoot mourning doves and sandhill cranes. I urge my fellow citizens to again make your voices heard.

Tell your Michigan politicians and policy-makers that these two birds should remain protected non-game species, as they have been for more than 100 years in Michigan.

Julie Baker is the director of the Michigan Songbird Protection Coalition.