Activists take aim at pigeon shoots

April 22, 1992

The Southtown Economist (Chicago)

Joliet – Almost as easy a target in those shooting galleries, pigeons fell from the sky, one after the other.

A few got away, and others fell dead to the ground, wounded and flapping.

A few moments later, a young man would approach the wounded bird and kill it by either stomping on it or breaking its neck, sometimes actually tearing the head off.

The scene was graphically shown Tuesday to members of the county board's health, aging and education committee in the form of a videotaped pigeon shoot April 12 south of Joliet.

After showing the nine-minute videotape, animal rights advocates from throughout the area asked the committee to recommend to the county board that it prohibit pigeon shoots in the county.

Pigeon shoots are normally staged events at which shooters pay a fee. Pigeons are released from spring-loaded or electrically charged traps and shot. Some get away, but most are killed.

The shoots, which are more popular downstate, are legal.

"Every group that cares anything about the environment or animals … is against something like the wanton slaughter of anything," said Steve Hindi, a Plano resident and member of Fox Valley Animal Protectors.

Committee members told Hindi and about 15 others that they would check with the Will County state's attorney's office to determine their legal options.