Senator’s live pigeon shoot draws criticism

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe is facing criticism from animal rights groups over a fundraiser he held earlier this month in which live pigeons were thrown into the air for participants to shoot out of the sky.

Illinois-based Showing Animals Respect and Kindness released video on Tuesday that shows dozens of pigeons being killed by shotgun wielding participants, including Inhofe.

Capt. Tony Woodruff of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s law enforcement division says live pigeon shoots, while not common, are legal in Oklahoma.

Inhofe campaign spokesman Rusty Appleton confirmed that the Republican senator did participate in the live pigeon shoot Sept. 5 at the Quartz Mountain Lodge in Lone Wolf. Appleton described the shoot as a "longstanding traditional shooting sport."

Several animal rights groups have condemned the practice.