If their "mate" dies they find a new one.
The answer is no, they are to "tasty" NOT to hunt them.
Tell your mom , they will find "new mate's " and this help's the breeding stock.

Doves in particular rapidly adjust to loss of mate. They have huge mortality seems to me, but are the very furthest thing from being threatened which is why many states allow you to shoot 15 a day of these Federally regulated birds.

big jake yes geese do the same, and they also find new mates if one dies . if they didn't there would not be hunting seasons on them ,because hunting would throw the whole ball of wax off kilter . causing extinction to them and that is far from the case with them and doves

Well just tell your mom that you will shoot both of the pair, then nobody is lonely. Any mom would sure buy that excuse, except mine.

They mate for life about as well as humans do these days.

Good call Bioguy. Heck I thought they mated for life. I guess your never to old to learn.

We aren't allowed to shoot 'em here in Michigan, either.

I will confess to feeling a bit sad to see a duck's mate fly back by quacking trying to find it's mate that has been shot.... sometimes they fly back by several times. You aren't human if you don't feel a twinge there. You just have to know they get a new mate.

I try to whack the other one on the second pass. Sort of a "2fer".

i think we are not allowed to shoot them because the libereals in our state gov. say it is a bird of peace isnt that the turtle dove

Also let her know that they will nest up to 5 or 6 times a year - more prolific than rabbits.