Yesterday, the House Rules Committee took testimony on a critical sportsman’s rights issue. House Joint Resolution 5 proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to declare the constitutional right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife or gather wild foods and refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval at the 2024 general election.
HJR 5 will strengthen and ensure the citizens of Oregon have a long-standing history of fishing, hunting and trapping in perpetuity.
Text of the proposed Constitutional amendment:
Residents of this state have the right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife and gather wild foods by traditional methods or manners, subject only to laws enacted by the Legislative Assembly and rules adopted by state agencies to promote sound wildlife conservation and management. The right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife and gather wild foods is a valued part of Oregon’s heritage and shall be forever preserved. This section does not abrogate any public or private property rights or the sovereignty of this state over its natural resources.
The next hearing date for HJR 5 has not been scheduled, but the Sportsmen’s Alliance will be monitoring this important issue closely and will inform you when action will be needed.
In the meantime, please check out our legislative map of issues we are monitoring in Oregon and around the nation.
About Sportsmen’s Alliance: Working in all 50 state legislatures, the Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public and youth education, legal defense in state and federal court and research to guide the decision-making process of all involved. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance at www.sportsmensalliance.org, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.