A proposed Oregon ballot initiative (Oregon Initiative Petition 13) threatens the existence of hunting and fishing in the state, an extreme overreach that would criminalize throwing a line in the water and putting harvested meat on the table for families across the state.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers strongly opposes this proposal, which would cause far-reaching damage to conservation in Oregon. It also directly attacks the North American Model of Conservation, which has done so much to bring keystone species back from the brink and has allowed generations of hunters and anglers to grow closer to our heritage and nature. At BHA, we believe we have an obligation and a duty to fish, wildlife and their habitats that this proposed ballot initiative fails to understand. 
"Initiative Petition 13 is a direct attack on the heritage sporting community and if passed, would have devastating consequences to the conservation of healthy fish and wildlife populations in this state,” said Ian Isaacson, the Oregon BHA chapter board co-chair.
"The Oregon BHA chapter submitted a letter challenging the language of the original petition. We have been actively engaged for months on this and along with other organizations will continue to engage with it on behalf of our members and the hunting and fishing community. Conservation of our wild things and wild places is at stake with this proposed ballot measure,” Isaacson said.
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and the Public Trust Doctrine define fish and wildlife resources as the property of the people and managed by the state and federal agencies entrusted with their stewardship. BHA acknowledges this model as the foundation of science-based fish and wildlife management and we support hunting, fishing and trapping as appropriate management tools. BHA believes wildlife management decisions should be guided by science over politics, emotion, and conjecture.
"Oregonians share extreme pride in the idea that our public lands support healthy populations of fish and wildlife,” Oregon BHA chapter board member Tristan Henry said.
BHA believes fish and wild resources belong to the public. We support science-based fish and wildlife management and hunting, fishing and trapping as appropriate wildlife management tools.
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Photo Credit: Tristan Henry
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