Oregon animal rights activists push a radical ballot measure that could criminalize hunting, fishing, and ranching, turning law-abiding rural families into felons overnight.
Story Snapshot
- Initiative Petition 28 (IP28) seeks to ban intentional killing of animals, explicitly targeting hunting, fishing, slaughter, and pest control with few exceptions.
- PEACE group claims 105,000 signatures as of February 2026, needing 117,000 verified by July for the November ballot.
- Hunters and ODFW warn of 90% budget loss for conservation, devastating rural economies and traditions.
- Opponents like Oregon Hunters Association call it ridiculous urban overreach, predicting voter rejection.
Petition Details and Scope
David Michelson, chief petitioner for Initiative Petition 28, proposes rewriting Oregon’s animal cruelty laws to prohibit intentional injury, killing, or breeding of animals. This includes bans on hunting, fishing, slaughter, and most animal experimentation. Narrow exceptions apply only to self-defense and veterinary euthanasia. PEACE defines animals broadly to cover nonhuman mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish under state law. The measure eliminates current exemptions for farming, pest control, and recreation.
Signature Drive Progress
Signature gathering for IP28 began in July 2024. By early 2026, PEACE reported 105,000 signatures, falling short of the 117,000 verified needed by July 2 for November ballot placement. KPTV noted on February 13 advocates nearing qualification. KATU detailed the scope on February 16, including pest control bans. Cowboy State Daily labeled it a cautionary tale on February 15. Signatures remain unverified, with media coverage surging mid-February.
Stakeholder Opposition Mounts
Amy Patrick, policy director for Oregon Hunters Association, deems IP28 ridiculous, warning it criminalizes rural lifestyles with no prisons for all new lawbreakers. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife relies on hunting and fishing licenses for 90% of its budget, essential for conservation and wildlife management. Ranchers face slaughter bans, threatening livelihoods. Urban activists from PEACE push plant-based shifts and a Humane Transition Fund, clashing with rural stakeholders over traditions and economic impacts.
The urban-rural divide sharpens the conflict. Voters hold final say if qualified. Opponents predict failure due to rural resistance, but qualification looms as a threat to conservative values of self-reliance and stewardship.
Is Oregon About to Ban Hunting and Fishing?https://t.co/I7FK7x2GmH
— PJ Media Updates (@PJMediaUpdates) February 16, 2026
Economic and Conservation Threats
Passage would halt hunting and fishing licenses immediately, gutting ODFW funding and disrupting wildlife management. Ranching and fishing industries face collapse, with job losses offset only by a proposed transition fund. Long-term, nonlethal methods replace lethal removals, endangering balanced ecosystems. Rural communities lose recreation and heritage, while urban voters may back ethical reforms. This overreach echoes leftist agendas eroding family traditions and self-sufficiency under President Trump’s pro-freedom push.
Sources:
Will Oregon Vote to Ban Hunting and Fishing?
Animal Rights Activists Push To Ban Hunting, Fishing, Ranching In Oregon
