The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Senate Co-Chairs Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) and Senator Anthony Broadman (D-Bend) are speaking out in opposition to Initiative Petition 28 (IP28) which would make lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping illegal and turn nearly one million Oregonians into criminals.
IP28, the People for Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, is an initiative petition seeking to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. It would remove the established exemptions from Oregon’s animal abuse statutes that protect legal actions such as lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping; rodeos; killing animals for food; wildlife management practices; scientific or agricultural research or teaching with animals; even trapping pests and vermin.
In addition, language in IP28 would remove the exemption for acts of ‘good animal husbandry’ such as dehorning, docking tails, castration or neutering of livestock, and would also classify standard breeding practices, such as artificial insemination, as sexual assault.
By eliminating lawful hunting, fishing, and trapping, IP28 would eliminate the main funding source for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and have detrimental effects on wildlife management.
“Historically, sportsmen contribute 45-55% of ODFW’s budget, comprising the majority of dollars used for wildlife management and conservation,” said Senator Brock Smith. “The General Fund, or Oregon’s taxpayer dollars, makes up only 10% of ODFW’s budget, nowhere close to the amount needed to operate the agency and benefit Oregon’s wildlife.”
In addition to the direct economic impact to ODFW, shutting down farming, ranching, dairy farming, and commercial fishing would create incredible negative impacts to Oregon’s state-wide economy, causing increased tax pressure and reduced state services for all Oregonians.
“Buying locally-raised foods at the local farmers market would be outlawed while restaurant and grocery prices would increase substantially due to the need to ship meat and dairy products in from out of state,” said Senator Broadman. “Hunting and fishing for food is a part of Oregon’s heritage and for many of us, part of who we are.”
Adding additional insult to these effects, IP28 also does not exempt Oregon’s Tribes from the ban on hunting and fishing, even for sustenance or ceremonial uses.
The proponents have collected over 100,000 of the 117,173 signatures needed by July 2 to qualify for the ballot. The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus encourages all Oregonians to register to vote and, should IP28 qualify for the ballot, defeat the measure by historical margins.
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
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