Pro-hunting amendments on the ballot in four States (Photos)

Hunters have the ability to influence the constitution of their States with amendments which are on the November 2, ballot in Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina.

These amendments are designed to provide state constitutional protection for the right to hunt and fish. These amendments are a pre-emptive strike to head off any future litigation and or attempts by the anti-hunting groups to curtail legal hunting as a sport.

Hunters around the nation should study these amendments

Arizona's Proposition 109

Arkansas's Issue #1

South Carolina's Amendment #1

The Amendment in Tennessee

'These are all "Right to Hunt and Fish Amendments" following the lead of some other states:

States with constitutional protections for hunting and fishing
Courtesy of ESPN sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/news/story?id=4111292

1. Alabama- Voters in 1996 approved a "Sportsperson's Bill of Rights" that stated "all persons shall have the right to hunt and fish in this state in accordance with law and regulations."
2. California– Has language guaranteeing a right to fish.
3. Georgia- In 2006, voters approved an amendment stating "The tradition of fishing and hunting and the taking of fish and wildlife shall be reserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good."
4. Louisiana– Voters in 2004 approved an amendment stating "The freedom to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife, including all aquatic life, traditionally taken by hunters, trappers and anglers, is a valued natural heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people."
5. Minnesota– Voters in 1998 approved an amendment stating "Hunting and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good."
6. Montana– Voters in 2004 amended the state constitution in part to read "the opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals is a heritage that shall forever be preserved to the individual citizens of the state."
7. North Dakota – The North Dakota constitution reads in part "Hunting, trapping, and fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage and will be forever preserved for the people and managed by law and regulation for the public good." That amendment was adopted in 2000.
8. Oklahoma- Oklahoma's amendment gave all people the right to "hunt, trap fish and take game and fish." The amendment passed with 80 percent of the vote.
9. Rhode Island– Has constitutional language guaranteeing a right to fish.
10. Vermont– Passed language protecting hunting and fishing in state constitution in 1877.
11. Virginia- Voters approved an amendment in 2000 that states "the people have a right to hunt, fish, and harvest game, subject to such regulations and restrictions as the General Assembly may prescribe by general law."
12. Wisconsin- In 2003, voters in Wisconsin approved an amendment that states "The people have the right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game subject only to reasonable restrictions as prescribed by law."

More information on this topic can be found here and here