Texas amends its constitution recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish

[CP]

I hope this spreads to other states:

Proposition 6 - was approved with an 81% Yes vote

The amendment added a Section 34 to Article 1 of the Texas Constitution.[1] The following text was added:
Sec. 34.

(a) The people have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to laws or regulations to conserve and manage wildlife and preserve the future of hunting and fishing.
(b) Hunting and fishing are preferred methods of managing and controlling wildlife.
(c) This section does not affect any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights, or eminent domain.
(d) This section does not affect the power of the legislature to authorize a municipality to regulate the discharge of a weapon in a populated area in the interest of public safety.[2]

[Bob33]

www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/state-constitutional-right-to-hunt-and-fish.aspx

[KFhunter]

Really like section (b) hunting and fishing are the preferred methods of managing wildlife



Hopefully language like that (if something like this passes in WA) will limit WDFW hiring outside agencies to kill Elk and also put an end to bear contracts in favor or hunters doing the job.
Time to get a little tougher with timber companies:  "Oh, you don't want bears peeling your trees, Elk eating your crops?  Allow hunters on your timber or farm property, WDFW will allow liberal spring bear tags, Elk damage hunts and hound permits for bear, but you got to open the gates to hunters."

I would even be in favor of increasing master hunter rosters for sensitive hunts, but that program needs revamped.

[bobcat]

There's no way a law like that would pass in this state.

[mfswallace]

There's no way a law like that would pass in this state.

Especially with that attitude 

Gotta be someone here on hunt-wa educated enough in the legalese of getting something similar passed to at the very least get an initiative on the ballot next year 

Has this been tried in Washington yet??

[X-Force]

I hope this spreads to other states:

Proposition 6 - was approved with an 81% Yes vote

The amendment added a Section 34 to Article 1 of the Texas Constitution.[1] The following text was added:
Sec. 34.

(a) The people have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to laws or regulations to conserve and manage wildlife and preserve the future of hunting and fishing.
(b) Hunting and fishing are preferred methods of managing and controlling wildlife.
(c) This section does not affect any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights, or eminent domain.
(d) This section does not affect the power of the legislature to authorize a municipality to regulate the discharge of a weapon in a populated area in the interest of public safety.[2]

I like it. 

[bigtex]

Works in Texas, most of the available hunting ground (something like 92%) is privately held by citizens and ranchers.  Little different than the northwest where most of the land is held by corporations.

In WA about 30% of the land is federal, the lowest of any western state. You then add in all the land that WDFW and DNR owns and your sitting at a even higher percentage of public vs private lands.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Stein]

Yeah, you have a right to hunt but virtually no land to hunt in.  If you think the WA draw is tough, try Texas.

It is a good law, but it is too bad the state sold off all the public land.  We really need to push on both fronts - not giving fed land to the state to sell and keeping our hunting privileges.  You need both.