Make Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Rights in Washington State

[Smossy]

There is plenty of steelhead. WA fishing is HOTT as far as I'm concerned. We have six gill shark, sturgeon, salmon, perch. Not much else I'm interested in as far as fish. And you don't eat nor keep the six gills. Led alone even remove them from the water. I'm not into catchin a few lil bass and throwin them back. I harvest for food. Only thing I do for "fun" is six gill fishing from the pier.

[bigtex]

There is plenty of steelhead. WA fishing is HOTT as far as I'm concerned. We have six gill shark, sturgeon, salmon, perch. Not much else I'm interested in as far as fish. And you don't eat nor keep the six gills. Led alone even remove them from the water. I'm not into catchin a few lil bass and throwin them back. I harvest for food. Only thing I do for "fun" is six gill fishing from the pier.

Plenty of steelhead? Lets see 30 years ago you could almost always get your steelhead limit in a Puget Sound river. They are now on the Endangered Species list. In fact the majority of the salmon runs are now on the ESA. Smelting use to be "huge", it is now closed due to being on the ESA.

Hard to say fishing is "HOTT" when every couple years another run becomes federally protected under the ESA.

[Smossy]

There is plenty of steelhead. WA fishing is HOTT as far as I'm concerned. We have six gill shark, sturgeon, salmon, perch. Not much else I'm interested in as far as fish. And you don't eat nor keep the six gills. Led alone even remove them from the water. I'm not into catchin a few lil bass and throwin them back. I harvest for food. Only thing I do for "fun" is six gill fishing from the pier.

Plenty of steelhead? Lets see 30 years ago you could almost always get your steelhead limit in a Puget Sound river. They are now on the Endangered Species list. In fact the majority of the salmon runs are now on the ESA. Smelting use to be "huge", it is now closed due to being on the ESA.

Hard to say fishing is "HOTT" when every couple years another run becomes federally protected under the ESA.

Hey don't get it wrong I don't doubt that for a second, but that applies to allot of things in the world. Even trees for example. You can say "there always used to be more" and it can apply to just about anything. The fact is not too often have I had a problem going out and catching my limit of steelhead, or kings, or anything for that matter. If I don't get my limit, It makes me want them that much more, It creates a hunt persay. Its called fishing, not catching. But I do get your point. I'm somewhat new into everything being as I've only recently in the last 5 years or so developed a passion for the outdoors. 25 years young. So if your just scared to look for the fish then let that be your own prerogative. Fact is, I still see all every year I go out, Crystal clear Rivers stacked full of steelhead and chum fighting over holes. When you can pick and choose what steelies u fish for in the water I hardly consider that endangered. They may be scientifically speaking but not in my eyes. Not yet.

[Smossy]

+ I dont even have a boat, have never had a problem stacking the freezer with delicious fish.

[huntrights]

If you don't believe there are threats to our rights to hunt and fish, THINK AGAIN!

Excerpt from an NRA-ILA alert that was sent to California members:

" “We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States.  We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California.  Then we will take it state by state.” (Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Wayne Pacelle)"

"California: Get the Truth About the Proposed California Lead Ammunition Ban (AB 711) and the Misguided Campaign to Pass it

Posted on May 6, 2013"

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2013/5/california-get-the-truth-about-the-proposed-california-lead-ammunition-ban-%28ab-711%29-and-the-misguided-campaign-to-pass-it.aspx

Please urge others to keep informed about these issues.

[huntrights]

Right to Hunt vs. Animal Rights
http://dailyreckoning.com/right-to-hunt-vs-animal-rights/

[huntrights]

Indiana Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment, SJR 7 (2014)

http://openstates.org/in/bills/2013/SJR7/documents/IND00044382/

[Smossy]

Im in where do I sign.

X- Smossy

[huntrights]

Other states are doing it; we can too.  People need to be thinking about this and understanding why we need to do it.

[fastdam]

I love the idea, and i would support any effort to secure our rights to hunt and fish, but i am afraid it would be just like all our other "rights".  Which rights do you really have anyway?  If its a god given right, then you wouldnt need a liscence to exercise it.  The fact is that we are slaves to the state. We dont really have rights. We only have privelages. We have to pay to exercise all our "god given rights" when it gets right down to it.   When you have to pay for permission to do something, it is a privelage.  I do believe we have rights, incliding hunting, fishing, foraging, finding water, speaking, loving, traveling and any other activity that is inherently necessary to living animals for sustaining life and sanity.   We do not get to exercise these rights as we please. All our activity is governed and we are managed like livestock. All our rights have been downgraded to privelages. If they were rights, you wouldnt need permission. You already have gods permission and he is the ultimate governer.................in our modern society we have absolutely no rights.   Free people have rights and thats not us. Its an illusion.

[huntrights]

Our wildlife populations need to be managed with sound and unbiased science.  In states where hunting and fishing are Constitutional rights, the hunters and fishermen must still obey wildlife management laws.  True conservation requires responsible management of our wildlife to ensure bountiful and healthy wildlife populations for our generation and for generations to come.  Typically, the game animals we harvest are surplus above the carrying capacity of the habitat.  Other situations may exist where animals need to be harvested due to extenuating circumstances defined by the WDFW.  The Constitutional right to hunt and fish does NOT mean people can hunt and fish anything at any time they wish; it means they have a right to hunt and fish under the guidelines and laws that govern sound and responsible wildlife management.  When hunting and fishing become Constitutional rights versus privileges, anti-hunting organizations will have a very difficult time destroying that heritage; it’s a “Firewall” we must put in place.

[fastdam]

Sounds great, i understand why the privelage is managed, but, if it is regulated and you have to pay for it then its a privelage. Not a right.   They could easily raise the price too high and regulate the season so small that the average hunter who lives there cannot participate. If he truly had a right to hunt, no one would be able to stop him. Its the same for all our other rights. Free people have rights. We are not free. We enjoy great amounts of liberty and benefit from the boom of the 20th century but we enjoy privelages not rights.  Look at the right to keep and bear arms.  There are thousands of gun laws in the U.S.A that infringe on that right.   Thats because its reall not a right anymore. Our rulers have taken it away from us and have been at war with it for a very long time. All our other rights are the same. They are managed privelages.

[huntrights]

There will always be political battles and opposing groups finding loopholes and ways to take advantage of any situation.  That is why we must all be vigilant in defending and protecting our rights and freedoms; apathy, complacency, and giving up will not keep our rights and freedoms intact.  The political pendulum is always swinging.

[Bigshooter]

There needs to be langue that says Bioloigist are the only ones that can make hunting rules.  And that voter initiatives can not change hunting rules.

[huntrights]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/senate-oks-changing-constitution-to-add-right-to-hunt-fish/article_18144727-7ffc-5e99-a8cf-75e6fa9c4b2b.html

2013 Indiana General Assembly

Senate OKs changing constitution to add right to hunt, fish, farm

February 11, 2013

Excerpt from the article:

"INDIANAPOLIS | A proposed state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt, fish and farm is one step closer to being submitted to Hoosier voters for ratification.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 38-10 Monday to approve the amendment, which declares hunting, fishing and farming are "forever preserved for the public good," subject only to laws and rules prescribed by the General Assembly."