New Petition Could Ban Hunting in Oregon: Here’s What You Need to Know

Animal rights activists have proposed a measure that would ban hunting—and animal husbandry—in one of the best places to hunt ducks and geese: Oregon. The ballot initiative, known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, or IP28, requires over 117,173 valid signatures by July 2 to go to a statewide vote; so far, according to KDVR.com, proponents of the measure have collected over 100,000 signatures—setting up a likely vote in this fall.

Even in a time when anti-hunting attacks have proliferated, IP28 is exceptionally radical. The proposed ballot measure would change animal cruelty laws to criminalize the injuring and killing of “animals, including for agriculture, hunting, fishing, trapping, pest control, and research/teaching.” The measure would also “eliminate hunting and fishing licenses, which would remove funding from wildlife management.”

The measure is proposed by David Michelson of Portland, Oregon, who recently likened it to the women’s suffrage movement and told the Willamette Week that he does not expect the bill to pass—but hopes it will generate further discussions. “I think it will help people think differently,” he said. “If we can force a vote, we normalize the conversation.”

Ag and hunting groups have unsurprisingly, and justifiably, come out strongly against the measure. “The petition is a major strike on what most people think of as a way of life in Oregon,” Todd Adkins, Executive Director of the Oregon Hunters Association, told The Oregonian. “People who hunt and fish are very dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle, and this essentially strikes us off the landscape.”

According to the most recent Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife annual report, approximately 10 percent of the state’s population holds hunting licenses. With plentiful freshwater and tidal marshes, not to mention the famed Columbia River and significant agricultural production, Oregon has long been a hot spot for waterfowlers. It’s also a sleeper state for spring turkey hunters.

Opponents of IP28 say there’s not a lot that can be done right now to stop the harmful bill except for raising awareness of its harms—and promoting the benefits of the hunting and fishing experiences we all love. The Oregon Hunters Association plans to spearhead a counter-campaign against the initiative.

“If IP28 qualifies for the 2026 ballot, we want to deliver it the largest defeat in Oregon’s history,” the organization explained. “Therefore, we ask all Oregonians, especially our hunting, angling, and trapping community, to register to vote and show up in November so you can help us send a message to the backers of this initiative.”