Florida Voters to Decide on Hunting and Fishing Amendment in November

A proposed amendment to the Florida state constitution, known as Amendment 2, will be on the ballot for voters to decide in November.

The amendment aims to preserve the right to hunt and fish, including traditional methods, as a public right and the preferred means of managing and controlling fish and wildlife in the state.

Similar amendments have been approved in other states, with Utah voters passing a comparable measure with 75 percent support in 2020 and North Carolinians approving an amendment with 57 percent in 2018.

In Oregon, an amendment that inspired the Florida push narrowly missed the ballot by 20,000 votes.

Supporters argue that the amendment is necessary to protect hunting and fishing rights, as a dozen states have attempted to narrow related rules.

They emphasize that current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regulations would remain unaffected.

Dylan Hubbard, a fourth-generation Floridian, angler, and business owner, believes that fishing is an integral part of the Florida lifestyle and supports 134,000 jobs, contributing $16 billion annually to the state's economy.

However, opponents claim that the amendment's wording is dangerous, as it effectively makes hunting the preferred method of managing wildlife.

They also argue that the phrase "by traditional methods" could prevent the regulation of practices such as trapping, baiting, hunting with dogs, and trophy hunting.

Chuck O'Neal of "NoTo2.org" clarifies that their campaign is not aimed at stopping hunting or fishing in Florida but rather at keeping these activities regulated.

Amendment 2 requires 60 percent support to pass and, if approved, would establish hunting and fishing as a public right in the state constitution.