The Utah Legislature is considering a proposal to amend Utah’s state constitution to ensure hunting rights in the state.
“This isn’t changing fundamentally any of our wildlife policy. It’s not changing what’s going to happen on the ground, but it is going to say, ‘Hey this is important to us. Let’s encourage it. Let’s foster it. Let’s protect that right,’” said Rep. Casey Snider, a Republican from Paradise, Utah.
Snider is sponsoring a proposal to amend the state’s constitution to ensure a resident’s right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife. The amendment would include the right to use traditional hunting methods.
According to Snider, Montanna, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and California already have hunting rights ensured in their state constitutions.
“I do think as our state changes, it’s important to have some of these things that are important to this community to this state now, enshrined in statute for the long term,” Snider said.
Snider said hunting and fishing are increasing in Utah, while decreasing in many other states.
“This is something that is fundamentally important to the residents of this state and we want to make sure it’s preserved,” Snider said.
The proposed amendment, House Joint Resolution 15, reads, “The individual right of the people to hunt, to fish, and to harvest wildlife is a valued part of the State’s heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good.”
If the proposal passes, Utah voters will decide at the ballot box whether or not amend the constitution.
