Oregon Deer and Elk Preservation Initiative (2012)

Not on Ballot
This measure did not or will not appear on a ballot

A Oregon Deer and Elk Preservation Initiative did not make the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot as an initiated state statute. The measure called for overriding a voter-approved law barring the use of dogs to hunt and pursue cougars. According to the filed text, the measure aimed to address the issue of overpopulation of cougars which has resulted in the decimation of deer, elk and antelope herds as well as the starvation of predators.

Text of measure

The official ballot title was:

Overrides voter-approved law barring use of dogs to hunt and pursue cougars for sport

Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote overrides voter-enacted prohibition; requires state to control cougar population by allowing public sport hunters to use dogs to hunt, pursue, harass cougars.

Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains 1994 voter-approved prohibition on using dogs to hunt, pursue cougars for sport; prohibition does not apply to state wildlife management agents.

Summary: Current law, adopted by initiative in 1994, prohibits using dogs to hunt or pursue cougars for sport. Prohibition does not apply to government employees and agents acting in official capacities, or to landowners if cougars cause damage, public health risk, or public nuisance. Measure requires state Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue enough public hunting permits or tags to control cougar population. Measure overrides voter-adopted prohibition, requires department to permit public to use dogs to hunt and pursue cougars for sport, in order to reduce cougar population where cougars are "overpopulated" (undefined) or where "looming overpopulation" (undefined) is foreseen. Department may permit public to use dogs to pursue and tree cougars anywhere. Prohibits only state agents from killing females with cubs. Other provisions.

Path to the ballot

See also: Oregon signature requirements

In order to qualify for the ballot, supporters were required to collect a minimum of 87,213 valid signatures by July 6, 2012.

See also

Suggest a link

• Oregon 2012 ballot measures
• 2012 ballot measures

Similar measures

Oregon Bear and Cougar Hunting Initiative (2010)

External links

• Initiative 1 status report
• Filed text
• Certified ballot text