Oregon Cougar Hunting Initiative (2012)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

Oregon Cougar Hunting Initiative, also known as Initiative 19, did not make the November 2012 statewide ballot as an initiated state statute.

Text of measure

The draft ballot title was:

Overrides law barring use of dogs to hunt, pursue cougars for sport; caps cougar population

Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote overrides voter-enacted prohibition; allows public sport hunters to use dogs to hunt, pursue, and harass cougars; limits statewide cougar population to 3,500.

Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains 1994 voter-approved prohibition on sport hunters' using dogs to hunt, pursue cougars; 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 Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to control and maintain statewide cougar population at 3,000 to 3,500; to issue enough public hunting permits or tags to maintain that level; to apportion maximum number of cougars throughout the state. Measure overrides voter-approved prohibition. DFW must permit public use to use dogs to hunt and pursue cougars for sport whenever DFW determines overpopulation exists or is imminent. DFW may permit public to use dogs to pursue and tree cougars anywhere. 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

• 2012 ballot measures
• Oregon 2012 ballot measures

Related measures

aOregon Bans Hunting Bears with Bait or Cougars with Dogs, Ballot Measure 18 (1994)
dOregon Repeal 1994 Bear/Cougar Initiative, Ballot Measure 34 (1996)
Oregon Bear and Cougar Hunting Initiative (2010)