Indiana Right to Hunt and Fish, Public Question 1 (2016)
Indiana Right to Hunt and Fish, Public Question 1
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Election date
November 8, 2016
Topic
Hunting and fishing
Status
On the ballot
Type
Constitutional amendment Origin
State legislature
2016 measures
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November 8
Public Question 1
Campaign finance
Polls
The Indiana Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment, also known as Public Question 1, is on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Indiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of amending the constitution to include the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife.
A "no" vote is a vote against amending the constitution to include the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife.
Question 1 would permit the constitutional right to hunt, fish, and trap to be subjected to regulations promoting wildlife conservation and management and preserving the future of hunting and fishing. Furthermore, public hunting and fishing would be the preferred method of wildlife management under the amendment.[1]

The amendment would be added to the Indiana Bill of Rights.

Citizens of Kansas are voting on a similar right to hunt and fish amendment in November 2016.

Text of measure

Ballot title
The ballot title is as follows:[2]

“ Public Question #1
Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended by adding a Section 39 to Article 1 to provide that the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject only to the laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the General Assembly to:

(1) promote wildlife conservation and management; and
(2) preserve the future of hunting and fishing?[3]
”
Ballot summary
The ballot summary is as follows:[4]

“ Provides that the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife is a valued part of Indiana's heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good. Provides that the people have a right, which includes the right to use traditional methods, to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, subject only to the laws prescribed by the general assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the general assembly to: (1) promote wildlife conservation and management; and (2) preserve the future of hunting and fishing. Provides that hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. Provides that this constitutional amendment does not limit the application of any laws relating to trespass or property rights. This proposed amendment has been agreed to by one general assembly.[3] ”
Constitutional changes
See also: Article 1, Indiana Constitution
Public Question 1 would add a Section 39 to Article I of the Indiana Constitution. The following text would be added by the proposed measure's approval:[1]

Section 39.
(a) The right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife:

(1) is a valued part of Indiana's heritage; and
(2) shall be forever preserved for the public good.
(b) The people have a right, which includes the right to use traditional methods, to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, subject only to the laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the General Assembly to:

(1) promote wildlife conservation and management; and
(2) preserve the future of hunting and fishing.
(c) Hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.
(d) This section shall not be construed to limit the application of any provision of law relating to trespass or property rights.[3]