Arizona: Signature Gathering Underway For Hunting Ban Initiative

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and their front-group “Arizonans for Wildlife” are currently gathering signatures for a ballot initiative that would ban the hunting and trapping of mountain lions and bobcats in the state.  This misguided initiative ignores the fact that hunting is a necessary tool used by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) as part of their science-based, comprehensive game management plan.  Maintaining targeted predator populations across the state helps to ensure that prey populations, such as deer, bighorn sheep, and antelope are kept at healthy levels.

Please spread the word to your family, friends, and fellow hunters to oppose this effort by “Arizonans for Wildlife” that would restrict the Arizona Game and Fish Department from managing predator populations in the state.  Help protect Arizona’s diverse wildlife and science-based management by declining to sign these petitions.

If passed, this initiative would scrap Arizona’s comprehensive, scientifically-based approach and severely curtail AGFD’s ability to protect wildlife resources throughout the state. Hunting in Arizona supports critical wildlife and habitat conservation projects with funds generated through license fees and excise taxes paid by hunters under the Pittman-Robertson Act and is a vital contributor to the state’s economy.

HSUS and “Arizonans for Wildlife” have until July 2018 to gather 150,642 valid signatures to place the initiative on the November 2018 ballot.  Your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated on the status of the initiative, so please stay tuned to your email inbox and www.nraila.org for further updates on this issue.