vote to deny the citizen ’ s petition to end bobcat harvest and the defeat of SB 31 in committee , with only the bill sponsor voting for the bill prohibiting mountain lion and bobcat hunting .
There are many political tactics that animal-rights activists use when attempting to strip us of our heritage . Make no mistake , though fights are common at local levels , this is a nationwide , if not a global , movement by animal extremists . They fight smart and with their wallets , usually attempting to take away hunting and trapping rights where it is cheapest and easiest , such as in states predisposed to their messaging , those with dominating urban areas or at the state wildlife commission level . If they fail to get what they want accomplished there , they move to the next cheapest option , the state legislature , to push ideological bills . If the representatives of the state are accurately depicting their people , they will fail here , too . Then the big guns , and big money , come out : the ballot-initiative process , which relies on emotional messaging and money to achieve their goals .
Ballot-Box Biology Sportsmen ’ s Alliance was founded due to a ballot initiative in Ohio in 1977 . Since then , there have been 35 wildlife-related ballot initiatives nationwide . Ballot measures are unique and particularly dangerous to sportsmen . An average member of the public , though able to vote , is not likely to be educated in scientific wildlife management practices . Sportsman activities such as hunting , fishing , shooting , trapping , etc ., are all things that someone chooses to partake in and learn more about . This leaves the average voter vulnerable to being swayed by emotions more than facts . There are a number of anti-hunting organizations that routinely show up in these battles . Unfortunately , being international organizations with Wall Street and Hollywood supporters , they are wellorganized and well-funded .
It takes work to produce a saleable pelt .
Despite all this , not all hope is lost ! The most recent anti-trapping ballot initiative was defeated in Montana with 63.43 percent of voters opposing a publicland trapping ban . While Colorado lost most of its trapping in 1996 , Michigan was able to keep its bear hunting intact , warding off a ballot measure that would have taken away the legal use of hounds , bait and stricter seasons . Other attempts over the years have included several states with a mixed track record . Of the 35 wildlife ballot initiatives the nation has seen since 1977 , 27 have been anti-hunting and only eight pro-hunting .
Most of the public doesn ' t understand the joys and benefits of trapping , which makes ballot initiatives particularly troublesome for the sport ' s future .
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