Oregon IP28 Would Criminalize Hunting, Fishing, Trapping & Farming
Initiative Petition 28 (the "PEACE Act") would remove legal exemptions protecting hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from Oregon's animal abuse statutes — turning nearly one million Oregonians into criminals.
What Is Oregon Initiative Petition 28?
Oregon Initiative Petition 28 — officially titled the PEACE Act (People for Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions) — would eliminate the legal exemptions that currently protect hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from Oregon's animal abuse statutes (ORS 167.315–167.333).
Under current Oregon law, these activities are explicitly exempted from criminal animal abuse charges. IP28 would remove those exemptions entirely, making all of the following criminal acts under state law:
Hunting
All licensed hunting would be classified as animal abuse under Oregon law.
Fishing
Sport and commercial fishing would be criminalized statewide.
Trapping
Legal trapping — including pest and wildlife management — would become illegal.
Farming & Ranching
Raising animals for food, dairy, eggs, and fiber would constitute animal abuse.
Scientific Research
Animal use in education, research, and wildlife management programs would be banned.
Tribal Rights
Oregon Tribes are not exempted — treaty-protected hunting and fishing rights would be jeopardized.
Approximately one million Oregonians who hunt, fish, trap, or work in agriculture would be at risk of criminal prosecution under IP28.
Who Would Be Affected by IP28?
IP28's effects would extend far beyond hunters and anglers. Any Oregonian who participates in — or depends economically on — the following activities would face criminal liability:
- Oregon's 330,000+ licensed hunters and their families
- Oregon's 500,000+ licensed anglers
- Oregon's 37,000 farms and ranches employing over 80,000 workers
- Wildlife biologists, trappers, and pest control operators
- Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes with treaty hunting and fishing rights
- Veterinarians and animal research institutions
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that hunting and fishing generate over $1.9 billion annually in economic activity for Oregon communities.
Threat to ODFW Funding & Wildlife Conservation
Oregon's wildlife management and conservation programs are funded almost entirely through hunting and fishing license fees, tags, and federal excise taxes on sporting goods (the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts). If IP28 eliminates hunting and fishing, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife would lose its primary funding source.
Legislative Opposition to IP28
Opposition to IP28 spans party lines. In February 2026, Oregon Sportsmen's Legislative Caucus Co-Chairs Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) and Senator Anthony Broadman (D-Bend) issued a joint statement opposing the measure, calling it an attack on Oregon's rural economy and cultural heritage.
Additional opposition has come from:
- Oregon Farm Bureau
- Oregon Cattlemen's Association
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers — Oregon Chapter
- Ducks Unlimited Oregon
- Safari Club International
- National Wild Turkey Federation
IP28 Signature Tracker
To qualify for the November 2026 ballot, IP28 proponents must collect 117,173 valid signatures by July 2, 2026. Because some signatures will be invalidated during verification, proponents typically need to collect approximately 140,000 total.
IP28 History: IP13, IP3, and the PEACE Act
IP28 is the third iteration of an initiative first introduced by animal rights advocates in 2020. Each version carries the same core goal: eliminate Oregon's statutory exemptions for hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming from animal abuse law.
The initiative is backed primarily by out-of-state animal rights organizations and has faced consistent, broad-based opposition from Oregon's hunting, fishing, farming, and tribal communities across every cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions About IP28
IP28 & OHA in the News
Coverage of Oregon IP28 has grown significantly as signatures approach the ballot threshold:
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