Hunting Proposal Appears Doomed

A controversial proposal to amend the Idaho Constitution to ban anti-hunting citizen initiatives appears doomed.

The legislation was the subject of a long hearing last week and was up for final action in a House committee Monday afternoon. But Rep. Golden Linford, R-Rexburg, chairman of Resources and Conservation, told a crowded hearing room that there would be no action on it until later.

The resolution attempts a constitutional amendment that would bar citizen initiatives aimed at banning any use of wildlife or natural resources. At issue are anti-hunting initiatives. A Moscow group has talked of trying to get an initiative to ban bear baiting.

House Speaker Mike Simpson said some of the measure’s supporters “have had second thoughts about it” since so much opposition came up.