Bass Tournaments Banned

[CaymasRodney]

Senate Bill Introduced in Oregon Could Ban Fishing Tournaments

Legislators in Oregon presented a Bill this week that could essentially make tournament fishing of any kind illegal. Senate Bill 723 is related to the unlawful taking of wildlife and prohibits persons from organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting or participating in contests, competitions, tournaments or derbies that have the objective of taking wildlife for prizes or other inducement or for entertainment. The bill was introduced by Senators Sara Gelser, Senator Michael Dembrow, and Senator Jeff Golden. It is a direct response to a Humane Society investigation into contest sponsored by the Oregon Farm Bureau were participants hunt coyotes in a tournament competition. Hunters are awarded prizes based on the total weight of their harvest. There has been no revenue impact study done on the bill as of yet, but law makers say they have overwhelming support for the bill. Oregon defines wildlife to exclude fish, however the bill itself did not exclude fish in the interpretation nor has any one in the Legislature come forward to rule out tournament fishing as being included in this bill. The bill also says the “taking” of wildlife which also leaves the language in this bill open to interpretation.
Fisherman in Oregon if they can ban your right to enjoy the outdoors then what is next? You guys better get on that phone!
Just seen this!!!!

[Jeff Hahn]

If the law passes, there is nothing in place to prohibit a judge to rule that wildlife includes fish when PETA or the Humane Society files suit against bass tournament organizers a few years from now. Which is why it is wise to "NEVER let the camel's nose under the tent," as the saying goes.

[smp005]

If the law passes, there is nothing in place to prohibit a judge to rule that wildlife includes fish when PETA or the Humane Society files suit against bass tournament organizers a few years from now. Which is why it is wise to "NEVER let the camel's nose under the tent," as the saying goes.

You are absolutely correct and it WILL happen if it is enacted into law! All of you "It's wildlife, not fish" chanters will be crying the blues when the antis come for YOUR favorite pastime!!

Oh and just because one state does not consider fish as wildlife, other states do and if this passes in one state it will energize the antis to attack other states!

[jclark408]

Fine by me

[Bill2e]

Fine by me

Are you serious.......doesn’t affect you, so no big deal. WOW

what happ new when they attach something you love and there’s no one left to fight.

[bossbowman]

Coyote tournaments need to be banned

[bassky]

Coyote tournaments need to be banned

Why?

[Jboutfishn]

If any outdoor activity is banned, in time all activity will be banned.

[bossbowman]

If any outdoor activity is banned, in time all activity will be banned.

Theres plenty of outdoor activity that is banned like hunting deer out of season or bowfishing for game fish.

[bassky]

Theres plenty of outdoor activity that is banned like hunting deer out of season or bowfishing for game fish.

There's a difference between regulations and an all out ban.

[Missouri Jay]

Theres plenty of outdoor activity that is banned like hunting deer out of season or bowfishing for game fish.

After they ban the coyote contests they will move on the next thing they don't like and eventually they will get to say, hunting deer at any time.

[stepup]

Coyote tournaments need to be banned

Please expound on this if you wouldn't mind. I would love to hear your reasoning for coyote contests to be banned.

[sdbrison]

http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=958739

[GoCats83]

Im just glad this is stirring people up. If any state does anything to over step in teh regulation or ban of anything outdoor related you can bet other states will follow. Im looking at you California.

[206champion]

Hope is doesn’t pass

[TampaJim]

WILDLIFE ONLY, no fish. Please put down the hatchets and step away from the keyboard.

[bassky]

WILDLIFE ONLY, no fish. Please put down the hatchets and step away from the keyboard.

It's not a stretch to say that most fishermen pursue other outdoor activities which makes this a big deal to them. It's also not a stretch to say that if they can successfully ban contest for "wildlife" that fish wouldn't be next on the chopping block.

[TampaJim]

It's not a stretch to say that most fishermen pursue other outdoor activities which makes this a big deal to them. It's also not a stretch to say that if they can successfully ban contest for "wildlife" that fish wouldn't be next on the chopping block.

Why didn't you say so ... burn the witches, off with their heads.

[sdbrison]

WILDLIFE ONLY, no fish. Please put down the hatchets and step away from the keyboard.

Third thread on this topic.With all due respect, are you against taking of wildlife in a sporting and legal manner?

[TampaJim]

Third thread on this topic.With all due respect, are you against taking of wildlife in a sporting and legal manner?

As a pure sport, yes. As a sustainable resource, I'm fine with it. Managed, of course.
Shoot it, eat it, unless it's a nuisance animal where relocation isn't a viable option.
I grew up this way, we actually did subsistence hunting to eat regularly. It's just fine.

As I read the bill, it's against killing mammals for entertainment, wagering, etc.
And the wording is very specific and doesn't include catch and release sport fishing.
The problem with hunting for sport ... they haven't figured out shoot and release.