Portland, Oregon. (coyne) — A petition to ban hunting in Oregon is gaining momentum.
Animal rights advocates are working to change Oregon’s laws, including banning most hunting, fishing and animal research.
One of the people responsible for sending out the petition said they’ve been trying to get it on the ballot for years, getting more and more signatures each time, even though he knew it was unlikely to pass.
Supporters call the proposal peace actwhich is the abbreviation of “Waivers for the Elimination of Cruelty to Animals”.
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David Michaelson is the lead petitioner for a ballot initiative in Oregon that would ban hunting. February 15, 2026 (KOIN).
“We really want to make Oregon the first state to vote on an issue like this,” said David Michelson, the lead petitioner for the PEACE Act. “We know it’s unlikely that 50 percent of Oregonians are ready right now to stop killing animals. But we want to have a conversation. So we can hopefully move in that direction.”
If passed, it would change Oregon’s existing animal cruelty laws, which currently protect pets like dogs and cats, and expand coverage to include wildlife, livestock and animals used for research. Veterinarians and self-defense personnel will be exempted.
“Our goal is to introduce people, often for the first time, to hearing about what alternatives to killing animals currently exist,” Michaelson said.
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Michelson acknowledged the need for wildlife management in situations such as controlling the spread of invasive species or pests, but said there are non-lethal ways to accomplish that goal.
“It specifically requires non-lethal forms of wildlife management. This could be the introduction of sterile males into the population,” he said.
Opponents say hunting is an important part of many Oregonians’ lives and economy.
“There are a handful of predators that do have a huge impact on herbivore species like deer throughout the state,” said Levi Barrera, president of the Hoodview Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association. “If you take away hunting, it has an out-of-control impact on the population.”
Levi Barrera, president of the Hoodview Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association. February 15, 2026 (KOIN).
Barrera warned that banning hunting could have a huge economic impact in Oregon, especially for those who rely on hunting to put meat on the table while grocery prices are at an all-time high.
“Even the bigger towns rely on the agricultural side, not just the economic and fishing side,” he said. “It has a huge impact on communities that rely on hunting and fishing and really sustains their communities and families year-round. Industries that rely on hunting and fishing, you know, coastal towns, rely heavily on fishing and salmon fishing.”
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Michelson believes the transition funds included in the PEACE Act will provide food assistance to people who currently rely on hunting animals for meat. The fund also can be used for animal care and employment retraining programs.
The lead petitioner said they have more than 100,000 signatures so far. By law, they need 117,173 verified signatures by July 2 to qualify for the November ballot.
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