Voters to decide on hunting, fishing rights


By BRETT TROXLER
btroxler@wbrz.com
2theadvocate.com staff
From a report by WBRZ's Marvin McGraw

When voters go to the polls in two weeks, one of the issues on the ballot will be a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt, fish and trap in Louisiana.
More than a million people annually, hunt fish or trap in the Bayou State and Amendment No. 1 would forever guarantee the freedom to do so within Louisiana's borders.

Supporters argue the measure is needed to protect against animal rights groups that might attempt to curtail such activities.

"There's nothing in the constitution or the statute that says you have a fundamental right to engage in those activities," said Randy Lanctot of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. "There's a growing movement of animal rights activism in this state as well. They were certainly present in large numbers down at the Capitol this session."

As reported Oct. 19 on WBRZ's 6 p.m. telecast. If you have information or comments related to this story, email them to news@wbrz.com.