Connor Merritt

Florida made outdoor history this month as voters approved Florida Amendment 2, establishing the constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in the Sunshine State. As reported by Congressional Sportsmen, this new amendment protects these cherished activities under Florida’s Constitution, officially making Florida the 24th state to grant its citizens this right. Supported by a resounding 67.3% majority, Amendment 2 surpassed the required 60% supermajority threshold, underscoring the strong bipartisan support among Floridians for safeguarding hunting and fishing traditions. 

What Florida Amendment 2 Means 

Florida Amendment 2 not only recognizes hunting and fishing as vital parts of Florida’s heritage, but it also reinforces the importance of conservation, aligning with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.  

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With millions of dollars generated annually through activities like hunting and fishing, the amendment ensures ongoing financial support for conservation initiatives, strengthening the $70 million-plus generated each year by Florida’s hunters and anglers under the American System of Conservation Funding. 

The Support of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation 

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was integral to Amendment 2’s success, working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other local partners. Together, they tackled claims from anti-sportsman groups that falsely suggested the amendment would compromise property rights or wildlife protections. The FWC’s regulatory authority remains intact, maintaining the state’s commitment to science-based management and sustainable wildlife practices. 

The amendment text now preserved in Florida’s Constitution, Section 28, reads: “Fishing, hunting, and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, shall be preserved forever as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife.”  

Floridians can rest assured that their love for the outdoors, backed by a long-standing conservation legacy, will be safeguarded for future generations. 

Read the full story on Congressional Sportsmen.

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