Right to Hunt, Fish and Conserve

Protect your Right to Hunt and Fish with a Yes Vote on Constitutional Amendment 1

The first constitutional amendment on this November's ballot will ask if you want to protect the right to hunt and fish in the State of South Carolina through a constitutional amendment. A 'yes' vote will help protect the strong tradition of hunting and fishing, ultimately promoting wildlife conservation and land protection in our state.

When: November 2, 2010

Why: Hunters and anglers continue to be the primary funding source for conservation of our natural resources in the United States. Through regulated hunting and fishing, the purchase of licenses and the collection of federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, agencies like the Department of Natural Resources are able to conserve and manage our wildlife and public lands for generations to come.

The conservation and enjoyment of South Carolina's natural resources contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy each year.

Ballot Wording for Proposed Amendment

Must Article I of the Constitution of this State, relating to the declaration of the rights under the state's Constitution, be amended by adding Section 25 so as to provide that hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state's heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing nonthreatened wildlife; to provide that the citizens of South Carolina shall have the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued, subject to laws and regulations promoting sound wildlife conservation and management as prescribed by the General Assembly; and to specify that this section must not be construed to abrogate any private property rights, existing state laws or regulations, or the state's sovereignty over its natural resources?

The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

[ X ] Yes [    ] No

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word ‘Yes’, and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'.