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As anti-hunting protestors gather in Tallahassee in an attempt to thwart the will of the voters, The International Order of T. Roosevelt has filed an Amicus brief in support of the FWC's controlled bear hunt and the millions of Floridians who cast their ballots last year to forever protect the right to hunt and fish in Florida's Constitution.
IOTR issued the following statement from Luke Hilgemann, CEO of the International Order of T. Roosevelt, regarding the anti-hunting protests taking place today, and IOTR's filing in the case.
STATEMENT FROM LUKE HILGEMANN, CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF T. ROOSEVELT
"Florida voters spoke loud and clear: Hunting is our right and the best way to manage wildlife. Don't let activists override the ballot box.
"As IOTR CEO, I stand with 150,000 Florida members—hunters funding conservation without taxpayer dollars. This bear hunt honors our traditions and protects ecosystems. Hunting isn't just heritage; it's humane science. Amendment 2 makes it preferred over unproven alternatives—FWC's limited season proves it works.
"Black bears are thriving at over 4,000 strong, causing conflicts. Hunting responsibly controls them, as voters mandated—science over sentiment. Florida leads the nation: Treat hunting like free speech—a foundational right. Our ruling here echoes across states, safeguarding hunters everywhere."
Highlights from the Amicus Brief:
Amendment 2 compels approval of the black bear hunting season as a protected exercise of a public right, preempting challenges from so-called “animal rights” groups such as Plaintiff who seek to end hunting or at least subordinate it to wildlife management alternatives that they—not the Constitution—prefer.
Florida voters placed Amendment 2’s language in their Constitution despite widespread campaigns and media coverage denouncing the amendment. . . . Notably, many campaigns identified the black bear as a species most likely to be affected by passing Amendment 2. In urging Floridians to vote against the amendment, these opponents argued that other approaches to stabilizing the black bear population and reducing bear–human interactions would be more effective than hunting. Having failed to persuade the electorate, true to their playbook, anti-hunting activists now seek to thwart the voters’ will. . . . [T]he stated purpose of Plaintiff—and, by extension, this case—is to contravene the express will of the electorate and strip away their freedom to exercise the right they voted for. This Court should not let that happen.
IOTR boasts a diverse membership of more than 300,000 activists including hunters, anglers, conservationists, scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts across thirty-nine states. More than 150,000 IOTR activists are Florida residents who participate in the state’s multibillion-dollar outdoor recreation economy. Many hold licenses issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“FWC”), whose fees contribute directly to Florida’s conservation efforts by funding FWC’s operations without the use of taxpayer dollars.
Read the full Amicus Brief here.
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