Hunting and fishing could soon by banned in Oregon if animal rights activists get their way after a ballot initiative gained support from thousands of residents.

Initiative 28, which proposes expanding the state's animal cruelty ban to cover a wide range of pursuits, is one step closer to being part of the midterm elections after leaders submitted 120,000 signatures in favor of the move.  

People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions Act (PEACE) group are leading the campaign for the measure, which would effectively ban hunting, fishing, and slaughtering livestock. 

The initiative would also ban conducting scientific research on animals, using animals in rodeos, operating a commercial poultry business and castrating or neutering livestock in the Pacific Northwest state. 

These activities are currently exempt from Oregon's animal cruelty laws, but under the proposal, they would be treated as a criminal offense ranging from misdemeanor abuse to assault. 

A petition supporting the animal rights move has now submitted more than 120,000 signatures - above the 117,000 needed by July 2 to get the measure on the ballot. 

However, a portion of these signatures are likely to be ruled as ineligible, such as those of people who are not registered voters in Oregon. 

At least 15 percent of signatures were rejected from each of the four initiative petitions that have qualified for the ballot since 2022, state records show. 

David Michelson, who leads PEACE, said it's too early to tell whether they will gain enough signatures before the July 2 deadline.  

'I am grateful that we have been picking up speed the past few months,' Michelson told the Oregonian on Tuesday. 

'I think that it is definitely possible that we could qualify, that we could turn in enough signatures, but we will be using every day before the deadline to collect signatures.' 

Powerful industry groups whose members would be impacted by the measure, including the Oregon Farm Bureau, the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and the Oregon Hunters Association, have strongly opposed the initiative. 

The Oregon Farm Bureau said the measure would force residents to rely on food imported from other states, while hurting local agricultural businesses. 

'This would expose farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, breeders and animal owners to criminal liability for standard, humane practices that are essential to animal health, food production and genetic management,' the bureau said in a statement. 

Oregon Senators Anthony Broadman, a Democrat, and David Brock-Smith, Republican, unified in opposition to the proposal. 

The politicians said the initiative would harm the local economy. 

'Buying locally raised foods at the local farmers market would be outlawed while restaurant and grocery prices would increase substantially due to the need to ship meat and dairy products in from out of state,' Broadman said. 

'Hunting and fishing for food is a part of Oregon’s heritage and for many of us, part of who we are.'

This is not the first time the PEACE team has tried to get the initiative on the ballot. But even if it does make the 2026 ballot, it is expected to fail.

There are roughly three million registered voters in Oregon, and the majority would have to vote for the initiative to pass.