Legislative/Congressional summery
to the Georgia Trappers Association: 

To the members of the GTA,

Given the extreme political environment across the country as it pertains to just about everything—but more to the point conservation, wildlife management, and trapping as a whole—as well as this being a mid-term and significant State election year for the State of Georgia and election year for the GTA, I feel it is imperative to document and have as a matter of record the legislative precedent that has been established over the last 20 years as it pertains to trapping. It is my belief that it is not IF, but WHEN, future GTA leaders will need this information to protect and defend our right to hunt, fish and trap.

The strength of our legislative precedence is rooted in the passing of Senate Resolution No. 67. In 2006 Senate Resolution No. 67 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that the tradition of fishing and hunting and the taking of fish and wildlife shall be preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good; to provide for submission of amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

This Georgia constitutional amendment was presented to voters on the 2006 ballot. The measure preserves the state’s tradition of hunting and fishing and the taking of fish and wildlife for the public good. Amendment 2 passed by an overwhelming margin 81% to 19% and it became an official part of the State of Georgia Constitution as of the 2006 ratification.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA
PREAMBLE

To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

ARTICLE I.
BILL OF RIGHTS

SECTION I.
RIGHTS OF PERSONS

Paragraph XXVIII. Fishing and hunting. The tradition of fishing and hunting and the taking of fish and wildlife shall be preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.

To fully understand the amendment, you must take yourself back to the concern and debate of the time. While the ballot measure ultimately won overwhelmingly, the legislative debate surrounding the amendment was centered around whether the measure was really a legal safeguard or political posturing.

Those who were proponents of the amendment, heavily backed by conservation groups and sportsman associations like the Georgia Trappers Association, and rural lawmakers, made the case that the amendment was needed given the shift in political and ideological opinions. They expressed their concerns that national animal rights organizations would eventually file lawsuits, push for state and local ordinances to restrict the states time honored traditions of hunting, fishing and the taking of fish and wildlife. By making it a constitutional right rather than simply a state statue, they ensured future legislatures and courts would find it difficult to strip away those values and traditions we hold so dear.

NOTE: I said they would find it difficult, not impossible.

On the other hand, those who opposed the amendment stated the amendment was legally redundant and unnecessary highlighting that Georgia law already protected the right to hunt and fish in Georgia Code Section 27-1-3. There were concerns expressed that it would negatively complicate future wildlife management initiatives, gun control debates and even used as a back door attempt to “get-out-the-vote” tactic to attract rural and conservative voters to the polls during the 2006 mid-term elections.

It is now 2026, twenty years down the road, and if you really want to see the significance of the foresight these leaders had, simply take a look at what has happened to hunting, fishing and trapping around the country over the last 20 years. Given everything I’ve provided to this point how does this connect Paragraph XXVIII to trapping.

Beginning with the opposition’s argument to the amendment. The concern was that national animal rights organizations would file lawsuits, and push for state and local ordinances to restrict hunting, fishing and the taking of fish and wildlife. It is important to keep in mind that at that time trapping was a prominent, highly publicized issue for those animal rights organizations. The period was defined by intense, multifaceted campaigns targeting both “the cruelty of foothold/body grip traps” and the broader fur trade which both then and now has been proven to be false claims.

With that in mind the wording of the amendment was drafted in a manner, not to mislead, but to present the issue factually in a responsible, less emotionally or politically charged way.

Paragraph XXVIII. Fishing and hunting. The tradition of fishing and hunting and the taking of fish and wildlife shall be preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.

The phrase “and the taking of fish and wildlife” was specifically written to include trapping. This is supported in the text “shall be preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.”

Trapping is “the taking of fish and wildlife” using a scientifically sound conservation practice for wildlife management that has decades of data proving it is used for “the public good” and trapping is “managed by law and regulation.”

Given ALL the above, this absolutely makes trapping in the State of Georgia a Constitutionally protected Right and it is further supported by legislation which would follow later down the road.

Fast forwards to 2022. The Georgia House and Senate passed House Bill 1147 which was signed by Governor Brian Kemp on May 10, 2022. HB 1147. The bill authorizes the state board of Natural Resources to allow the year-round trapping and hunting of raccoons and opossum on private land. It removed strict statutory limits on these species to give landowners and land managers more flexibility to control predator populations. The argument presented acknowledged that the declining fur trade had led to requiring alternative methods to control predator densities due to overpopulation of both raccoons and opossum. They also recognized the raccoons and opossum as apex nest predators contributing to the decline of both the bobwhite quail and wild turkey. Most importantly of all they recognized trapping as a fundamental tool in conservation and wildlife management.

Fast forward again to 2024. By this time there had been an issue for years in the State of Georgia concerning navigable waters which centered around a conflict between public river recreation and private property rights. Because Georgia law relies on a restrictive 1863 definition of navigability and unusual property deeds. However, following a long and serious chain of events which led to a lawsuit filed by Four Chimneys LLLP which eventually led to a joint settlement between Four Chimneys LLLP and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. This led to a lot of other events that would indirectly place the rights of water trapping in jeopardy. It is important to note this WAS NOT anti-trapping related. However, should there be a legislative change regarding the existing laws it would have had a collateral impact on Georgia trappers.

In response to the proposed changes the Georgia Trappers Association formed a committee that would speak before a Special House Study Committee. On November 13, 2024, the committee made up of Mike Wilson, Tommy Key, Josh Hall, Jason Chapman, Bryan Rooks and Joey Thiel. All spoke before the Special House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Other Related Matters.

It was clear the committee was interested and engaged in what was presented, asking questions and following up after the meeting adjourned. The reward came in December 2024 when the Special House Study Committees Final Report was released. It did the following:

It acknowledged Article I, Section I, Paragraph XXVIII of the Georgia Constitution. In addition, OCGA 27-1-3 places the ownership and management authority of Georgia’s wildlife resources under the State of Georgia, requiring those resources to be managed according to sound principles of wildlife management and authorizing the use of all appropriate management tools, including hunting, fishing, and the taking of wildlife.

The report went on to acknowledge the GTA committees’ testimony that stated changes in the current law would impact both the livelihood of trappers and present a risk to communities from nuisance wildlife in the form of ecological damage.

In the report’s Committee Recommendations, they specifically state:

“Upon the conclusion of its meetings and following discussions among committee members, the House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters makes the following recommendations.”

“#6. Protect Georgia’s fishing, hunting, trapping and outdoor recreation traditions, as well as those reliant on waterways such as logging and farming, by carefully analyzing the impact of any potential legislation on these sectors.”

Again, legislative acknowledgement that solidifies trapping as a fundamental tool in wildlife management using verbiage from Article 1, Section 1, Paragraph XXVIII of the State of Georgia Constitution and stating that the Georgia legislator should analyze the impact of potential legislation and protect hunting, fishing and trapping. That is strong legislative precedence.

Finally, there is HR 1928 that passed in the Georgia House on March 25, 2026, during the 2026 legislative session which formally recognized and commended the importance of regulated trapping. Because it is a simple resolution rather than a standard legislative bill, it does not create or change any state laws, and it did not need to go through the Senate or to Governor Kemp for approval.

What it does is place the House officially on record acknowledging regulated trapping as an ethical, scientific, and necessary tool for wildlife conservation, disease prevention, and property management. From a strategic standpoint, the Georgia Trappers Association champions this measure because it establishes a strong legislative precedence that acts like as a defensive firewall, giving trapping advocates a clear, recorded legislative stance from the House that can be used to combat future anti-trapping measures.

Legislatively the Georgia Trappers Association is in a very good place. Because of good leadership in the past and proactive legislators under the Gold Dome there is a good amount of legislative precedence held in reserve so that future generations will have to draw from should the need arise. While we are strong, we are not immune to what the reality of what the future could hold. Which is why we stay committed to maintaining a strong legislative presence as part of the GTA leadership.

President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction” He first used that quote in 1961 while speaking to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, but he would frequently repeat it to emphasize that liberty is never inherited through blood but must be continuously fought for and protected.

If the very liberty that makes a free and sovereign people is that fragile, how fragile are our basic fundamental ability to hunt, fish and trap?

Establishing proactive relationship with our legislators cannot be overstressed. Working with them to establish legislative precedence for the day the wolf shows up at the door must be a priority.

Lastly, in accordance with the GTA Charter with the Secretary of States Office the GTA shall not “participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate.” However, each of us as individuals is allowed to support and endorse whoever we choose. That said, DO NOT UNDERESTEMATE the significance of any election. I strongly encourage each of you that is able to vote to research the candidates, support those who support us, let your voice be heard and VOTE!

I want to thank the membership of the GTA for their support, guidance and assistance in keeping an eye on the activities under the Gold Dome. It is an honor to serve the GTA as Legislative/Congressional Director and I look forward to serving you all going forward.

Respectfully,

Harry J. Thiel
GTA Legislative/Congressional Director