Why It Matters: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission voted 6-5 on July 17, 2026, to terminate rulemaking on a citizen petition that sought to ban the retail sale of furs from wild furbearers harvested in Colorado. This decision upholds lawful trapping as a science-based wildlife management tool and protects sportsmen’s heritage against efforts that conflict with state statute and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
Highlights:
- In March 2026, CPW Commissioners voted 6-4 to advance a citizen petition for a retail fur sales ban, going against CPW staff recommendations.
- After hours of debate and public testimony at the July 16-17 meeting in Ignacio, the Commission voted 6-5 to terminate the rulemaking process.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was engaged throughout the process, providing verbal and written testimony and also joining coalition sign-on letters in support of trapping and related products.
As we reported previously, in March 2026, the CPW Commission approved a citizen petition, filed by anti-hunting groups, to consider a ban on the commercial sale, barter, or trade of pelts, hides, and associated products from Colorado’s 17 furbearer species. The vote advanced the proposal into formal rulemaking despite clear recommendations from CPW staff and Director Laura Clellan to deny the petition. Staff had identified direct conflicts with state statutes, including C.R.S 33-6 and Title 35 provisions that expressly allow the sale of pelts from damage-causing animals, as well as practical enforcement challenges.
At the July 16-17, 2026, Commission meeting in Ignacio, Colorado, after extensive public testimony and lengthy debate, Commissioners voted 6-5 to terminate the rulemaking process entirely. Commissioner Dallas May’s motion to end the process carried the day, with supporters noting that public engagement data showed most respondents opposed a fur ban and that the proposal risked creating more issues than it solved. CPW staff reiterated concerns that the petition’s limited exceptions were arbitrary, difficult to administer, and unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny. The petitioner has since indicated that she does not intend to pursue another retail ban attempt at this time.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has been vocal in its support of trapping as an essential wildlife management and property-protection tool and in its opposition to the petition’s attempt to restrict retail fur sales. CSF provided both verbal and written testimony and joined coalition partners in sign-on letters throughout the process. We applaud our coalition partners and the broader sportsmen’s community for their determined efforts to protect Colorado’s sporting heritage and the principles of the North American Model.
CSF will continue its unyielding efforts in support of Colorado’s sportsmen and women, as well as sportsmen nationwide. As a part of this effort, CSF is actively supporting the ongoing efforts around Right to Hunt and Fish in Colorado. Trapping remains a legitimate, science-based tool that contributes to healthy wildlife populations, habitat management, and the conservation funding model that benefits all Coloradans. Sportsmen and women are encouraged to stay engaged as we work to preserve our sporting traditions for generations to come.