State: CO

Why it Matters: The use of ballot initiatives to restrict or ban hunting circumvents the legislative and regulatory process that allows for input by professionals, opportunities for revisions, and considerations of broader impacts within the state’s overall science-based management plan. These initiatives can allow wildlife management decisions to be made based on emotion rather than…

Why it Matters: Providing wildlife safe passage over or under highways is of mutual benefit to  public safety and wildlife populations. Highways often prevent wildlife from safely moving between important habitats. As a result, thousands of animals, including many sensitive species, are killed each year in wildlife-vehicle collisions. Wildlife crossings are especially critical for migrating…

Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies have long been recognized as the primary and most respected managers of fish and wildlife in the United States. These agencies are staffed by trained professionals with backgrounds in a wide variety of expertise including law enforcement, land management, wildlife biology, human dimensions, and numerous other disciplines….

Why It Matters: While it may seem obvious to some, the unrivaled contributions of sportspeople to the conservation of wildlife and their habitats may not be widely understood by some in the general public. By hosting Sportsmen’s Day at the Capitol and adopting SJR23-0009, the Colorado Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is working to ensure that more…

Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies have long been recognized as the primary and most respected managers of fish and wildlife in the United States. These agencies are staffed by trained professionals with backgrounds in a wide variety of expertise including law enforcement, land management, wildlife biology, human dimensions, and numerous other disciplines….

Why It Matters: In 2021, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received over $80 million generated through hunting license sales, and a 10-11% federal excise tax on firearm and ammunition purchases under the Pittman-Robertson Act, that went directly to the agency for statewide conservation efforts. Without sportspeople purchasing hunting licenses, firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories, Colorado Parks…

Why it Matters: Despite being considered charismatic, wild, and mysterious to some people in our modern age, wolves are not fundamentally different from other wildlife species. It is imperative that states do not treat wolf management as the exception, but rather hold wolves and wolf management to the same science-based standards that have proven time…

Why It Matters: Colorado is experiencing rapid growth of participation in outdoor recreation, coupled with unprecedented levels of relocation to rural areas of the state. While having more people enjoying the great outdoors is fantastic, it is creating an unprecedented strain on our public lands and wildlife that must be properly management and mitigated. Highlights:…

Recent advances in technology, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), which can assist in the tracking and taking of game, have posed an ethical debate within the hunting community. Legislators and sportsmen should be mindful of Fair Chase issues and, on a state-by-state basis, determine if legislation is warranted to ensure hunting is practiced ethically…

Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States, Assistant Manager Why it Matters: While it may seem obvious to some, the unrivaled contributions of sportspeople to the conservation of wildlife and their habitats are not widely understood by the general public. By hosting Sportsmen’s Day at the Capitol and adopting HJR22-1017, the hope is that more people…

Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator Highlights Why it Matters: The most recent petition by the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) to ban all trapping on public and private land in Colorado was denied unanimously by the Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission). This long-standing, anti-trapping effort in the state is hyper-focused on…

Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator and Internal MARCOMM Liaison Colorado made national headlines in November of 2020 when Proposition 114 – Introduction of Wolves – passed with 50.91% of the votes while counties voting to pass the measure represent roughly 10% of the state’s total acreage. Essentially, the passage of Proposition 114…