RBC | A proposed ban on hunting mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx will appear on Colorado’s November ballot, according to the state’s Secretary of State’s Office. The initiative, driven by an animal rights group, aims to end big-cat hunting in the state.
The Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project (CWCP), a coalition of 20 organizations including the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), has voiced strong opposition to the proposed ban. During a June press conference, CWCP expressed concerns about the impact on wildlife management, which has traditionally been guided by scientific principles rather than public opinion.
The proposed legislation would prohibit hunting of mountain lions and bobcats, while reinforcing the existing protections for lynx, which are already safeguarded under state and federal laws. Opponents of the ban argue that Colorado law mandates hunting, trapping, and fishing as key tools in wildlife population management, and that the proposed measure would interfere with this effective system.
“The use of the term ‘trophy hunting’ is misleading and sets a dangerous precedent for defining hunting practices in law,” said Patt Dorsey, NWTF director of conservation operations in the West. “Banning hunting without understanding its role in population control could harm both wildlife and Colorado’s ecological balance.”
Hunting in Colorado is tightly regulated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) through quotas, education requirements, and mandatory checks for harvested animals. These measures ensure that hunting contributes to sustainable wildlife populations. The CWCP and other conservation organizations argue that removing hunting as a management tool could result in unintended ecological consequences.
In addition to conservation concerns, the ban could affect Colorado’s economy. Hunting and fishing contribute over $3.25 billion annually and support more than 25,000 jobs in the state. Out-of-state hunters also travel to Colorado for big game hunting, further boosting local economies.