Hunting is a critical tool

During my time working at Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the mission was to promote, protect, enhance and manage wildlife resources on behalf of citizens and future generations. We accomplished this using the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which considers hunting to be a cornerstone for managing and restoring wildlife and habitats. We were also guided by state statute, which directs CPW to use hunting and trapping as the primary methods of necessary wildlife harvests. 

Proposition 127 seeks to take away hunting despite experts deeming it a critical tool to effectively manage lions and bobcats. While supporters of Proposition 127 argue that this hunting is inhumane – particularly that of mountain lion hunting, which utilizes dogs – I could not disagree more. 

Wildlife research in Colorado must pass a review panel comprised of scientists, ethicists and veterinary health and welfare experts. They have consistently signed off on CPW research, including that which used dogs to capture lions. If using dogs was an inhumane practice, then these panels would have never given their approval. Despite claims made by supporters of Proposition 127, CPW has ensured all research is conducted in a humane and ethical manner. 

Having been a wildlife professional for nearly two decades, I can tell you that mortality is inevitable, regardless of whether a species is managed with hunting. However, hunting remains an effective and humane tool for managing Colorado’s lions and bobcats. In a managed population, surplus animals can be harvested and utilized to create balance within the ecosystem. This balance limits other sources of undesirable mortality like starvation, being hit by a car, being killed by peers or being euthanized following conflict. 

In Colorado, hunters are taught through hunter education how to make a quick, clean, precise kill. To me, this is far more humane than leaving our big cats vulnerable to undesirable instances of mortality. 

Proponents of Prop. 127 are manipulating the public by using false claims about what this ballot measure actually does. Prop. 127 does not end trophy hunting, the hunting of endangered lynx or the suffocation and bludgeoning of lions and bobcats. All of these things are already illegal. Instead, Proposition 127 is a 100% ban on the hunting of our state’s lions and bobcats. 

Supporters are portraying every hunter as a person who supports or participates in these illegal and unethical acts. However, proponents are referring to the actions of poachers, not hunters. Poachers should be held accountable, just like anyone who breaks the law. However, we as a society do not ban driving because someone drove drunk; we hold that individual driver accountable. The same should be true when we consider our state’s wildlife management policies.  

Hunting is a way to connect with our natural world and spend time outside with friends and family. It is a source of ethically raised and harvested meat. But lastly – and perhaps most importantly – it is a way to contribute to wildlife conservation. 

As a conservationist and wildlife professional, I strongly encourage you to vote no on Proposition 127 so our state’s wildlife can be left to the experts at Colorado Parks & Wildlife. They are good people, and they are good at what they do.

– Crystal Chick, Durango