By Bobbie Daniel | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Dear fellow Colorado hunter, angler and 2A advocate, I am reaching out with a simple but important message: vote.
I know you are busy — between work, family and gearing up for the upcoming hunting season, life is full. Our family is right there with you, making sure our rifles are sighted in, tags are purchased, gear is ready, and we have scouted our hunting areas.
But, with so much at stake in this election, none of us can afford to be too busy to protect our Western heritage by casting our vote.
If you are like us, you have probably spent more time planning a hunting trip or drawing a tag than it takes to register to vote and fill out a ballot. And yet, those few minutes of voting could have a far greater impact on our way of life than any season opener.
I’m a sixth-generation Colorado native, from a long line of hunters, ranchers and coal miners. We worked with what God gave us, kept to ourselves, took care of our neighbors and worked hard. I still remember the pride I felt as a kid when my dad handed me a knife to skin a deer we had recently harvested near Meeker. I was standing in an outbuilding, snow falling quietly outside, taking on the joy and responsibility of helping provide for my family. That moment symbolized something bigger — a rite of passage into the tradition of putting food on the table and protecting our way of life.
Today, our responsibilities may look different. Instead of a knife, we are handed a ballot. But make no mistake — the stakes are just as high. The decisions we make in the voting booth are as vital to preserving our heritage as the hunt itself.
In recent years, we have had to vote on issues that directly impact our rural way of life, such as the reintroduction of wolves, Prop 112’s attempt to ban oil and gas drilling, and more recently, the potential ban of hunting mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx. These issues target us, the stewards of the land, while often being driven by misled urban voters and special interest groups who may not understand or appreciate the values that shape our lives.
It is discouraging when those who have little connection with rural Colorado vote incorrectly on issues that directly affect our traditions. But here’s the thing — they vote. And if we do not show up at the ballot box, we’re giving away our seat at the table to defend our future. There is an old saying in politics: if you are not at the table, you are on the menu. That’s exactly what happens when we fail to vote and engage.
You might be thinking, “What difference does my vote make?” But I promise you, every single vote matters when it comes to defending our rural heritage. The erosion of our rural culture does not happen all at once — it is a slow process, death by a thousand cuts. A ban here, a restriction there, and suddenly, the Western way of life that we all deeply cherish and respect are gone.
Whether it is bans on hunting, restrictions on firearms, or regulations that choke industries, these encroachments are real and happening now. Voting is one of the most powerful tools we have to push back. When you cast your ballot, you stand up for the right to manage wildlife responsibly, own and use firearms for hunting, sport, and self-defense, and preserve the values we hold dear.
So what can we do? It is simple, but it makes a world of difference:
- Vote your values. It’s not just about voting; it is about making sure your vote reflects the beliefs you live by — protecting our ability to hunt, fish, produce, and bear arms. Sharing voter guides is also helpful.
- Encourage others to vote. Talk to fellow hunters, anglers, ranchers, farmers, and miners. A simple conversation might be what gets them to the polls. Every voice matters.
- Join an advocacy group. Organizations like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association are fighting for our way of life. By joining these groups, you can amplify your voice and represent your values in the policy discussions that matter most.
If we sit back and do nothing, we will wake up one day to find our Western way of life has been chipped away, piece by piece. We cannot afford to let that happen. It is time to get involved, make our voices heard, and protect the traditions that have shaped us for generations.
Just like when my father passed the knife to me, symbolizing my growing responsibility, we now hold the ballot — our tool of responsibility for today.
Make the time to vote. Get involved with advocacy groups. Encourage others to do the same. Together, we can safeguard the Colorado we know and love.
Your vote matters, now more than ever.
Bobbie Daniel is a Mesa County commissioner, an avid huntress and supporter of the 2nd Amendment.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.