Colorado wildlife commission: 7 of 11 seats now rest with Weiser and the Senate

By Miles Blumhardt | Fort Collins Coloradoan

Phil Weiser, Colorado’s projected next governor, and a newly elected state Senate will play major roles in deciding a fiercely contested battle over drastically different views of wildlife management on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Weiser, a Democrat, was handily winning the race for governor, with around 60% of the vote as of early Nov. 4.

Seven of the 11 members of the commission, which sets Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations and policies, are up for confirmation by the Senate or reappointment by Weiser in 2027, who said he’s “frustrated” with the commission and has hinted changes may be looming.

The uncertainty of how Weiser and the Senate will see the fight has prompted a coalition of commissioners critical of what they see as the wildlife agency favoring hunters and trappers to push for greater restrictions of those activities before term-limited Gov. Jared Polis’ eight-year run ends in January.

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