Why Hunters and Anglers Remain Central to Colorado Conservation

By Greg Walcher | Commentary, Complete Colorado

The Common Sense Institute (CSI) just published an analysis of the economic impact of hunting and fishing in Colorado, to help inform debate on a November ballot measure called Amendment 83. It would enshrine in the state constitution the right of the people to hunt and fish. As one of the report’s co-authors, I attended a forum where we were asked, “Why not just eliminate hunting and fishing and let nature take over?”

Many Coloradans may not fully understand what the absence of hunting and fishing might look like. It is a scenario they do not want.

Amendment 83 appears simply to restate existing laws and processes. It would amend the Colorado Constitution to make hunting and fishing a right for Colorado’s 874,000 fishing license holders and 378,000 hunting license holders. It would specify hunting and fishing as the preferred wildlife management option, ensure no trespass on private property or changes to property rights, and would not limit the authority of state agencies to license and regulate these activities.

People in the state already have the right to hunt and fish, which is already the primary management tool; trespassing is already illegal; and the state already licenses and regulates hunting and fishing. But those systems are in statutes, so they are subject to changes by legislation or ballot initiatives – there have been 17 such attempts in recent years.

Constitutionally, there are no guarantees, though 24 states have such language in their constitutions.

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