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Hunting in pink legislation hits its first mark

Senate committee OKs measure to surprise of observers, sponsor
“Pink is hot right now,” said Cole Hyson, owner of Colorado Trading Co., which carries pink guns, camo, knives, bows, arrows and accessories. “I think just about every manufacturer is making something pink these days.”

DENVER – Legislation that aims to attract more female hunters hit its initial target Thursday, passing a committee with bipartisan support.

A hunter is required to wear fluorescent orange to hunt elk, deer, pronghorn, moose or black bear. Senate Bill 68 would add the option to wear fluorescent, or “blaze,” pink.

“Every hunting season I saw my brothers fit in, and I did not,” said Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, sponsor of the legislation. “The message was clear that hunting was for men, and it’s something that only men should do.”

The Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee passed the legislation 6-3. Its passage came as a surprise to observers, including Donovan, who expected the bill to die in committee. She said testimony must have swayed the vote.

But Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, was not convinced, suggesting that the bill is not necessary because orange is a proven color to wear for safety.

“We all know what fluorescent orange means when you’re out hunting,” Roberts said after the vote. “This is not one I’m going to fall on my sword over. I just don’t think we really need to go in this direction.

“I don’t think women are going to be drawn into hunting over the color of their outfits,” she said.

Female hunters interviewed by The Durango Herald last week said they found the bill to be “ridiculous” and “condescending.”

“I’m lost on the idea that pink has to be the color that identifies an outdoors woman anymore than blaze orange,” said Kirstie Pike, president and chief executive of Gunnison-based Próis Hunting and Field Apparel for Women.

But lawmakers appeared swayed by the safety argument. Patt Dorsey, the southwest region manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, who has worked for the division for 25 years and has been hunting since she was 9 years old, said the division supports the bill.

“In this case, the safety aspect is the visibility of the color fluorescent pink. There are several studies out there that indicate that fluorescent pink is as visible as fluorescent orange,” Dorsey said.

Similar legislation was signed into law in Wisconsin on Thursday. It served as an impetus for the Colorado bill.

Women are the fastest growing demographic in the hunting industry, while overall, the industry has seen declines in participation, Donovan said. Between 2011 and 2013, women hunters grew from 11 percent to 19 percent of industry participation.

“Saying that pink can be worn sends a message that women are welcome in hunting,” Donovan said. “You don’t have to look like a man, or act like a man, to participate in one of our state’s most time-honored traditions.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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