The lies being told to Colorado citizens about mountain lion and bobcat hunting are egregious. This initiative is being pushed by an anti-hunting agenda that does nothing to conserve wildlife in our or any other state where they pump millions of dollars into anti-hunting campaigns.
Mary Oswald wrote a letter to the editor claiming that .4% of CPW’s budget is from hunting. That is absolutely untrue, just like the other lies being spread about mountain lion and bobcat hunting. Over 50% of CPW’s revenue is from licenses, passes, fees and permits. Over $26 million came from the Pittman Robertson Act, which is an excise tax on firearms and ammunition. To say that sportspeople are contributing a meager .4% to CPW revenue is ludicrous.
To address the lie of only hunting these animals for “trophies,” that is also ludicrous. Colorado statute 33-6-119 requires that hunters and trappers prepare the edible parts of game for human consumption and applies to all big game species, including mountain lions. Houndsmen and the folks putting in the strenuous effort to hunt these magnificent animals treat them with respect and admiration. It is through their diligence over the past century that has caused these cats to flourish in our state.
I urge the voters of Colorado to allow professional biologists with CPW to manage our wildlife rather than out of state extremists. Undermining CPW and educated biologists will only harm our wildlife populations. Vote “no” on Proposition 127 and say “no” to ballot box biology.
Luke Kline
Bayfield
