The misrepresentation of facts about Proposition 127 and the Herald’s subsequent decision to recommend a “no” vote (Editorial, Sept. 22) deserves rebuttal.
Prop. 127 would outlaw trophy hunting of mountain lions (500/year) and bobcats (2,000/year) in the state of Colorado. Carve outs are made for property owners and ranchers defending their livestock, etc.
The Herald stated erroneously that mountain lions and bobcats are not killed for trophies and that their meat “must be shown and be presented for human consumption.” Simply not true. While Colorado Parks & Wildlife states that the meat should be prepared for consumption, it does not require presentation of anything but the head and the hide.
The Herald goes on to state that the decision to permit hunting of these animals should be left to the professionals, but this leaves out a few important considerations: To think that CPW spends time/money/resources studying hunting of animals that bring in a meager .4% of their budget is an opinion not based in reality.
Don’t think CPW is busy trying to figure out how to manage bobcat and mountain lion populations when it is doing all it can to control chronic wasting disease in deer and elk (which actually is found to be controlled by encouraging mountain lion numbers as they cull many of these sick animals). CPW does not even have a good handle on the numbers of the elusive bobcat in our state.
Trophy hunting of mountain lions and bobcats is cruel, antiquated and not based on science. Vote “yes” on Proposition 127 to outlaw this practice.
Mary Oswald
Durango
