COLORADO — Colorado voters will decide by ballot whether to allow a ban on hunting mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx. The lynx is currently listed as a state endangered and threatened species federally and can't be hunted.  

The animal welfare group Cats Aren't Trophies placed the issue on the ballot, Proposition 127 maintaining, "The ballot measure would stop the unfair practice of sending packs of dogs to chase wild cats in our wild places, along with many other unsporting practices that cross the line." 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) estimates the state is home to 3,800 to 4,400 mountain lions. In 2022-2023, CPW generated $410,000 from selling mountain lion licenses, and hunters killed 504 mountain lions in Colorado. 

The Colorado Common Sense Institute estimates the economic impact to be much larger. The impact ranges from $3.6 million to $5.8 million — 9 to 14 times larger — when accounting for lost elk and mule deer permit revenue affected by an increase in mountain lion population. Mountain lions are an apex species, meaning they are at the top of the food chain. When the economic impact generated by hunters and others is included, $61.65 million in lost economic output. 

In the Colorado 2024 State Ballot Information Booklet, under Arguments For Proposition 127, "Bobcat and mountain lion hunting causes the animals pain and trauma. The hunting of mountain lions may involve the use of dog chases, while the hunting of bobcats may involve the use of baits, lures, or live traps. Hunting and trapping these animals, often for trophies or the commercial fur trade, is an unnecessary practice." 

The same booklet lists this under Arguments Against Proposition 127, "The measure restricts the ability of wildlife management experts at CPW to make science-based decisions to achieve the state's ecological objectives, which include preserving biodiversity, ensuring sustainable ecosystems, and protecting endangered species. The state manages a healthy population of bobcats and mountain lions, proving that its current management practices, including regulated hunting, are working." 

This is not the first time wildlife management issues have been placed before voters. 

In 1992, Colorado voters approved Amendment 10, which prohibited the use of dogs or bait to hunt black bears. 

In November 2020, Colorado voters approved Proposition 114, which mandated that Colorado Parks and Wildlife develop a plan to start reintroducing gray wolves to the western part of the state by 2023. The initiative passed narrowly, with 50.9 percent of the Colorado public voting in favor. 

Proposition 127 would make possession of a bobcat or lynx a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or imprisonment. 

It would also make violations a class 1 misdemeanor, and those convicted of violations would be prohibited from holding a wildlife license for five years. A person convicted twice would be banned from holding a wildlife license for life[ 

The ballot initiative would provide exceptions, such as killing a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx to defend human life. It would also allow for non-lethal methods to defend livestock, property, or motor vehicles. There would be other exceptions for accidents, veterinarians, and special licenses. 

In a letter to the editor published in the Valley Courier, Jerry Apker, a Monte Vista resident and former carnivore biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, wrote, "Voters in November will again be asked to become biologists and decide if all hunting of mountain lion, bobcat, and lynx should be forever prohibited. If you want the pros at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, many of whom hold advanced degrees in wildlife biology, to manage these cat species, then you should vote NO! If you want credible science to guide wildlife management decisions, then you should vote NO! If you want wildlife management policies and regulation to be overseen by the Wildlife Commission, a citizen board appointed by the Governor and designed to be apolitical and responsive to broad community interests, then you should vote NO!" 

Samantha Miller with Cats Aren't Trophies told the Valley Courier, "The group came about in a really grass-roots way. We have a veterinarian in Telluride, Dr. Christine Capaleo, who learned about bobcat trapping in her neighborhood and was shocked to hear that fur trappers can still trap an unlimited number of bobcats in Colorado. She realized that mountain lions can be hunted using dogs, and as a veterinarian, this was all very concerning." 

"This is democracy in action, CPW can manage with science whether it is hunting or not. CPW classifies both bobcat fur trapping and mountain lion trophy hunting as a recreational opportunity, it is not a management tool, it is something that is offered as recreation for the few people that partake in it," said Miller. 

Regarding the proposition, last month in a statement to the Valley Courier, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, "This proposition would end trophy hunting of mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado and ensure that lynx are never accidentally killed in a trap meant for bobcats. Whether this passes or not, I'm confident that Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be able to continue to manage our wildlife effectively to ensure ecological diversity with plenty of opportunities for big game hunting. I would love to hear what others think on this one, and I probably won't have a strong opinion one way or the other, but will certainly work to successfully implement the will of the voters either way. I am NEUTRAL ON PROPOSITION 127."  

Ballots for Colorado residents are in the mail, and voters can refer to the 2024 State Ballot Information for a neutral explanation of issues that we, the people, get to decide upon.