Proponents of hunting, wildlife and the outdoors recently attended the 2nd annual Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project (CWCP) Legislative Reception at the historic Buckhorn Exchange in Denver. More than a dozen legislators from across Colorado, representing both urban and rural areas, gathered for a wild game feast that included elk, bison, quail and alligator.
CWCP formed two years ago in response to attacks on hunting, scientific wildlife management and the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. Its membership includes more than 20 organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, which had volunteers and a staffer in attendance.
The reception followed a day of meeting to set strategy on policy priorities for the legislative session, and to strategize opposition to the hunting-ban ballot measure that recently received approval to begin gathering signatures. RMEF strongly opposes the measure and is preparing a robust opposition and education effort to protect wildlife management from ballot box biology.
Colorado sportsmen and women will be interested in the confirmation hearings of the three newest appointees expected in February. The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to make recommendations to the full Senate, which can confirm or reject them. Two of the appointees are from the animal welfare and animal rights community, and the “sportsmen” representative is best known as a wolf-advocate and critic of predator management.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)