Colorado Amendment 83 ballot measure targets wildlife management rights

Colorado voters will decide on Amendment 83 this November, a ballot measure that seeks to enshrine the right to hunt and fish in the state constitution. If passed with at least 55 percent of the vote, the amendment would establish a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife using traditional methods, excluding non-game, endangered, or federally protected species. It would also designate hunting and fishing as the preferred methods for managing wildlife populations.

The measure has sparked significant debate among conservationists and sportsmen. Opponents argue that the amendment is driven by out-of-state special interests and could limit the ability of future voters, the legislature, and the Parks and Wildlife Commission to make wildlife management decisions. They contend that the vague constitutional language could shift the balance of power regarding future regulations.

Proponents and opponents both claim to represent the interests of Colorado’s hunters and anglers. The debate highlights a rift within the community, specifically regarding whether certain traditional practices, such as predator management, align with mainstream conservation or risk alienating the broader public.