Colorado…….GOING, GOING, GONE???

[MtnW]

I spent 20 of some of my best years in Colorado. I was able to take a bighorn ram, yearly bull elk hunts, quality waterfowl hunting, I no longer live or hunt Colorado much any more.
California has lost its title of the land of “Fruit and Nuts” and now shares that title with Colorado .
The only way you Coloradan’s who enjoy hunting are going to save your outdoor lifestyle is by a well funded
grass roots effort.
Coloradans who are hunters have allowed themselves to be put in a pretty large hole. Only a extremely well funded educated effort will now save some of your rights to hunt. If I was living in Colorado and planned on staying there I would be immediately setting up a network of high net worth contacts who love the outdoors as much as I do. It’s going to take a lot of money to remove these kooks mainly in the front range who have taken over your state and it’s government.
I don’t see much if anything at all from the outdoorsman and women in a grass roots effort to stop the craziness. If the Colorado sportsman lose ,its largely their fault. Instead of complaining on forums I would be putting large amounts of money where it can persuade public opinion.
There are many ways to get your political representatives replaced with more mainstream types. If every hunter had fifteen less craft beers per year, held off on the next best new mountain bike, not purchase the next matching KUIU piece of designer camo, your next piece of gear to save 3 ounces, your next new rifle, etc. etc. etc. and use that money to support the cause to regain control of your hunting lifestyles you stand a chance.
When I lived in Colorado some of my friends were commissioners on the the DOW, these guys were some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable in the USA, I was on the board of the Rocky Mtn Bighorn Society working alongside the biologists and fieldworkers in the game department. These types can dress down the likes of your unknowing city boy governor and his anti hunting male wife in five minutes in a debate.
There are so many ways you Coloradans can respond in force, I just don’t see anyone putting forth a consorted effort. Once you get a plan in place the effort will snowball and money will come in. Along with the grassroots effort say the average hunter donates $100-$200 you will find the high net worth individuals will open their wallets, ranchers, corporations that benefit from hunters will make large donations, and people like myself who live out of state will also help your cause.
If you sit by and do nothing you lose!

 

[WCT3]

I don't necessarily disagree with you but I think it's more complicated than you make it sound. Our wonderful governor and his wolf loving husband have been stacking the commission with anti-hunters, investigators are being told to rule obvious wolf killings as inconclusive (https://www.coloradoan.com/story/ne...ado-wolf-investigation-tampering/85319701007/), anti gun bills are being passed all the time either by voters or the legislature, anti hunting/pro "preservation" bills are being proposed all the time (the antis are just throwing sh*t hoping to see what will stick). More and more people are pouring into Denver and the front range every year, most of them liberal and many of them anti hunting. There's no hope of removing the kooks, the only thing that I see working is an intense education campaign by CPW about the importance of hunting and the North American Model but it will never happen with our current administration.

On the bright side, CRWM (https://savethehuntcolorado.com/) is that grass roots organization you're talking about. They exist and are doing well and had incredible funding during the fight against the mountain lion ban. I agree that we need to continue funding them and give up that piece of gear or pack a few more lunches instead of eating out to do so.

We will never get back what we've lost, the best we can hope for is to not give up anything else. I will continue to fight but deep down I know that this is not the place for me long term. Our state government and a large portion of the people that live hear hate my way of life and would prefer to see it gone and eventually that will push me to a different state.

 

[Gpw]

The First Lady in Colorado is a dude?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

More like Gone, Gone, Gone.

 

[socoalt]

Sounds like you should move back to CO and bring your closest friends. We need all the help we can get

 

[98XJRC]

CRWM is exactly what your looking for and they've been at it hard the past couple of years. The unfortunate reality is that with Colorado's current structure and the allowance of wildlife issues being put to the general public vote when you have a state that's flipped it will be used negatively against either side. Most people when they vote have little idea as to what issue they are even voting on and even less knowledge as to the individual who they are voting for. So long as it has a certain letter next to the name they are GTG.

I'm not saying Colorado is lost, however they are in a very dangerous position to resemble California within the next 10 years. Granted in that same breath many other states could be in that same position. There has been a massive population shift within the past few years to more rural and typically conservative areas. Most of these individuals do not change their ideology with their geographic shift which is what happened in CO.

 

[WCT3]

CRWM is exactly what your looking for and they've been at it hard the past couple of years. The unfortunate reality is that with Colorado's current structure and the allowance of wildlife issues being put to the general public vote when you have a state that's flipped it will be used negatively against either side. Most people when they vote have little idea as to what issue they are even voting on and even less knowledge as to the individual who they are voting for. So long as it has a certain letter next to the name they are GTG.

I'm not saying Colorado is lost, however they are in a very dangerous position to resemble California within the next 10 years. Granted in that same breath many other states could be in that same position. There has been a massive population shift within the past few years to more rural and typically conservative areas. Most of these individuals do not change their ideology with their geographic shift which is what happened in CO.

You summed up exactly what I was trying to say but better and less emotional

 

[Macintosh]

Its like this in several states with massive urban populations, with much more sparsely populated rural areas elsewhere, but the particulars of colorados ballot initiative process make it even worse there. Imo the ballot initiative process needs to be reformed in order to change this.

 

[WCT3]

Its like this in several states with massive urban populations, with much more sparely populated rural areas elsewhere, but the particulars of colorados ballot initiative process make it even worse there. Imo the ballot initiative process needs to be reformed in order to change this.

I agree. On the Your Mountain podcast they described the WY process and I remember thinking it seemed like a much better way than what CO does. I don't remember the details but I think a certain number of signatures had to come from every county and required 60% vote to pass (feel free to correct me if anyone knows more than me).

 

[TheViking]

Burning my Preference Points while I still can.
I have 5 years until my youngest is out of high school, then it's decision time. I have lived here since 2007 and watched it burn down. It's sad, man. The city of Denver is in crazy debt (sanctuary city), the whole wolf debacle, crazy, assinine gun bills, overpopulation on the front range, undersized infrastructure (=crazy traffic), higher taxes, I could go on and on. All of that without even mentioning the state of the hunting world. Colorado is 100% the next California. We all saw it coming, but can't do a damn thing about it - conservatives are vastly outnumbered and it's getting worse every year. I am hopeful that we can save the hunting here - the mountain lion bill defeat was a huge win for us and people showed up. I will move off the Front Range at the minimum and head somewhere on the Western side of the state, or maybe a move out of state. We will see what happens in the next 5 years. Polis will be gone by then, we will see what knit wit the Dems elect next time.
The only good thing that has happened is property values, my house has almost doubled in value, so I can leave here with a nice chunk of change.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

A few years ago a member here @SoloWilderness started collaberating on a Right to Hunt Initiative for Colorado and even @Randy Newberg was offering support for the idea. I would like to know what progress was made or what hurdles solowilderness encountered before he (for lack of a better word) "abandoned" the project. I'm sure it was quite an undertaking but perhaps we need to revisit what it might take to accomplish this as a group before it's too late.

Thread 'Colorado Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish Citizens Initiative.'

Mar 5, 2023

Given the current rapidly deteriorating political climate in Colorado, and the composition of the legislature here, it seems like it is time to bring this issue to the forefront. There have been a lot of discussions lately lamenting hunters' inability to come together to protect the way of life we live and breathe. Colorado is one of the states with no constitutionally protected right to hunt and fish. I think many of us are starting to see the writing on the wall, as the urban majority makes decision after decision which negatively impacts the Colorado I grew up in, and still love with...

• SoloWilderness
• Replies: 80
• Forum: Conservation

• 

 

[YoteThumper]

I spent 20 of some of my best years in Colorado. I was able to take a bighorn ram, yearly bull elk hunts, quality waterfowl hunting, I no longer live or hunt Colorado much any more.
California has lost its title of the land of “Fruit and Nuts” and now shares that title with Colorado .
The only way you Coloradan’s who enjoy hunting are going to save your outdoor lifestyle is by a well funded
grass roots effort.
Coloradans who are hunters have allowed themselves to be put in a pretty large hole. Only a extremely well funded educated effort will now save some of your rights to hunt. If I was living in Colorado and planned on staying there I would be immediately setting up a network of high net worth contacts who love the outdoors as much as I do. It’s going to take a lot of money to remove these kooks mainly in the front range who have taken over your state and it’s government.
I don’t see much if anything at all from the outdoorsman and women in a grass roots effort to stop the craziness. If the Colorado sportsman lose ,its largely their fault. Instead of complaining on forums I would be putting large amounts of money where it can persuade public opinion.
There are many ways to get your political representatives replaced with more mainstream types. If every hunter had fifteen less craft beers per year, held off on the next best new mountain bike, not purchase the next matching KUIU piece of designer camo, your next piece of gear to save 3 ounces, your next new rifle, etc. etc. etc. and use that money to support the cause to regain control of your hunting lifestyles you stand a chance.
When I lived in Colorado some of my friends were commissioners on the the DOW, these guys were some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable in the USA, I was on the board of the Rocky Mtn Bighorn Society working alongside the biologists and fieldworkers in the game department. These types can dress down the likes of your unknowing city boy governor and his anti hunting male wife in five minutes in a debate.
There are so many ways you Coloradans can respond in force, I just don’t see anyone putting forth a consorted effort. Once you get a plan in place the effort will snowball and money will come in. Along with the grassroots effort say the average hunter donates $100-$200 you will find the high net worth individuals will open their wallets, ranchers, corporations that benefit from hunters will make large donations, and people like myself who live out of state will also help your cause.
If you sit by and do nothing you lose!

Absolutely, it’s unfortunately not as easy though educating people who’ve already got “the right answer” our only hope is the next governor who will be a liberal lets us be and maybe by then we’ll have enough support to reverse some of this crap.

 

[YoteThumper]

Burning my Preference Points while I still can.
I have 5 years until my youngest is out of high school, then it's decision time. I have lived here since 2007 and watched it burn down. It's sad, man. The city of Denver is in crazy debt (sanctuary city), the whole wolf debacle, crazy, assinine gun bills, overpopulation on the front range, undersized infrastructure (=crazy traffic), higher taxes, I could go on and on. All of that without even mentioning the state of the hunting world. Colorado is 100% the next California. We all saw it coming, but can't do a damn thing about it - conservatives are vastly outnumbered and it's getting worse every year. I am hopeful that we can save the hunting here - the mountain lion bill defeat was a huge win for us and people showed up. I will move off the Front Range at the minimum and head somewhere on the Western side of the state, or maybe a move out of state. We will see what happens in the next 5 years. Polis will be gone by then, we will see what knit wit the Dems elect next time.
The only good thing that has happened is property values, my house has almost doubled in value, so I can leave here with a nice chunk of change.

As someone over on the west slope if it gets worse over there I think I’m gonna leave to, it’s unfortunate how these efforts have killed not only hunting opportunity but also the amount of hunters! Until we can get some of these anti hunting groups out of power it’s gonna keep getting worse.

 

[Tower13]

I spent 20 of some of my best years in Colorado. I was able to take a bighorn ram, yearly bull elk hunts, quality waterfowl hunting, I no longer live or hunt Colorado much any more.
California has lost its title of the land of “Fruit and Nuts” and now shares that title with Colorado .
The only way you Coloradan’s who enjoy hunting are going to save your outdoor lifestyle is by a well funded
grass roots effort.
Coloradans who are hunters have allowed themselves to be put in a pretty large hole. Only a extremely well funded educated effort will now save some of your rights to hunt. If I was living in Colorado and planned on staying there I would be immediately setting up a network of high net worth contacts who love the outdoors as much as I do. It’s going to take a lot of money to remove these kooks mainly in the front range who have taken over your state and it’s government.
I don’t see much if anything at all from the outdoorsman and women in a grass roots effort to stop the craziness. If the Colorado sportsman lose ,its largely their fault. Instead of complaining on forums I would be putting large amounts of money where it can persuade public opinion.
There are many ways to get your political representatives replaced with more mainstream types. If every hunter had fifteen less craft beers per year, held off on the next best new mountain bike, not purchase the next matching KUIU piece of designer camo, your next piece of gear to save 3 ounces, your next new rifle, etc. etc. etc. and use that money to support the cause to regain control of your hunting lifestyles you stand a chance.
When I lived in Colorado some of my friends were commissioners on the the DOW, these guys were some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable in the USA, I was on the board of the Rocky Mtn Bighorn Society working alongside the biologists and fieldworkers in the game department. These types can dress down the likes of your unknowing city boy governor and his anti hunting male wife in five minutes in a debate.
There are so many ways you Coloradans can respond in force, I just don’t see anyone putting forth a consorted effort. Once you get a plan in place the effort will snowball and money will come in. Along with the grassroots effort say the average hunter donates $100-$200 you will find the high net worth individuals will open their wallets, ranchers, corporations that benefit from hunters will make large donations, and people like myself who live out of state will also help your cause.
If you sit by and do nothing you lose!

Well said, I too have hunted Colorado for the last 35 years. The last 5 years have been so disappointing. The beauty of the land is still unchanged and we enjoy it so much at least where we hunt. The change in the Hunters freedom we all once knew and our given right to hunt this beautiful state has slowly been removed. I can not imagine the lost revenue the state will lose and small businesses that support our hunting needs. Not to mention guide services, land owners, butcher shop's, diners, hotels rentals. How much revenue when you drill it down will be lost because we don't show up each year. How many lives will be changed when hunters disappear ?