What is the actual value of a state constitutional right to hunt/fish?

[Cliff Gray]

this one I really tried to key in on what this "constitutional right to hunt" actually means... if Colorado gets it on the ballot and gets it passed.

You hear that phrase thrown around constantly and it sounds important. but sometimes stuff that sounds important doesn't end up mattering much at all. So I wanted to drill down on the actual details with Dan. what does it really mean, why it matters strategically, and how it plays into this whole trend of ballot box biology. we also get into the Colorado Commission and the kind of bastardization going on over there right now.

always fun to have a political conversation every once in a while, and Dan never disappoints. he works hard to move the needle for hunters.

 

[Bluumoon]

this one I really tried to key in on what this "constitutional right to hunt" actually means... if Colorado gets it on the ballot and gets it passed.

You hear that phrase thrown around constantly and it sounds important. but sometimes stuff that sounds important doesn't end up mattering much at all. So I wanted to drill down on the actual details with Dan. what does it really mean, why it matters strategically, and how it plays into this whole trend of ballot box biology. we also get into the Colorado Commission and the kind of bastardization going on over there right now.

always fun to have a political conversation every once in a while, and Dan never disappoints. he works hard to move the needle for hunters.

Any insight on IOTR? Doing the good work and don’t know anything about them.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Do some research on the current Washington Fish and Wildlife commission and what they've done the last few years if you want to know where Colorado will be in 5 years. It's not if they ban hunting for Colorado, it's when. Especially with the current governer and his husband appointing these people. The wife of the previous WA governor was an outspoken anti hunter and look what's happened now. The majority of WA's F&W commission is cut from the same cloth as the humane society attorney in Colorado. Here's some reading for those interested.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/13/wa-fish-and-wildlife-saga-deepens-with-claims-of-collusion/

WDFW Legal Case: Sportsmen’s Alliance Fights for Transparency

The Sportsmen’s Alliance breaks down the legal battle against the WDFW over public records violations, collusion, and the "Knoll Memo."

sportsmensalliance.org

 

[MuleyFever]

Since this is such an important issue maybe you could give the details here as well?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Do some research on the current Washington Fish and Wildlife commission and what they've done the last few years if you want to know where Colorado will be in 5 years. It's not if they ban hunting for Colorado, it's when. Especially with the current governer and his husband appointing these people. The wife of the previous WA governor was an outspoken anti hunter and look what's happened now. The majority of WA's F&W commission is cut from the same cloth as the humane society attorney in Colorado. Here's some reading for those interested.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/13/wa-fish-and-wildlife-saga-deepens-with-claims-of-collusion/

WDFW Legal Case: Sportsmen’s Alliance Fights for Transparency

The Sportsmen’s Alliance breaks down the legal battle against the WDFW over public records violations, collusion, and the "Knoll Memo."

sportsmensalliance.org

If you really want to get riled up, go to the past 30 years in WA. No bait or dogs for cougar or bear, spike elk rule in most of E WA, 3-point mule deer, no body gripping traps, bonus point BS system, drastically reduced tags for everything, wolf introduction, etc. I won't even start with fishing. This state is a dumpster fire for outdoorsman.

 

[Beendare]

If you really want to get riled up, go to the past 30 years in WA. No bait or dogs for cougar or bear, spike elk rule in most of E WA, 3-point mule deer, no body gripping traps, bonus point BS system, drastically reduced tags for everything, wolf introduction, etc. I won't even start with fishing. This state is a dumpster fire for outdoorsman.

Or what has happened in CA to hunting by the Anti's.

It's a combination of hunter apathy and our schools and universities cranking out these antis by the boatload. No surprise, Its the same group that refers to Tim Walz as, "A Man's Man"

 

[ckt3]

Do some research on the current Washington Fish and Wildlife commission and what they've done the last few years if you want to know where Colorado will be in 5 years. It's not if they ban hunting for Colorado, it's when. Especially with the current governer and his husband appointing these people. The wife of the previous WA governor was an outspoken anti hunter and look what's happened now. The majority of WA's F&W commission is cut from the same cloth as the humane society attorney in Colorado. Here's some reading for those interested.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/13/wa-fish-and-wildlife-saga-deepens-with-claims-of-collusion/

WDFW Legal Case: Sportsmen’s Alliance Fights for Transparency

The Sportsmen’s Alliance breaks down the legal battle against the WDFW over public records violations, collusion, and the "Knoll Memo."

sportsmensalliance.org

Man I had gone a week without thinking about this. I hope we get spring bear back. Crazy these people set policy with emotions and completely neglect biologist advice.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Man I had gone a week without thinking about this. I hope we get spring bear back. Crazy these people set policy with emotions and completely neglect biologist advice.

Not with the current commission. What's irritating is how many "bonus" points did folks have and never got a rebate? Complete BS. CO is headed in the same direction.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

Washington has been one of the first testing grounds for the anti hunters in this country. Figuring out what works, what doesn't work when it comes to controlling state wildlife commissions and getting hunting eliminated. They fought like hell and so far have been knocked back on their heels a little bit in WA but not completely (in refenece to the articles I posted earlier here). Now they have an initiative going on the ballot in Oregon during the general election this November to ban all hunting and ranching, and yes that's literally what it is and it very well might pass. The Indian tribes have stepped in with WA's current Governor and are trying to stop this BS from continuing (they have big time casino $$$$ and the "marginalized demographic" sway here). Colorado is the only other liberal haven in the inter mountain West and you better belive they learned from their mistakes in WA. Just look at Colorados new wolf introduction. WA did that 20 years ago. Hardly any tags left in WA now because we can't have hunters taking food out of the beloved wolves mouths. If you live in Colorado or hunt in Colorado I would be very concerned and start spreading the word. And if you think there's no way they can ban hunting there or that it's too big of a piece of the economy for the state, I promise you they don't care because their end goal justifies their means in their mind 100%. Death by a thousand cuts but it only takes these crazy anti's 10 years to pull it off. Colorado is already on year 3 of their plan.

 

[OsoMountain]

Gentleman, they can pass whatever laws they want. That doesn’t mean I’m going to obey them. I answer to my creator, and I’ll be damned if I cease my entire way of life because a stranger deemed it to be “unacceptable.”

I’ll hunt these lands until they turn me into an outlaw. Then I’ll simply become an outlaw hunter. And make no mistake. I’m not talking about poaching, killing for sport, horn hunting, or taking more than what’s entitled. I’m talking about feeding our families and communities with game meat, living off the land. Just like our people have done for millennia.

Liberal, conservative, republican, democrat, I don’t care. My way of life is non negotiable. You might as well make my existence illegal. Hunting isn’t what I do, it is who I am. And that is not up for debate or negotiations.