Voters Likely Reject Amendment 83 on Hunting Rights

Denver voters appeared to reject Amendment 83 early Wednesday morning, with the measure trailing in the final counts. The proposal would have written a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife into state law. As of 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, 44.4% of tabulated ballots supported the amendment while 55.6% opposed it.

The amendment required 55% support to pass because it modifies the state constitution. The initiative was drafted by a conservative Colorado law firm but received most of its funding from national groups. The International Order of T. Roosevelt, based in Marshfield, Wisconsin, provided the bulk of the financial backing. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Alliance, also from Wisconsin, spent $1.7 million of the total $3.5 million used to support the measure.

Other contributors included the GOPAC Election Fund, which gave nearly $1 million to a state committee. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Concord Fund, and Safari Club International Colorado Chapter also donated. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management round out the list of major donors.

The debate intensified after Colorado voters passed Proposition 114 in 2020 by 1.2 percentage points. That measure ordered the state to reintroduce wolves. Backers of Amendment 83 argued the new language would stop future legislatures or ballot measures from restricting traditional hunting and fishing methods. They expressed concern that animal rights groups were using ballot initiatives to override the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Opponents countered that the state’s wildlife belongs to all residents, not just fee-paying hunters. They noted the amendment protects traditional methods without defining the term. The measure would not change laws regarding trespassing on private property. It would allow regulators to restrict activities for scientific reasons or public safety.

The opposition effort spent about $150,000 against the amendment. The committee Colorado Hunters and Anglers for Sensible Wildlife Conservation led that spending. Donors included the Sierra Club, the Center for a Humane Economy, and Boldly Forward Colorado. Boldly Forward is a nonprofit linked to Gov. Jared Polis that does not disclose its contributors.

Twenty-four states currently include hunting rights in their constitutions. Alabama started the modern trend in 1996 with the Sportsperson’s Bill of Rights. The National Rifle Association has supported similar amendments nationwide. Amendment 83 would apply to traditional species but exclude endangered animals or those protected by federal law.