Colorado Proposition 127, Prohibit Hunting of Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and Lynx Initiative (2024)

Colorado Proposition 127
Election date November 5, 2024
Topic Hunting and fishing and Treatment of animals
Status d Defeated
Type State statute	Origin Citizens

Colorado Proposition 127, the Prohibit Hunting of Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and Lynx Initiative, was on the ballot in Colorado as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported defining and prohibiting trophy hunting as "intentionally killing, wounding, pursuing, or entrapping a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx; or discharging or releasing any deadly weapon at a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx."

A "no" vote opposed defining and prohibiting trophy hunting as "intentionally killing, wounding, pursuing, or entrapping a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx; or discharging or releasing any deadly weapon at a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx."

Election results

Colorado Proposition 127
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,382,048	45.26%
No		1,671,710	54.74%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What would Proposition 127 have done?

See also: Text of measure

This initiative would have defined and prohibited trophy hunting as "intentionally killing, wounding, pursuing, or entrapping a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx; or discharging or releasing any deadly weapon at a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx."

Under the initiative, mountain lions would no longer have been considered big game. This would have had the effect of making mountain lion livestock incidents ineligible for big game damage claims made with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The initiative would have made possession of a bobcat or lynx a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or imprisonment.

The ballot initiative would have made violations a class 1 misdemeanor and those convicted of violations would have been prohibited from holding a wildlife license for five years. A person convicted twice would have been prohibited from holding a wildlife license for life.

The ballot initiative would have provided exceptions, such as killing a mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx to defend human life. It would also have allowed for non-lethal methods to defend livestock, property, or motor vehicles. There would have been other exceptions for accidents, veterinarians, and special licenses.

What was the status of mountain lion, bobcat, and lynx hunting in Colorado as of 2024?

See also: Background

Mountain lions, otherwise known as pumas and cougars, were designated as big-game species in Colorado in 1965. Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides a harvest limit on mountain lions limiting a certain number of lions to be hunted in each unit during the hunting season, which generally runs from late November until April 30. CPW is required to reimburse landowners for documented damages from big game animals, such as damage to livestock. From 2020-2023, mountain lion damage payments were on average $50,000 annually. From 2020-2023, an average of 505 mountain lions were harvested annually.

Bobcats are hunted in Colorado as a furbearer, meaning it is hunted for its fur. Bobcat hunting season generally runs from late December 1 until the end of February. From 2020-2023, an average of 880 bobcats were harvested annually.

Lynx are an endangered species in Colorado and are listed as a threatened species federally. Colorado began a lynx reintroduction program in 1999. Hunting lynx is prohibited.

What did supporters and opponents say about the measure?

See also: Support and Opposition

Cats Aren't Trophies led the campaign in support of the initiative. Samantha Miller, Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign manager, said, "Colorado voters will have an opportunity to halt the inhumane and needless killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and beautiful fur coats. While the measure stops the recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping of wild cats, it allows lethal removal of any problem animal for the safety of people, pets or farm and ranch animals."

The initiative is opposed by State Sen. Perry Will (R-5), who said, "Ballot box biology is the absolute worst way you can manage wildlife. Our capable wildlife professionals are put in charge to manage our wildlife. But they feel the power to do this because that's how reintroducing wolves was passed. They would have done it with wolverines if I wouldn't have put a bill in place, which is a better way to do these things."

Do other states ban mountain lion hunting?

See also: Mountain lion hunting bans in the U.S.

As of 2024, California was the only U.S. state to ban mountain lion hunting. In 1990, California voters approved an initiative, Proposition 117, with 52.42% of voters in favor. The initiative prohibited the taking of mountain lions except to protect life, livestock, or other property.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the initiative was as follows:

“

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning a prohibition on the trophy hunting of mountain lions, lynx, and bobcats, and, in connection therewith, defining “trophy hunting” as the intentional killing, wounding, pursuing, entrapping, or discharging or releasing of a deadly weapon at a mountain lion, lynx, or bobcat; creating exemptions from this prohibition including for the protection of human life, property, and livestock; establishing “trophy hunting” as a class 1 misdemeanor; and increasing fines and limiting wildlife license privileges for persons convicted of this crime?

”

Full text

The full text of the measure can be read below. Struck-through text would have been deleted and capitalized text would have been added:

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state board wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 18, and the FRE is 18. The word count for the ballot title is 88.

Support

Cats Aren't Trophies led the campaign in support of Proposition 127.

Supporters

Political Parties

• Green Party of Colorado

Organizations

• Animal Help Now
• Animal Wellness Action
• Attorneys for Animals
• Big Cat Rescue
• Boulder County Audubon Society
• Center for a Humane Economy
• Colorado Wild
• Eco-Integrity Alliance
• Global Federation of Animal Sancturaries
• Greenwood Wildlife
• In Defense of Animals
• International Wildlife Coexistence Network
• Northern Colorado Wildlife Center
• Pro-Animal Future
• The Wild Animal Sanctuary
• Wildlife Conservation Strategies

Arguments

• Cats Aren't Trophies: "The value of having three species of wild cats in Colorado should not solely be measured in the dollars they bring as fur for trappers, or a head, hide or a mount for a trophy hunter. Mountain lions occupy a unique place in Colorado as an apex predator bringing vast benefits to Colorado’s deer and elk herds by keeping them healthy from the deadly neurological Chronic Wasting Disease; mountain lions are key to whole ecosystem health, and public safety because they reduce vehicle collisions with deer that are becoming much more common and deadly. By allowing inhumane and unnecessary trophy hunting and trapping of wild cats in modern times when we face climate change and biodiversity losses, we should be working hard to invest in our wildlife, rather than offer such easy shooting opportunities for no public good. Especially when we truly do not know how many of these species exist in our state."

Opposition

Colorado's Wildlife Deserve Better led the campaign in opposition to Proposition 127.

Opponents

Officials

• State Sen. Perry Will (R)

Organizations

• Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
• Coloradansfor Responsible Wildlife Management
• Colorado Bowhunters Association
• Colorado Cattlemen's Association
• Colorado Conservation Alliance
• Colorado Farm Bureau
• Colorado Livestock Association
• Colorado Muzzleloaders Association
• Colorado Outfitters Association
• Colorado Trappers and Predators Hunters Association
• Colorado Wildlife Federation
• Colorado Wool Growers Association
• Ducks Unlimited
• Golden High Country Archers
• Gunnison Wildlife Association
• Howl for Wildlife
• Independence Institute
• Keep Route Wild
• Mule Deer Foundation
• Mule Fanatics Foundation
• National Wild Turkey Federation
• Pheasantsforever
• Quail Forever
• Rocky Mountain Big Horn Society
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Safari Club International PAC (SCI-PAC)
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
• United Houndsmen of Colorado
• Wild Sheep Foundation

Arguments

• Gaspar Perricone, chair of Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project: "The future of Colorado’s wildlife management is at a crossroads. The underpinnings of science-based wildlife management administered by wildlife professionals may be on the ballot this November, and the stakes couldn’t be higher."
• State Sen. Perry Will: "Ballot box biology is the absolute worst way you can manage wildlife. Our capable wildlife professionals are put in charge to manage our wildlife. But they feel the power to do this because that's how reintroducing wolves was passed. They would have done it with wolverines if I wouldn't have put a bill in place, which is a better way to do these things."
• Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better: “According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, regulated hunting is a management tool to maintain more stable populations. This ballot measure is an attempt to upend science-based wildlife management strategies that have been used by Colorado Parks & Wildlife to maintain abundant and stable mountain lion and bobcat populations for decades. Without regulated hunting and trapping, these animal populations may increase dramatically, posing an increased safety risk to people, pets, property, livestock, and other wildlife populations across the state. This ballot measure would have a disproportionate impact on rural communities in Colorado and would no longer allow farmers to be reimbursed for any livestock losses caused by mountain lions. This ballot measure would have a significant negative impact on Colorado’s economy, resulting in over $60 million in lost economic output. This ballot measure is dangerous, reckless, and based on absolutely zero scientific research. Irresponsible ballot measures such as these have no place in Colorado.”

Media editorials

See also: 2024 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

• Boulder Daily Camera Editorial Board: "Hunting is a part of what makes Colorado the special place it is. But trophy hunting big cats is an affront to the hunting Coloradans take pride in. Banning this cruel practice will not drastically increase the mountain lion population, nor will it tear down a vital industry. What it will do is bring us more in harmony with the natural environment that makes our home so beautiful."

Opposition

• Colorado Springs Gazette and Denver Gazette Editorial Board: "The disingenuous measure promises to ban the “trophy hunting” of mountain lions and other wildcat species; it is in fact illegal in Colorado to hunt game merely as trophies. The proposal’s deception doesn’t end there. It implies mountain lions are endangered when they are abundant. It preys upon most voters’ unfamiliarity with hunting — with how it is strictly regulated as a key tool of wildlife management. Its true motive? The proposal — bankrolled by out-of-state interests — appears to be another incremental step in the national animal-rights movement’s campaign to ban all hunting."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Colorado ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through December 5, 2024.

Cats Aren't Trophies registered to support the measure.

Colorado's Wildlife Deserve Better and Western Heritage Conservation Alliance registered to oppose the initiative.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$3,103,143.64	$352,550.30	$3,455,693.94	$3,316,390.34	$3,668,940.64
Oppose	$3,080,698.50	$20,000.00	$2,114,761.50	$3,078,576.75	$3,098,576.75
Total	$6,183,842.14	$372,550.30	$5,570,455.44	$6,394,967.09	$6,767,517.39

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the measure.

Committees in support of Proposition 127
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Cats Aren't Trophies	$3,103,143.64	$352,550.30	$3,455,693.94	$3,316,390.34	$3,668,940.64
Total	$3,103,143.64	$352,550.30	$3,455,693.94	$3,316,390.34	$3,668,940.64

Donors

The following were the top donors to the support committee.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Animal Wellness Action	$806,000.00	$229,026.73	$1,035,026.73
The Wild Animal Sanctuary	$1,005,104.24	$0.00	$1,005,104.24
Big Cat Rescue Corp	$230,000.00	$0.00	$230,000.00
Richard Pritzlaf	$200,000.00	$0.00	$200,000.00
Mountain Lion Foundation	$170,000.00	$0.00	$170,000.00

Opposition

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in opposition to the initiative.

Committees in opposition to Proposition 127
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Colorado's Wildlife Deserve Better	$2,094,761.50	$20,000.00	$2,114,761.50	$2,094,761.50	$2,114,761.50
Western Heritage Conservation Alliance	$985,937.00	$0.00	$985,937.00	$983,815.25	$983,815.25
Total	$3,080,698.50	$20,000.00	$3,100,698.50	$3,078,576.75	$3,098,576.75

Donors

The following were the top donors to the opposition committee.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Building America's Future	$870,937.00	$0.00	$870,937.00
Concord Fund	$600,000.00	$0.00	$600,000.00
Congressional Sportsmen's Club	$237,000.00	$0.00	$237,000.00
Paul Jones	$200,000.00	$0.00	$200,000.00
Rocky Mountain Elk	$200,000.00	$0.00	$200,000.00
Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management	$150,000.00	$0.00	$150,000.00
Safari Club International- Colorado Chapter	$150,000.00	$0.00	$150,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Background

Mountain lion hunting in Colorado

Mountain lions, otherwise known as pumas and cougars, were designated as big-game species in Colorado in 1965. From 1881 to 1965, Colorado offered a bounty of up to $50 for each mountain lion. Designating mountain lions as a big-game species allowed the state to regulate hunting and place restrictions on harvest for population conservation.

To hunt mountain lions in Colorado, an individual must take a mountain lion education and identification course and pass an exam to earn a Mountain Lion Education Certificate before purchasing a mountain lion hunting license. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) manages hunting in Colorado. In Colorado, hunting mountain lions may be accomplished through hound hunting with packs of up to eight dogs, or with rifles, shotguns, or crossbows. Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides a harvest limit on mountain lions limiting a certain number of lions to be hunted in each unit during the hunting season, which generally runs from late November until April 30.

CPW is required to reimburse landowners for documented damages from big game animals, such as damage to livestock. From 2020-2023, mountain lion damage payments were on average $50,000 annually.

Mountain lion harvesting statistics

From 2020-2023, an average of 505 mountain lions were harvested annually.

The following chart shows the number of mountain lions harvested in Colorado between 2013 and 2023.

Bobcat hunting in Colorado

Bobcats are hunted in Colorado as a furbearer, meaning it is hunted for its fur. Other furbearer animals designed by CPW include badger, mink, pine marten, gray and red foxes, raccoons, skunks, weasels, muskrats, and opossums.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife does not limit the number of bobcats that may be hunted. Bobcat hunting season generally runs from late December 1 until the end of February.

From 2020-2023, an average of 880 bobcats were harvested annually.

Lynx hunting in Colorado

Lynx are an endangered species in Colorado and are listed as a threatened species federally. Colorado began a lynx reintroduction program in 1999. Hunting lynx is prohibited.

Hunting-related ballot measures in Colorado

Amendment 14 (1996)

See also: Colorado Amendment 14, Prohibition of Certain Hunting Methods Initiative (1996)

In 1996, voters approved Amendment 14 with 52% of voters in favor. The amendment, placed on the ballot through a citizen initiative petition, prohibited the use of leghold and instant-kill, body-gripping design traps, snares, or poisons for hunting with certain exceptions.

Amendment 10 (1992)

See also: Colorado Amendment 10, Limitations on Black Bear Hunting Initiative (1992)

In 1992, voters approved Amendment 10, an initiative that prohibited using dogs or bait to hunt black bears and prohibited black bear hunting between March 1 and September 1.

Mountain lion hunting bans in the U.S.

As of 2024, California was the only U.S. state to ban mountain lion hunting. In 1990, California voters approved an initiative, Proposition 117, with 52.42% of voters in favor. The initiative prohibited the taking of mountain lions unless for protection of life, livestock or other property.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado

The state process

In Colorado, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated state statute for the ballot is equal to 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office of Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. State law provides that petitioners have six months to collect signatures after the ballot language and title are finalized. State statutes require a completed signature petition to be filed three months and three weeks before the election at which the measure would appear on the ballot. The Constitution, however, states that the petition must be filed three months before the election at which the measure would appear. The secretary of state generally lists a date that is three months before the election as the filing deadline.

The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2024 ballot:

• Signatures: 124,238 valid signatures
• Deadline: August 5, 2024

The secretary of state is responsible for signature verification. Verification is conducted through a review of petitions regarding correct form and then a 5 percent random sampling verification. If the sampling projects between 90 percent and 110 percent of required valid signatures, a full check of all signatures is required. If the sampling projects more than 110 percent of the required signatures, the initiative is certified. If less than 90 percent, the initiative fails.

Details about this initiative

• The initiative was filed by Mark Surls and Carol Monaco.
• The initiative was approved for signature gathering on January 30, 2024, with signatures due by July 5, 2024.
• Sponsors reported submitting 180,000 signatures on July 3, 2024.
• On July 31, the secretary of state announced that the initiative petition contained a sufficient number of valid signatures qualifying it for the ballot.

Signature gathering cost

See also: Ballot measures cost per required signatures analysis

Sponsors of the measure hired Ground Organizing for Latinos to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $230,714.00 was spent to collect the 124,238 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $1.86.

The campaign also reported using nearly 900 volunteers that collected about two-thirds of the signatures.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to vote in Colorado

Poll times

In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.

Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person.

Residency requirements

Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.

The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of August 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State.

“

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification: A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.) A valid U.S. passport. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S. A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector. A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector. Certified documentation of naturalization. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.. A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.

”

• Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

See also

2024 measures

• 2024 ballot measures
• Hunting and fishing on the ballot
• Treatment of animals on the ballot
• 2024 petition deadlines

Colorado

• Colorado ballot measures
• Colorado initiative laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls
• Ballot measure signature costs

External links

• Colorado Secretary of State Initiative Filings
• Full text