Colorado’s Amendment 83 Falls Short; NWTF Thanks Hunters and Anglers Who Made Their Voices Heard
EDGEFIELD, S.C. - Colorado’s Amendment 83 fell short of the 55% voter approval it needed on Nov. 3. The measure would have given hunting and fishing opportunities an added layer of protection by cementing the right to hunt and fish into the state constitution. However, Colorado’s sportsmen and women retain their existing hunting and fishing opportunities.
The National Wild Turkey Federation supported Amendment 83 and thanks the members, volunteers and conservation partners who spoke up for it, as well as every Coloradan who took the time to study the measure and vote.
"While we're disappointed in the outcome of Amendment 83, we're grateful to the hunters, anglers and conservation partners who stood behind this effort," said Chuck Carpenter, NWTF district biologist for Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Arizona and New Mexico. "This setback doesn't change our commitment to protecting Colorado's hunting and fishing traditions and ensuring future generations have the same opportunities we've enjoyed."
For a hunter planning next spring’s turkey season or an angler heading to a favorite stretch of river, the opportunity to go is the same today as it was before Election Day. Amendment 83 asked voters to look further ahead, to the day that a child learning to hunt or fish today takes a son or daughter of their own. Along with establishing a constitutional right to hunt and fish, the measure would have recognized hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing wildlife while preserving the state’s authority to regulate both for conservation and public safety.
Hunters and anglers can also make a difference long before Election Day by talking with people around them. A neighbor who has never hunted may still care deeply about the health of a local wildlife population. Someone who has never bought a fishing license may know exactly what it would mean to lose access to a favorite stretch of public river. Those conversations give people a chance to find common ground and understand what a proposal could mean in their own community.
The NWTF encourages hunters, anglers and conservationists to stay engaged whenever wildlife, hunting and fishing opportunities or access to public lands come before voters. Read the measure. Ask questions. Tell someone why the outcome matters to you, and listen to what matters to them. And when it’s time to vote, make your voice heard and vote. That’s one way each of us can help keep those opportunities open for the next generation.
"The bottom line is hunting and fishing are deeply personal, complex and can be difficult for non-hunters and anglers to understand," said Patt Dorsey, NWTF director of conservation operations for the West. "The results mean we have more work to do, and we're not only up for it, but we're also committed to it!"
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.7 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $25 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to create healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.