Trust the experts, not the lies (Proposition 127)
Having grown up in the Falcon area I know that most people here have ties to the agricultural community and value hard work and common sense. I wanted to submit this letter to address the false statements and misinformation being spread by proponents of Proposition 127, which would ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx (which are already protected and can’t be hunted).
First they label houndsmen as unethical, pointing out high-dollar guide fees and “guaranteed hunts.” There is no such thing as a guaranteed hunt, only a promise that you only pay if you are successful. This is no different from buying a car; you don’t exchange any money unless you actually receive a car. CPW’s site shows that in the 2022/23 season 2,599 hunters bought licenses, and only 502 cats were harvested, a 19% success rate. Hardly the “guarantee” they label it as. Also the cost of guide fees go to feeding, training and vet bills for dogs that are part of the houndsman’s family.
Next, they point out that CPW is neutral on the initiative and simply enforces the laws that the legislature and voters pass. This is only partially correct, as CPW has a governing Commission that creates its own regulations, and regularly adjusts things such as season dates, harvest limits, and methods of take. Conveniently missing is the fact that the CPW Commission has rejected identical lion and bobcat hunting bans time and time again. Also the State Legislature killed a nearly identical bill introduced in January of 2022. After failing in every other avenue they have now gone to the ballot initiative, using emotionally charged language to try and sway voters.
Lastly they claim that lions “prevent the spread” of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) by preying on diseased animals. This sounds nice, yet it isn’t backed up by any scientific evidence. First, cervids can carry CWD for multiple years before becoming symptomatic, spreading the infectious prions the entire time. Secondly, Colorado already has a healthy lion population and yet CWD persists. In fact, no state with large predators (including wolves) has seen a decline in CWD prevalence rates.
Most importantly, I want to address the language of the actual initiative. It states that hunting of lions or bobcats “serves no socially acceptable … purpose.” They have often pointed out that lion hunters make up a minute subset of the already small percentage of hunters. This may be true, but it goes against everything our society is currently grappling with. Simply because a particular user group is small does not mean they or their culture does not hold value. To label houndsmen and trappers as being socially unacceptable is a gross debasement of a passionate group of people who have a rich cultural connection and a historical heritage reaching back for centuries.
Protect sound wildlife management by experts and historic cultural values by voting no on Proposition 127.
Travis Sauder
Divide, Colorado
Black Forest Festival
I enjoyed the photos and coverage of the Black Forest Festival in the August edition and would like to give a huge shout out to the folks that made this unique community event possible. Our festival is entirely volunteer run, and is hosted by the BF Community Club, a non profit organization. The 2024 festival team was led by a new group of volunteers who stepped up when our traditional parade was on the verge of being cancelled. They did a great job, along with some seasoned volunteers who were able to keep helping. Festival 2024 was one of our best! Many thanks to the new Festival Team.
Shari Conley
Black Forest
