This bill modifies Colorado's approach to wildlife management by shifting the focus from hunting, trapping, and fishing as the primary methods of wildlife population control to a more science-based, ecosystem-wide approach.
Key Changes in the Bill:
Current Law:
Colorado’s legislative declaration states that hunting, trapping, and fishing are the primary methods for managing wildlife populations.
Bill Change:
The Parks and Wildlife Commission must now use the best available wildlife and ecological science when making rules and management decisions.
This means that scientific research, rather than just traditional methods like hunting, will play a greater role in wildlife conservation and management.
The focus expands to benefit entire ecosystems and all Coloradans, not just hunters and anglers.
This bill suggests a more holistic and science-driven approach to wildlife management, balancing traditional hunting practices with broader ecosystem conservation efforts.
Summary
In Colorado's wildlife statutes, the legislative declaration commits
the state to use hunting, trapping, and fishing as the primary methods of effecting wildlife harvests. The bill requires the parks and wildlife commission to use the best available wildlife and ecological science to adopt rules that benefit wildlife, whole ecosystem health, and all Coloradans.
