Sources

Every factual claim on VoteNo83.org about Colorado Amendment 83 (2026), formerly Initiative 302, with where it comes from. Links open in a new tab.

Updated Oct. 27, 2026 · Who opposes Amendment 83

What Amendment 83 says

• Amendment 83 was filed as Initiative 302, the “Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish.” Colorado Legislative Council: Initiative 302
• The measure “does not change existing laws related to trespassing on private property.” State voter guide (Blue Book)
• Amendment 83 creates a right to hunt and fish by “traditional methods” and calls hunting and fishing the “preferred means” of managing wildlife. 2026 General Election sample ballot, Larimer County · Ballotpedia News
• Amendment 83 needs 55% of the vote to pass. Ballotpedia News: Colorado’s 2026 ballot measures
• “Traditional methods” is not defined, and courts would decide what it means. Project Coyote statement on Amendment 83 · The Denver Post Editorial Board, “Vote no on Amendment 83 to keep hunting and fishing well-regulated,” Sept. 24, 2026
• Hunting and fishing are already legal in Colorado, and the official ballot analysis says 83 would not immediately change existing rules. OutKick / Fox News · State voter guide (Blue Book)
• What a “yes” and a “no” vote mean, how courts could interpret the amendment, and its possible legal costs to the state. Colorado Legislative Council, 2026 State Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book): Amendment 83

The bans Colorado voters already passed

• 1992: Voters banned bear baiting, hunting bears with hounds, and the spring bear hunt (Amendment 10, approved with about 70% of the vote). Ballotpedia: Colorado Amendment 10 (1992)
• 1996: Voters banned leghold traps, body-gripping traps, snares, and poisons, with limited exceptions (Amendment 14). Colorado Secretary of State: Amendment 14 ballot question · Colorado Parks and Wildlife: trapping laws overview
• In some studies, most animals caught in leghold traps weren’t the intended target (reported non-target captures range from 0% to 67% of total catch). American Veterinary Medical Association: leghold traps background
• Steel-jaw traps set for coyotes have caught family dogs and bald eagles. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: a dog and a bald eagle caught in steel-jaw traps set for coyotes
• Traps and snares can catch animals they weren’t set for. 1996 state ballot analysis for Amendment 14
• The 1992 measure was meant to protect mother bears raising cubs: its stated intent was “to prohibit the taking of black bears when females are rearing their cubs.” MeatEater
• Bear baiting uses jelly donuts and other treats to lure bears in. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (opinion)

Bears in Colorado

• Bear sightings and conflicts are at record levels this year, and feeding bears teaches them to approach homes and people. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aug. 13, 2026
• Bear experts agree that baiting is functionally the same as feeding bears and can teach bears to associate people with food. PLOS ONE (2024): “Bear baiting risks and mitigations: An assessment using expert opinion analyses”
• Colorado punishes people who knowingly leave out food that lures bears, with fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenders. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, May 27, 2026

What 83 could undo

• In 2020, Colorado’s wildlife commission banned contests where people compete to kill coyotes, foxes, and other animals for prizes. KOAA News 5
• Lead from spent ammunition poisons eagles: nearly half of the bald and golden eagles studied had chronic lead poisoning. ScienceAlert, reporting on the 2022 study in the journal Science

Proposition 127 (2024)

• In 2024, Colorado voters rejected Proposition 127, which would have banned hunting mountain lions and bobcats. The Colorado Sun, Nov. 5, 2024
• Hunting groups that opposed it called it “ballot box biology” and praised voters for keeping wildlife management “in the hands of the professionals.” Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Who’s behind Amendment 83

• The signature drive was funded mainly by a committee tied to the Wisconsin-based International Order of T. Roosevelt, which spent about $1.5 million, mostly on gathering signatures. American Hunter · Colorado Politics

Who’s voting NO

• League of Women Voters of Colorado 2026 voter guide
• Colorado Hunters and Anglers for Sensible Wildlife Conservation Colorado Public Radio
• Gov. Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado “Jared Polis: Don’t play constitutional favorites with Colorado’s outdoor activities,” Daily Camera, Oct. 17, 2026 · Project Coyote, quoting the governor’s statement
• Phil Weiser, Attorney General of Colorado, interview with the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Oct. 9, 2026 Fort Collins Coloradoan, via Yahoo News
• U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-2), statement provided to the No on 83 campaign, Oct. 16, 2026
• U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (CO-6), statement provided to the No on 83 campaign, Oct. 16, 2026
• U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), statement provided to the No on 83 campaign, Oct. 16, 2026
• Voces Unidas Action Fund, Rural Latino advocacy group, Glenwood Springs 2026 ballot positions, Sept. 26, 2026
• Colorado Education Association 2026 recommendations, Sept. 22, 2026
• Denver Audubon Position on Amendment 83
• Eric Washburn, 5th-generation big game hunter, Steamboat Springs Pagosa Daily Post
• The Denver Post, Editorial Board, Sept. 24, 2026 The Denver Post
• Humane Colorado Position on Amendment 83
• The Durango Herald, Editorial Board, Oct. 7, 2026 “Our view: 14 measures, and how we’re voting”
• Daily Camera, Editorial Board, Sept. 27, 2026 Daily Camera
• The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction), Editorial Board, Oct. 15, 2026 “Voter beware”
• Durango Telegraph, ballot recommendations, Oct. 15, 2026 “Buckle up”
• Pagosa Daily Post, Editorial, Oct. 14, 2026 Pagosa Daily Post
• Gary Skiba, Hunter, angler and wildlife biologist, Durango The Durango Herald, Sept. 28, 2026
• James Pribyl, Former Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioner Cowboy State Daily
• Justin Marceau, Professor of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Letter of Sept. 21, 2026
• Steven C. Silverman, Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Colorado School of Law Statement, Oct. 1, 2026
• Jess Beaulieu, Attorney; Assistant Director, University of Denver Animal Law Program Analysis of Sept. 23, 2026
• Tom Cronin, Political scientist and columnist Colorado Politics, Oct. 4, 2026
• Bob Loevy, Political scientist and columnist Colorado Politics, Oct. 4, 2026
• David Kane, Protect Colorado’s Constitution Ballotpedia News
• Protect Colorado’s Constitution Colorado Public Radio
• Stop the Constitutional Power Grab Colorado Secretary of State
• Science for Colorado Wildlife Science for Colorado Wildlife (Substack)
• Marc Bekoff, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder Project Coyote
• Kelly Murphy, Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center FOX21 News
• Darlene Kobobel, Runs the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center KOAA News 5
• Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center KOAA News 5
• Sierra Club Colorado Chapter Denver Gazette
• Defenders of Wildlife (Stefan Ekernas, vice president) The Colorado Sun, Oct. 13, 2026
• WildEarth Guardians
• Western Watersheds Project The Colorado Sun
• River Runners for Wilderness
• Wildlife for All The Colorado Sun
• Colorado Nature Action
• Keep Colorado’s Voice
• Colorado state and local officials: Senate President Pro Tempore Cathy Kipp, State Senator Matt Ball, State Senator Jeff Bridges, State Senator Judy Amabile, State Senator Lisa Cutter, State Senator Janice Marchman, State Senator Katie Wallace, State Senator Mike Weissman, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, State Representative Andy Boesenecker, State Representative Kyle Brown, State Representative Lorena Garcia, State Representative Lori Goldstein, State Representative Junie Joseph, State Representative Javier Mabrey, State Representative Karen McCormick, State Representative Kenny Nguyen, State Representative Amy Paschal, State Representative Jacqueline Phillips, State Representative Lesley Smith, State Representative Tammy Story, State Representative Alex Valdez, State Representative Elizabeth Velasco, State Representative Steph Vigil, State Representative Jenny Willford, Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett, Arvada Mayor Pro Tem Randy Moorman, Boulder Councilwoman Nicole Speer, Denver Councilman Chris Hinds, Denver Councilman Darrell Watson, Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg, Westminster Mayor Claire Carmelia
• County Democratic Parties: Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Eagle, Gunnison, Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Park, Pitkin, Routt, San Miguel, Summit
• Project Coyote Project Coyote statement
• Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Friends of Animals Friends of Animals
• Colorado Voters for Animals
• ColoradoWild

Further reading

• 21 bear and wildlife biologists, Oct. 22, 2026 “An Open Letter to Colorado Voters from Bear and Wildlife Biologists” (PDF)
• Scientists’ letters on lead ammunition and Amendment 83, Oct. 2026 “Amendment 83 May Block Effort to Restrict Lead Ammunition”
• Jay Tutchton, Chair, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (speaking for himself), Oct. 20, 2026 KUNC / Mountain West News Bureau
• Matt Barnes, Colorado Politics, Oct. 27, 2026 “With Amendment 83, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot”
• Mickey Pardo, Colorado Politics, Oct. 21, 2026 “Amendment 83’s language is extremely concerning”
• Gov. Jared Polis, Daily Camera, Oct. 17, 2026 “Jared Polis: Don’t play constitutional favorites with Colorado’s outdoor activities”
• Ted Williams, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Oct. 8, 2026 “Colorado’s wildlife mismanagement act”
• Ted Williams, The Durango Herald, Oct. 6, 2026 “Amendment 83 could bring back bear baiting, leghold traps and killing contests”

How to vote

• Ballots mailed Oct. 2–9; Oct. 26 is the last day to register and still get a ballot by mail; ballots are due by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Denver7