Colorado Initiative 302 Supporters Submit More than 180,000 Petitions to Put Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish on November Ballot

July 8, 2026

Colorado Initiative 302 Supporters Submit More than 180,000 Petitions to Put Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish on November Ballot

“With more than 180,000 signatures submitted, Initiative 302 has taken a significant step toward the ballot. This campaign reflects the strong, bipartisan support for protecting Colorado’s hunting and fishing heritage by enshrining these time-honored traditions in our state Constitution and safeguarding them for future generations,” said Dustin Zvonek, a principal with 76 Group.

By enshrining the right to hunt, fish, and responsibly manage wildlife in the state constitution, Colorado will join 24 other states—including neighbors Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana—in safeguarding our outdoor heritage for generations to come.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“This extraordinary achievement in just eight weeks is a powerful testament to the deep connection Coloradans have with our outdoor heritage and the responsible conservation practices that sustain it,” said Luke Hilgemann, CEO of T. Roosevelt Action. “Hunters and anglers are the original conservationists. By enshrining these rights in our constitution, we are putting a strong lock on the door against radical policies that threaten our way of life, our wildlife populations, and the jobs they support in communities across Colorado. We are incredibly grateful to every volunteer who made this possible.”

“In just over two months, Coloradans across the state have overwhelmingly shown up to support our rights to hunt and fish. This commitment by the people demonstrates the energy behind preserving our heritage here in the Centennial State this November. Now it’s time to get it across the finish line and codify this in the state constitution so current and future generations of sportsmen and women and science-based wildlife managers can know that hunting and fishing can be sustained in perpetuity,” said Dan Gates, a highly regarded hunting rights advocate, grassroots leader and founder of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM), whose mission is to promote and defend the North American model of Wildlife Conservation and responsible wildlife management.

“Turning in these signatures is a historic moment for Initiative 302, and for the future of hunting and fishing in Colorado. This issue will now go before voters in November, and the support behind this effort shows that Coloradans understand what is at stake. This is not about giving any individual an unlimited right to hunt or fish without rules. Hunting and fishing will remain regulated, licensed, and accountable. This is about protecting the opportunity itself, the ability of Coloradans to participate in hunting, fishing, food, heritage, conservation, and science-based wildlife management for generations to come,” said Charles Whitwam, founder of Howl for Wildlife, a digital advocacy platform designed to mobilize hunters against anti-hunting legislation, specifically helping defeat Colorado bills that aimed to ban mountain lion, lynx, and bobcat hunting.

Hunting and fishing generate tens of millions of dollars annually for Colorado’s economy, support rural communities, and fund wildlife conservation through license fees and excise taxes. Initiative 302 reinforces these benefits by ensuring future generations can continue these time-honored traditions under the proven North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Initiative 302 – Creating a Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish

The title as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

An amendment to the Colorado Constitution creating a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest fish and wildlife by traditional methods, including all species of fish and wildlife managed by the state except non-game species, endangered species, or any species that is illegal to hunt under federal law, and, in connection therewith, establishing hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing fish and wildlife populations; and preserving the right of the state to regulate hunting, fishing, and wildlife management if necessary for sound scientific wildlife conservation and management, public safety, or to preserve the future of hunting and fishing opportunities for all species.