OP ED on Proposition 127
By Eric Martinez MDF Regional Director for Colorado
The Mule Deer Foundation thanks Colorado voters for rejecting Proposition 127, which would have banned the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats throughout the state. Colorado voters affirmed a strong belief in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and asserted their desire for Colorado’s wildlife to be managed by wildlife professionals, rather than through citizens initiatives.
The Mule Deer Foundation supports the North American Model and science-backed wildlife management practices. This model relies on sustainable, science-based practices, making hunting a regulated and ethical way to help keep our ecosystems balanced.
Mountain lions and bobcats are important parts of Colorado’s landscape, but when their populations grow too large, it affects other wildlife—like the mule deer herds we work hard to protect. Responsible hunting, overseen by the experts at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and grounded in solid data, helps keep predator-prey relationships in check so that all of Colorado’s wildlife can thrive together
Your vote to oppose Proposition 127 reinforces this trusted approach, which has helped protect and restore countless species and habitats across North America. By putting your trust in CPW and our state’s wildlife biologists, and by supporting regulated hunting, you’re helping to conserve Colorado’s beautiful and diverse ecosystem for generations to come.
Thank you for standing with conservation organizations like the Mule Deer Foundation, sportspersons, and businesses in supporting conservation practices that respect both predators and prey.
Good Luck:
Good luck this fall. Send pictures or stories from the field to Web@muledeer.org to be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article, or any of our articles helped you become a better conservation steward, join the Mule Deer Foundation. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/
Photos By: Cody Fish (Insta: @cody.fish.9).
By Eric Martinez:
Eric is a Colorado native and grew up camping, fishing, and hunting throughout Colorado. He found his love for hunting through a close upbringing with his uncle who helped to instill the values of conservation and service at a young age. Eric began his studies at Monterey Peninsula College (CA) as a member of the baseball team before finishing with a degree in history and a minor in environmental science from Metropolitan State University of Denver, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Prior to joining MDF, Eric spent time as a middle school social studies teacher and volunteering as a board member with the Colorado Bowhunters Association (CBA), serving in many different roles including Banquet Co-Chair, Big Game Director, and Vice Chair of Operations. Eric lives in southern Colorado with his wife Amber, daughter Katie Jayne, and their hound dog Cochise. When he’s not chasing mule deer, Eric enjoys cooking, golfing, fishing, and traveling with his family.
