Take Action on Proposition 127!

Colorado needs more than your votes and your donations, it needs your pen. The best way for you to express your concern over this blatant disregard for the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is to literally express it. The Mule Deer Foundation is urging all conservationists to follow the below instructions and submit letters to the editor of your local or national publication. The more letters, the better. Help Colorado in the fight against Prop 127.

How to write Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor should be short (less than 300 words) and aimed at how you feel about a particular issue. Writers can take a position for or against an issue, and use emotions, facts, or a combination. You ultimately want to sway opinions of readers. 

General advice: To maximize your ability to persuade readers, be specific and clear in your thoughts. Be thoughtful and resist the urge to counter every point offered by the opposite side of the issue. 

The structure of a Letter to the Editor is important and should be on point and avoid rambling. 

1. In your introduction, explain why you are writing, and how your personal experience gives you perspective or expertise on the issue. ENGAGE and RELATE to people. Use language that you would use if you were talking to your neighbor or someone at the grocery store. For example: “I am a lifelong hunter who cares deeply about wildlife and I’m writing about a topic that concerns me deeply: the loss of science-based wildlife management in Colorado.”

2. Your introduction is followed by 1-2 paragraphs – describing your position and offering information that supports your position. Keep your case simple. Avoid including too many topics and/or rambling. 

Your goal is to persuade the reader, so be respectful! Avoid angry, aggressive or accusatory language. Your opinion is important, but check your facts. While your letter doesn’t need to provide scientific research, you need to make sure that your information is accurate. Make it personal. 

3. Conclude with a call to action. What do you want the reader to do? 

Howl for Wildlife has a new “Letter to the Editor” tool that can be found at https://www.howlforwildlife.org/lettertoeditor. The tool will help you find media within a 50-mile radius of your zip code. If you already have the contact information for your local newspapers, etc. you may search for a specific media outlet. 

How to write an Op-Ed on Prop 127

Op Eds are typically between 500 and 750 words in length. They generally offer evidence in support of your opinion. Because they are a longer, they are more difficult to place than letters to the editor, especially in larger publications, like the Denver Post, Colorado Sun, etc. 

General advice: Never underestimate your reader’s intelligence, or overestimate her level of information. Recognize that your average reader is not an expert in your topic, that is why they are reading your Op-Ed. Write in a conversational tone and be a strong voice, someone the reader wants to listen to. Avoid using jargon. It separates you from the reader and muddies your argument.

Op-eds allow you to express your opinion and are written in your voice, and to be successful they must include facts, statistics, quotes, or data from sources, along with personal observation. 

The structure of an Op Ed piece 

1. Your introduction should include a “hook,” or something that grabs the reader’s attention. The opening “hook” may include a strong claim, a surprising fact, a metaphor, a mystery, or a counter-intuitive observation that entices people to read more. It should also briefly describe your line of reasoning.

2. In the next paragraph, outline the topic. What is the focus of the Op Ed? Why is your perspective important? Be on point and avoid rambling. 

3. Beyond your opening paragraph, the next 4-5 paragraphs should flesh out the issue. You may make more than one point in subsequent paragraphs and describe the higher level of concern about the topic. Paragraphs should include evidence, more evidence and a conclusion about why the evidence supports your position. 

4. Conclude with a strong ending. Echo or answer your introduction, give the most memorable detail and/or include a final epiphany or a “call to action. What do you want reader to do?

For detailed information on Prop 127 to use in your letter review our recent blog post here: https://muledeer.org/uncategorized/vote-no-on-colorado-prop-127-and-let-scientists-dictate-colorado-wildlife-policy/

Good Luck and remember to VOTE NO ON PROP 127!

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/

Trevor J Hubbs https://www.instagram.com/trevorhubbs/

Trevor is the Communications Manager for the Mule Deer Foundation. He grew up hunting and fishing the eastern edge of the Ozark mountains for quail, ducks, and bucks. Trevor is a contributor for “Fur, Fish, and Game”, Lethal Minds Journal, Strung Magazine, and Feathers and Whiskey, among others.