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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2026
CONTACT:
Erin Isaac 850-345-7744
Colorado Secretary of State Approves Signatures for Right to Hunt and Fish Measure; Certified for November Ballot
DENVER – The Colorado Secretary of State today certified the signatures for the Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish initiative, officially placing it on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
The measure, supported by a broad coalition of over 60 state and national conservation organizations, will enshrine in Colorado’s Constitution the people’s right to hunt, fish, and harvest fish and wildlife by traditional methods (excluding nongame, endangered, and federally protected species), while establishing hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing fish and wildlife populations and preserving the state’s authority to regulate for sound scientific wildlife conservation, public safety, and the long-term future of these opportunities.
Supporters submitted more than 180,000 signatures, significantly exceeding the required threshold. The certification clears the way for voters to decide on permanent constitutional protection for Colorado’s hunting and fishing heritage.
“Coloradans value the state’s long-standing hunting and fishing traditions,” said Luke Hilgemann, chairman of T. Roosevelt Action. “This measure delivers constitutional clarity and long-term protection for those practices, consistent with science-based wildlife management. We will mobilize nearly 2 million Coloradans who believe in responsible, science-driven conservation so that future generations can continue to enjoy the outdoor heritage that has been a part of Colorado’s identity for 150 years.”
Dustin Zvonek of the 76 Group emphasized the grassroots strength behind the effort: “This is about protecting what works. We are already activating the nearly 2 million voters who understand that hunting and fishing are the preferred, proven tools for responsible population management. Our plan is straightforward—educate, organize, and activate every Coloradan who wants wildlife decisions grounded in biology, not politics.”
Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management added: “The people of Colorado have spoken with their signatures. This amendment safeguards science-based wildlife management and ensures hunting and fishing remain the preferred means of responsibly managing our fish and wildlife. We will activate nearly 2 million voters who reject ballot-box biology and demand decisions based on sound science, the North American Model, and the real-world experience of the sportsmen and women who fund conservation.”
Charles Whitwam of Howl for Wildlife stated: “Standing at the Secretary of State’s office when we turned in more than 180,000 signatures was an incredible moment, and seeing those signatures now validated makes me even prouder to have been part of this effort. At HOWL, we’ve been working to help people understand why protecting the future of hunting and fishing, and the science-based wildlife management that supports them, matters far beyond the hunting community. Making the ballot is a major milestone, but it isn’t the finish line. Now the real work begins: continuing that education, earning the support of Colorado voters, and finishing the job in November.”
For more information and to get involved with the effort, visit Yeson84CO.org.
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