What does Colorado’s Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish actually mean—and why should it matter to people who don’t hunt or fish?

That is one of the central questions explored in this special episode of Through the Gates, featuring internationally recognized conservationist Shane Mahoney, President and CEO of Conservation Visions and founder of the Wild Harvest Initiative.

This conversation is especially relevant for Coloradans who love the outdoors but may never have hunted or fished. If you hike, camp, mountain bike, kayak, photograph wildlife, watch elk and moose, enjoy Colorado’s public lands, or simply care about healthy wildlife populations, this episode explores the connection between those experiences and the system of wildlife conservation that exists today.

Mahoney and Dan Gates take a deep look at the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and how regulated hunting and fishing fit into a larger system designed to maintain abundant wildlife populations and provide public benefits.

The discussion covers:

• Why wildlife is considered a public-trust resource
• How North American wildlife populations recovered from historic declines
• Why wildlife abundance benefits hunters AND non-hunters
• The connection between hunting, fishing and sustainable sources of food
• How hunting and fishing contribute to wildlife management and conservation funding
• Why science-based wildlife management matters
• What “sustainable use” actually means
• The history behind the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation
• The role of regulation in preventing overharvest
• The importance of wild foods and the Wild Harvest Initiative
• How conservation can serve people who never hunt or fish
• The debate surrounding fur-bearing wildlife and commercial use
• Why wildlife management has to account for changing populations, habitat and human communities
• What the proposed constitutional protection does—and does not—say about wildlife management
• Why understanding the issue matters before Colorado voters make their decision

One of the most important themes of the conversation is that wildlife conservation is not exclusively about hunting.

Mahoney argues that the recovery of elk, deer, pronghorn, waterfowl, bears and other wildlife has created opportunities for everyone—from hunters and anglers to hikers, photographers, birders, climbers, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts. As he explains, abundant wildlife adds another dimension to the Colorado outdoor experience regardless of whether someone ever harvests an animal.
The episode also examines an important question for anyone thinking about food and sustainability: How does harvesting from the wild fit into the modern food system?

Mahoney discusses the millions of people around the world who continue to rely directly on wild resources for food and livelihoods, and why he believes sustainable, regulated harvest should be considered alongside other approaches to food production and conservation.

And ultimately, the conversation returns to Colorado.

The Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish is discussed not simply as a question for hunters and anglers, but as a question about wildlife management, science, public trust, outdoor recreation, food, conservation funding and how Colorado manages its wildlife for future generations.

If you're a Colorado voter who doesn't hunt or fish, this episode is an opportunity to hear the history, philosophy and arguments surrounding Amendment 83 directly and consider how those ideas relate to the wildlife and outdoor experiences you value.

Listen before you vote. Learn what the issue actually says. Consider the different perspectives. Then make your own informed decision.