A group known for its animal rights agenda and anti-hunting views filed suit in Denver regarding Colorado’s new law requiring citizens to purchase a hunting or fishing license to access state lands. Friends of Animals opposes the new rule.
“License buyers bought the land and are maintaining the land and are paying for all — all — the conservation efforts that come through this agency,” Dan Prenzlow, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) director, told the Colorado Sun. “We really cannot afford to have unfettered and unpaid use with the use that we are seeing.”
Prenzlow also said CPW receives approximately $80 million through license sales, the majority of which is generated by out-of-state elk hunters.
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages over 350 State Wildlife Areas and holds leases on nearly 240 State Trust Lands in Colorado, which are funded through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses,” said Brett Ackerman, COW Southeast Regional manager. “The purpose of these properties is to conserve and improve wildlife habitat, and provide access to wildlife-related recreation like hunting and fishing that are a deep part of Colorado’s conservation legacy.”
(Photo source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)