“It was a clear message from the governor’s office: ‘hunters and anglers don’t matter!’”
Those pointed and direct words came from Grant Jerry, a Colorado resident, military veteran, life-long hunters and angler, and life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He made them while providing passionate public comment (go to 2:31:15) before the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission about recent actions taken by Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Polis is receiving growing criticism for appointing animal rights activists to the CPW Commission.
“When it was time to fill a seat on the commission, designated to represent interests of sportspersons – hunters and anglers – the governor completely ignored the recommendation of a well-respected collection of the largest wildlife conservation and hunting organizations in Colorado. It was a clear message from the governor’s office: ‘hunters and anglers don’t matter!’” declared Jerry. “I am unequivocally concerned with the direction this commission will take in the future of our rich hunting and fishing traditions here in Colorado.”
The commission appointees are Gary Skiba, Jess Beaulieu and John (Jack) Murphy. Skiba is best known for helping draft the plan to forcibly introduce wolves into Colorado. He was also part of a group to file suit against California as it sought to delist gray wolves in that state. In addition, Skiba is a member of Defenders of Wildlife, a well-known anti-hunting organization. Ironically, his commission appointment is to serve as a “representative of sportspersons.”
Beaulieu is the manager of the University of Denver’s Animal Law Program, which aims to “protect the interests and well-being of non-human animals.” Beaulieu was also a fellow at the Center for Biological Diversity, another anti-hunting group.
Murphy runs Urban Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit focusing on the nonlethal removal of small nuisance animals like squirrels and raccoons. Neither Murphy nor Beaulieu reportedly appear to have experience in recreation or wildlife management, despite being appointed to represent “parks utilization and outdoor recreation.”
According to CPW, the commission “is a citizen board, appointed by the governor, which sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s state parks and wildlife programs. Members are expected to represent all parks and wildlife-related issues.”
“We will not stand aside as powerful anti-hunting groups veiled as animal rights advocates attempt to dismantle and discredit the North American Model (of Wildlife Conservation) and exclude hunters from wildlife management while slowly whittling away at hunting opportunities for Coloradans. Even within this commission, I’ve heard commissioners openly disparage hunters and seek to perpetuate misinformed, negative stereotypes of hunters,” said Jerry.
The Denver Gazette Editorial Board called the commission appointments an affront on rural Colorado.
“Rural Coloradans drive pickups, carry guns and hunt. They hold the stewardship of wildlife and the environment as high values because they need these ecosystems to support how they live,” wrote the editorial board. “We don’t expect our Boulder-native-in-chief to understand or appreciate hunting or other key elements of country life. We expect earnest appointments that respect Colorado’s diverse population. Our governor should represent the entire state — including those regions where hunters eat what they shoot.”
Jerry also told the commission about his upbringing and added he will take an active role going forward.
“I grew up hunting and fishing. It is, still to me, an appreciation and respect for wildlife, a deep connection to food sources and reinforced the concept of sustainability. Never in my wildest dreams did I foresee a future where I would have to stand up and publicly defend those ethical hunting practices against detractors,” said Jerry. “If nothing else, I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and work for wildlife conservation. Outside of that, I only have one recourse as an avid hunter. I will continue to engage often, make my voice heard and encourage all hunters to do the same.”
RMEF calls on its members, hunters, anglers and all who appreciate wildlife and conservation in Colorado to get engaged and follow suit.
Below is the full public testimony submitted by Grant Jerry.
My name is Grant Jerry. I’m a lifelong hunter and angler. I grew up hunting and fishing. It is, still to me, an appreciation and respect for wildlife, a deep connection to food sources and reinforced the concept of sustainability. Later in life, I used hunting as an escape from the stresses of daily life. A way to connect and share a meal with a diverse group of colleagues and friends throughout a military career world that would take me around the world in numerous combat deployments. But never in my wildest dreams did I foresee a future where I would have to stand up and publicly defend those ethical hunting practices against detractors. But here I am, once again defending those things that I hold dear, shaken by the pure vitriol and misinformation directed at hunters, and sometimes within this commission.
Hunters and anglers are some of the strongest voices for wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. Incredible partners when united with other outdoor users and environmental advocates. Ethical hunting practices provide so many positive benefits to the individual, healthy sustainable protein and an outside positive impact on the landscape. That being said, we hunters and anglers also hold our rich sporting legacies very near and dear to our hearts. We will not stand aside as powerful anti-hunting groups veiled as animal rights advocates attempt to dismantle and discredit the North American Model and exclude hunters from wildlife management while slowly whittling away at hunting opportunities for Coloradans. Even within this commission, I’ve heard commissioners openly disparage hunters and seek to perpetuate misinformed, negative stereotypes of hunters.
Recently, our own governor has sought out commissioners with little to no hunting background. Individuals with a long history at anti-hunting organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity with a well-known track record of challenging ethical hunting practices in western states through lawsuits and litigation. And more recently, the Denver University Animal Law Center with a stated goal of fighting the routine killing of non-humans, which I can only assume is the legal practice of hunting.
And when it was time to fill a seat on the commission, designated to represent interests of sportspersons – hunters and anglers – the governor completely ignored the recommendation of a well-respected collection of the largest wildlife conservation and hunting organizations in Colorado. It was a clear message from the governor’s office: hunters and anglers don’t matter. So I am unequivocally concerned with the direction this commission will take in the future of our rich hunting and fishing traditions here in Colorado. Please help me ease these fears. I’d love for my fears to be misplaced or disproven. If nothing else, I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and work for wildlife conservation. Outside of that, I only have one recourse as an avid hunter. I will continue to engage often, make my voice heard and encourage all hunters to do the same.
I’d also like to address representation within the CPW Commission Citizens Roundtable. We know that diversity, equity and inclusion are a priority mandate for CPW. That being said, I’m shocked at how underrepresented the military and veteran committee is. To my knowledge within the commission, not represented at all. In a body of seven people, is it truly that difficult to find a qualified rancher, farmer, biologist, hunter or angler with some background of honorable military service? The military and veteran community makes up (inaudible). And I’m left wondering if that lack of representation is intentional. Thank you for your time.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)