In 2021, HSUS submitted another ill-informed petition to the Commission, claiming that CPW was not complying with Amendment 14 due to the cage trap permit. During the commission hearing, the Colorado Attorney General`s Office testified that it disagreed with the statement made in the petition. The Attorney General`s Office said the current CPW rules are in line with Amendment 14, which does not prohibit trapping, but prohibits various removal methods related to trapping. In addition, CPW issued a statement recommending that the commission reject the petition on four key points: In 1996, Colorado residents voted for Initiative 14, which approved a constitutional amendment to ban the use of «leghold traps, instant death traps, poisons or snares» in the state. Several exceptions have been made for looting on private land and certain government agencies to protect human health or safety, or to manage fish or other wildlife that are not mammals. Shortly after the passage of Initiative 14 and Colorado State Amendment 14 (Amendment 14), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) amended its fur hauler and trapping regulations accordingly. The use of cage/box traps, also known as live traps, was still allowed in the state. Why it`s important: The recent petition by the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) to ban all traps on Colorado`s public and private lands was unanimously rejected by the Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission). These longstanding anti-trap efforts in the state focus on one thing: banning all trap use, regardless of clear scientific evidence showing the need for trapping as a selective, sustainable, and humane wildlife management tool. Attacks on scientific wildlife management and our outdoor sports heritage will not stop trapping. As an athlete community, it is imperative that we unite, as it is not a question of «if» opposition to other outdoor activities comes, but «when». (c) The use of non-lethal traps, traps specially intended for non-killing or nets for the removal of wild animals for scientific research, falconry, transfer or medical treatment, in accordance with regulations established by the Colorado Wildlife Commission; or (d) the use of traps, poisons or nets by the Colorado Division of Wildlife to capture or manage fish or other aquatic animals that are not mammals.
Added by Initiative November 5, 1996, effective January 15, 1997. (a) such use shall not exceed thirty days per year; and 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 12, the owner or lessee of private property used primarily for commercial animal husbandry or plant production, or the employees of such owner or lessee, shall not be prohibited from using the devices or processes described in paragraph 1 of this section on such private property, provided that: This article was renumbered Article 12b after revision in 2000. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Part 2, it is illegal in the State of Colorado to kill wildlife with leghold traps, body traps, or by poison or noose. Penalties are set out in sections 33-6-109, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Part 2. Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Senior Coordinator of the Rocky Mountain States (b) The use of the control equipment or methods described in subsection (1) of this section: (a) «Withdrawal» is defined in subsection 33-1-102(43), S.C.R., on or after the day on which this section comes into force. After excellent expert testimony, public comments and a detailed question-and-answer session, the commission voted unanimously to reject HSUS` petition to ban all trapping sites in the state of Colorado. The Commission strongly advocated for scientific management of wildlife and athletes who continue to interact with wildlife in a sustainable manner. Two sections, known as section 12 of Article 18, were proposed on the initiative and approved at the general elections of 5 November 1996. This section was called clause 13 and the other clause was referred to as clause 12 for revision.
4. Any person convicted of having infringed paragraphs 1 or 2 shall be liable to double the applicable penalty if the offence was committed as a result of unlawful intrusion into private property owned or rented by another. (4) The provisions of this § 12 shall not apply to the removal of wild animals with firearms, fishing gear, archery equipment or other equipment in hand, insofar as this is legally permitted. 2. Except as otherwise provided in this Part 2, every person who attempts to kill wildlife by means of a leghold trap, instantaneous death trap, body seizure trap, poison or noose is guilty of a Class 1 minor offence and is liable to a fine of forty dollars and to a four-point driver`s licence suspension if convicted.