Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation Sues Colorado Wildlife Commissioners – Sportsmen’s Alliance

The group cites violations of the law on open meetings during elections

Two weeks ago, voters in the Centennial State rejected Proposition 127, a proposal to ban the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx in the state. This was a great victory for sportsmen and for science-based wildlife management. But the debate behind Prop 127 is far from over. The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and Safari Club International are suing two Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commissioners and the commission itself under the state’s open meetings law.

More than 50 years ago, Colorado voters ushered in a new era of transparency by passing the Sunshine Act of 1972. The Sunshine Act codified Colorado’s Open Meetings Law, declaring “that the establishment of public policy is public business and may not be kept secret.” To that end, all meetings between two or more public officials where public matters are discussed must be open to the public after notice of such meeting has been given.

Apparently the two CPW anti-poaching commissioners did not receive the invitation. Commissioners Jack Murphy and Jessica Beaulieu – joined by former commissioner James Pribyl – came together and wrote an Op-Ed titled “Current and Former CPW Commissioners Support Prop 127.” That Op-Ed condemns the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats as “a deeply unpopular, unscientific and unnecessary abuse and exploitation that does nothing to contribute to our bright future … in the state our big one in Colorado.” At the time the Op-Ed was written, the CPW Commission was considering an updated mountain lion management plan for the Eastern Slope, which passed unanimously last week. Discussions related to the hunting and management of mountain lions were a legal matter before the CPW Commission, which requires an open meeting under the law.

“Instead of following the law, CPW Commissioners Beaulieu and Murphy printed comments to support their views,” the lawsuit says. “The CPW commissioners have breached their commitment [put] false information in public speech. This false information could have been corrected and this accident could have been avoided if CPW Commissioners Beaulieu and Murphy had fulfilled their commitment to community involvement in public business matters.”

“There is no excuse for a crime,” said Michael Jean, Litigation Counsel for the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “Former Commissioner Pribyl, who co-wrote the Op-Ed, lost a lawsuit and a petition for violating the Open Meetings Act when he served on the commission. They knew what they had to do under of the law, and their actions fell short of what was required.”

Breaking the law is wrong, but what’s surprising is how many errors the Op-Ed contains while simultaneously proclaiming that the commissioners are “held to a high standard … of science, not just opinion and thought.” .” One would assume that the position would include familiarity with the basics of wildlife management and regulations promulgated by the commission. Sadly, that was not the case. The Op-Ed stated that hunters are “often assisted by drones” when commission regulations prohibit that. They say that the mountain lion hunts “[guarantee] 100% success. The actual number is closer to 20%. And perhaps the most absurd thing was their statement that “wild cats” are “animals that are not involved in any human conflict.” There are many reports on the CPW website to the contrary, including an incident in 2023 where CPW captured a mountain lion after it mauled a girl, leaving her with a scar on her face. And just last week, a school in Greely, Colo., was placed on lockdown when a mountain lion entered the campus.

The case was filed in Denver County District Court. Stay tuned for more details as the case unfolds.