Colorado ballot measure · November 3, 2026

Colorado Amendment 83, explained

Constitutional right to hunt and fish. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.

The official wording

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution creating a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest fish and wildlife by traditional methods, including all species of fish and wildlife managed by the state except non-game species, endangered species, or any species that is illegal to hunt under federal law, and, in connection therewith, establishing hunting and fishing as the preferred means of managing fish and wildlife populations; and preserving the right of the state to regulate hunting, fishing, and wildlife management if necessary for sound scientific wildlife conservation and management, public safety, or to preserve the future of hunting and fishing opportunities for all species?

This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.

What it actually means

Creates a constitutional right to hunt and fish by traditional methods, and declares hunting and fishing the preferred way to manage wildlife populations. The state could still regulate for science-based conservation, public safety or to preserve future hunting and fishing. Nongame and endangered species are excluded.

If you vote YES

Hunting, fishing and harvesting state-managed fish and wildlife by traditional methods would become a constitutional right, excluding nongame species, endangered species and species illegal to hunt under federal law.
Hunting and fishing would be the constitution's preferred means of managing fish and wildlife populations.
Existing regulations would stay in place at first, but new or existing rules could be challenged as conflicting with the right; Colorado Parks and Wildlife could face added legal costs.
Trespassing laws on private property would not change.

If you vote NO

Hunting and fishing would continue under existing state and federal law, regulated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its commission.
The Legislature, the commission or voters could change hunting and fishing rules without needing to meet a constitutional standard.

The numbers that matter

Near-term state spending: No significant change; possible legal costs later
Share of CPW revenue from licenses: About one-third, about $115 million a year
Vote needed: 55%

Why supporters say YES

The measure protects hunting and fishing against future restrictions, as 24 other states do, and supports a heritage and recreation economy; license sales provide about a third of Colorado Parks and Wildlife's revenue, about $115 million a year.
— Colorado Blue Book argument for Amendment 83 (Legislative Council Staff)

Why opponents say NO

The constitution should protect fundamental rights, not recreation; the measure favours one method of wildlife management, and its vague language could invite costly lawsuits against reasonable rules on hunting, fishing and trapping.
— Colorado Blue Book argument against Amendment 83 (Legislative Council Staff)

What’s genuinely uncertain

The effect on future regulation depends on how courts interpret "traditional methods" and "preferred means".
Litigation costs cannot be estimated because they depend on lawsuits by private parties and court decisions.
The measure is backed by the International Order of T. Roosevelt, according to Colorado Newsline; no registered opposition committee was identified in the sources reviewed.

The bottom line

Lasting constitutional protection for hunting and fishing, against constraints and possible lawsuits over how wildlife is regulated in future.

One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.

Sources:leg.colorado.gov coloradosos.gov coloradonewsline.com

Checking it against the official text

The Colorado Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.

Confirm this with the official source

Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Colorado Secretary of State.

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