Colorado Fur Sales Debate Heats Up as Wildlife Commission Prepares to Vote

Tension over furbearer regulations has prompted increased security for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) commission meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, where commissioners will vote on petitions from opposing groups focused on the hunting and trapping of animals for their fur, including fox, coyote, beaver, bobcat, pine marten, and otters.

Increased Security Measures

CPW is encouraging attendees to arrive early to the meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Westminster, where the agency will enforce the hotel’s ban on firearms and weapons by conducting security checks prior to entry. The increased precautions are due to the large number of expected attendees and information regarding potential public testimony, according to CPW spokesperson Travis Duncan. Duncan also stated that commissioners have received threatening calls and emails, and that the agency “develops venue-specific security plans for every PWC meeting.”

Agenda Items

The agenda for Wednesday includes changes to CPW’s beaver conservation and management strategy, which aims to increase and sustain beaver populations and beaver-influenced wetlands in suitable habitats across Colorado. It also includes furbearer stakeholder process management and policy recommendations, regarding bag limits for recreational killing of furbearers and inspection requirements.

Furbearer Hunting and Permitting

CPW considers furbearer hunting “a time honored traditional hunt and a great starter hunt for new hunters.” Currently, a furbearer permit is a $10 add-on option for individuals who have purchased a $39 small game license. A furbearer permit is not needed to hunt coyotes. All bobcats or their pelts must be presented to CPW for inspection, after which the agency will issue a tag authorizing possession, transport, and sale of the pelt.

In the 2024-25 fiscal year, CPW sold 19,620 furbearer permits, generating just under $200,000 in revenue. There are currently no limits on the number of furbearers a permit-holder can kill, though the commission will consider new daily limits for recreational hunters and trappers.

Stakeholder Divisions

The debate highlights ideological differences between pro-trapping and anti-trapping groups, represented by Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity. Stakeholder groups spent several months in 2025 attempting to develop a state management plan for 16 furbearer species, but were unable to reach an agreement.

Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife advocates for maintaining current furbearer regulations, asserting that anti-hunting groups disregard the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which emphasizes scientific management and sustainability.

The Center for Biological Diversity argues that CPW’s current policy treats beavers, martens, foxes, and ringtails – described as “ecosystem engineers and iconic native species” – as commodities rather than integral parts of functioning ecosystems. The Center also opposes the sale of furbearer pelts and the lack of reporting requirements for most species, which they say hinders accurate tracking of harvest numbers.

Differing Perspectives

Mark Surls, Northern Rockies coordinator for Project Coyote, which supports the Center for Biological Diversity’s petition, stated that his organization supports legal hunting and trapping based on scientifically and ethically sound management approaches. He emphasized the need for bag and possession limits for all furbearers, similar to those applied to game species, noting that less than 5% of Colorado’s population holds a hunting license and even fewer hunt furbearers.

Dan Gates, executive director of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, countered that those pushing for stricter regulations are not interested in compromise and seek to eliminate all harvest and use of furbearers. He asserted that Colorado’s wildlife belongs to all residents and that CPW has a responsibility to manage it for everyone.

Past Attempts at Regulation

Surls reported that attempts to find common ground during the furbearer working group meetings were unsuccessful, and that direct outreach to Gates regarding potential compromises on bag limits also yielded no results. Samantha Miller, senior carnivore manager for the Center for Biological Diversity, noted significant public engagement around the petitions, citing a 2024 study showing that more than 75% of Colorado respondents disapproved of hunting large carnivores primarily for hide or fur.

CPW Director’s Recommendations

CPW Director Laura Clellan has recommended that the commission deny the Center for Biological Diversity’s petition to prohibit the commercial sale of wildlife fur, citing a lack of evidence that fur sales drive harvest levels in Colorado. Yet, Clellan also recommended denying a petition from Gates and the Colorado Trappers and Hunters Association seeking amended furbearer regulations, as existing harvest surveys already collect the necessary data.

Gates expressed hope that the commissioners would follow Clellan’s recommendations, particularly given that a similar fur ban was defeated by Denver voters in 2024 by a margin of 17 percentage points.

Public Comment and Meeting Details

CPW has received more than 150 pages of public comments via EngageCPW for the meeting, which runs Wednesday and Thursday and will also address wolverine restoration, reptile and amphibian regulations, and issues pertaining to wolves. Duncan stated that the agency estimates more than 300 individual commenters have submitted feedback.