![]() In the past, his appointments have included a former attorney for Wild Earth Guardians and an Aspen farm educator, who is supposed to represent production agriculture. Sport fishing and hunting advocates claim the governor is stacking the commission with animal welfare advocates as part his effort to move away from the North American model. ![]() He accused Polis and his husband, Marlon Reis, an animal rights activist, of preferring to scrap it altogether. Gates also believes Polis does not support the North American wildlife management model. That said, Gates added, “if you look at the majority of appointments under this governor, they continually become more and more from the non-traditional wildlife management arena.” I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise,” Gates told Colorado Politics. “I would like to think they’re taking the best opportunity they can to do what’s right and necessary for Colorado wildlife. ![]() He added that he’s trying to be a “glass half full” - albeit a small glass - kind of guy in this situation. Gates said he’s known Skiba and Murphy from his interactions with wildlife management groups. “I wouldn’t have picked ’em,” said Dan Gates, who has spent decades volunteering with wildlife management groups and currently serves as president of the Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association. Gubernatorial spokesman Conor Cahill instead said the governor has expanded opportunities for hunting and angling and “has taken comprehensive steps to protect wildlife for hunters and anglers.” ![]() The governor’s office refused to answer when Colorado Politics asked three times why he chose Skiba over Dorsey. The coalition had recommended Pat Dorsey, a well-respected and long-time fly fishing guide from Evergreen. “It was a clear message from the governor’s office, hunters and anglers don’t matter,” Jerry said. Polis, he added, ignored the recommendation from a coalition of wildlife conservation and hunting organizations. Jerry said Polis has sought out commissioners with little to no hunting background and with long histories with anti-hunting groups. Jerry further claimed that the commission “openly disparages hunters and seeks to perpetuate misinformed, negative stereotypes of hunters.” The North American Model of wildlife conservation is a set of principles that promotes sustainability of species populations and the concept that that wildlife is a public trust. Hunters and anglers hold their sporting legacy very near and dear, “and we will not stand aside as powerful anti-hunting groups, veiled as animal rights activists, attempt to dismantle (or) discredit the North American Model and exclude hunters from wildlife management, while slowly whittling away at hunting opportunities for Coloradans,” he told the 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,” Jerry said. Grant Jerry of Woodland Park speculated about the message Polis is sending to hunters and anglers with Skiba’s appointment during the commission’s July 20 meeting. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife Polis-RFP-073123
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