At the March 2026 Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission meeting, the Commission approved on a 6-4 vote advancing into rulemaking on a citizen petition calling for the ban of sale, trade or barter of furbearer fur and products. The petition was promoted by many of the same interests who brought forward the Denver Fur Ban ballot measure in 2024. The petition lacked scientific evidence showing that furbearer harvest or sale of fur in any way jeopardized sustainability of furbearer populations, and CPW staff recommended against the petition. Unfortunately, they were overruled by the Commission in a hearing and vote marked by significant confusion.
“Furbearers” under CPW regulations refer to the species traditionally hunted or trapped with fur of commercial value, such as mink, badger, beaver, coyote and fox. The petitioners’ proposal includes an exemption for finished hand-tied flies, but not for artificial lures nor for fly tying materials. As written, the proposal would ban something as simple as a legal hunter trading harvested fur with a fly-tying friend in exchange for some of the completed flies, or a Colorado fly-tyer purchasing a strip of mink fur sourced from out-of-state to use in tying streamers.
CPW is now working on an issue paper to present to the Commission as the first step toward adopting final rules for the fur ban. The paper will be presented at the Commission’s July meeting, with the final rulemaking hearing potentially taking place in September. To inform the issue paper, CPW is seeking public comment through May 3, through their web portal at: https://engagecpw.org/commercial-fur-sales
CPW staff have suggested that the fur ban be limited to the sale of furs hunted or trapped in Colorado and not applied to imported fur or materials. Consistent with statutory requirements allowing trapping and sale of fur from ‘nuisance’ animals taken by or on behalf of landowners to protect their property (under Title 35 and section 33-6-107(9) of the Colorado Revised Statutes), CPW also suggests that the rule not apply to fur harvested under those authorities. Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Commission is inclined to accept these recommendations so public comment on these matters is very important.
CTU opposes the proposed fur ban rule as it represents an anti-hunting, angling and trapping position without any basis in science and sound wildlife management. The ban is not needed to support sustainable furbearer populations, as Colorado’s harvest levels are an order of magnitude below those that the scientific literature indicates are sustainable. Simply put - the rule is not based on the conservation needs of Colorado wildlife. If the rule proceeds, however, we support the limitations proposed by CPW staff, and also suggest that the exemption for finished flies be broadened to include artificial lures and the materials used in making flies and lures.
You can weigh in with CPW through their Engage CPW portal to offer your comments. Points to consider raising:
· CPW staff indicate that best available science shows that harvest is not threatening sustainable furbearer populations in Colorado, making this rule unnecessary and inappropriate
· Natural furs have a long history of use in flies and lures used in fishing, and those uses should be exempted from any ban on sale of fur and fur products
· Any CPW restriction on the sale of fur should be limited to fur harvested in Colorado; applying it to imports would do nothing to benefit Colorado wildlife
· A fur ban cannot legally be applied to animals taken under Title 35 and section 33-6-107(9) of the Colorado Revised Statutes; asking wildlife officers to distinguish between fur taken under those authorities and those taken under recreational licenses poses an impossible enforcement challenge for CPW staff
· In your comments, include any personal experience you have with furbearer furs and products as an angler or fly-tyer
