Red to Blue Changes in the West and Two Tactics the Anti-Hunting Movement Could Use to Impact Western-State Hunting

By Mountain Pursuit

New Mexico has been blue (reliably Democratic in Presidential elections) for awhile and currently has a Democratic Governor and two Democratic Senators.

Arizona voted Blue in 2020 and currently has two Democratic US Senators.

Colorado is solidly Blue now in Presidential Elections and currently has a Democratic Governor and Two Democratic US. Senators.

Nevada has been Blue for the past two Presidential elections and also has a Democratic Governor and two Democratic US Senators.

Montana voted Red in 2020, but currently has one Democratic US Senator and until this year, had a Democratic Governor.

Of the intermountain west states, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming are all still solidly Red - and each has a Republican Governor, and two Republican US Senators.

But, with COVID refugees and work-from-home changes accelerated by the pandemic, more and more people from urban areas are moving to these Intermountain West states, and bringing their politics with them.

As well, in several Western States, the inter-state Red/Blue split is as distinct as it is in the country with the urban areas within the state being dominated by Democrats, and the rural areas, by Republicans. Examples include Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.

These changes in political demographics gives anti-hunting activists the opportunity to use two proven tactics within each of these states to impact hunting.

1) Changing the Make Up of Game & Fish Commissions

We completed a report last year analyzing how Western-State Game & Fish Commissioners are Hired, Fired and Serve. The Governor appoints Game & Fish Commissioners in all 9 western states and in all but Washington and Nevada, the G&F Commissioners work at the will of the Governor.

Traditionally, G&F Commissions have been dominated by sportsman interests (hunting and fishing). A newly elected Governor can at his or her will, remove the current G&F Commission members and replace them with members not as concerned with hunting and fishing.

This precedent was set in 2019 in New Mexico, when newly elected Democratic Governor Michelle Grisham fired the 7-members of the G&F Commission and replaced them with her own appointees, including 3 women and one environmental group staffer. We have not seen or heard of any indication that the new commission members have impacted hunting within New Mexico. What’s significant about this example is that because the majority of G&F Commissioners work at the pleasure of the Governor, a single gubernatorial election could significantly impact hunting a western state.

A more recent example is the nomination this year of James Tutchton to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission by Democratic Governor Jared Polis. Tutchton had previously worked as a litigator for WildEarth Guardians, and doesn’t eat meat. Some conservative Colorado County Commissioners opposed his confirmation fearing he didn’t support hunting.

2) “Shoot ‘em With a Camera”
The second tactic resident anti-hunting activists can use to impact Western-State hunting is to apply for and purchase hunting licenses with no intention of actually hunting.

This tactic was successfully implemented in Wyoming, in 2018, after Grizzly Bears were delisted as Endangered Species and the Wyoming Game & Fish Department offered 22 grizzly bear tags for the 2018 fall hunt.

Local anti-grizzly bear activists in Jackson, Wyoming, led by wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen launched the “Shoot “Em With a Camera” campaign including a Facebook page, website and gofundme.com page. While another environmental group took the case to federal court, the Shoot 'Em With A Camera campaign urged anti-hunters to apply for one of the coveted 22 grizzly tags, in the hopes of winning one in the draw but not actually hunting.

Overall, Wyoming is one of the most Red states in the country, but Jackson and Teton County are the exception. For years, Jackson’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities have attracted celebrities, urban refugees and others to Teton County. In 2016, Wyoming had the greatest percentage of voters of any state to support Trump, and only one county in Wyoming supported Clinton - Teton County.

At least two of the Grizzly tags were drawn by members of the Shoot ‘Em With The Camera group, including one by Mangelsen.

The hunt never occurred because a lawsuit was successful in getting the Grizzly re-listed as an Endangered Species.

However, the Shoot ‘Em With a Camera campaign was a renowned success, gaining national press, and the support of eminent Gorilla biologist Jane Goodall.

A copy-cat effort by western-state ant-hunters could have a significant impact on the actual hunting for several limited draw species including bison, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and moose.

In most western states, most of the tags for these species are awarded through a preference point system, and even for residents, it can take over a decade or more to draw a tag - if ever. But in Wyoming, for example, 25% of the tags for these species are awarded through a random draw - so even for these species, anti-hunting activists could have an impact.

In Wyoming, limited quota hunts for Elk, Deer and Antelope are not based on a preference point system and are totally random. For these tags, anti-hunting activists deploying the Shoot ‘Em With a Camera tactic could have significant impact on the hunt.