The initiative has drawn significant interest and donations from both hunting and wildlife advocacy groups in and out of Colorado

Few of the 14 statewide initiatives on Colorado’s November ballot have out-raised or out-spent efforts for and against Proposition 127. 

The two issue committees fighting over the initiative, which seeks to ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx in Colorado, have collectively spent around $3.8 million in the campaign so far. This is based on information filed with the Colorado Secretary of State as of Thursday, Oct. 24. There have been no additional expenditures reported by either group since Oct. 14, with the next filing deadline on Oct. 28. 

Cats Aren’t Trophies, the citizen group that petitioned to get Proposition 127 on November’s ballot, has brought in slightly more funding and spent more than Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better, the main issue committee opposing the measure. 

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So far, Cats Aren’t Trophies has raised around $2.74 million and spent $2.49 million in 2024. It has received around $300,000 in non-monetary donations this year — predominantly for personnel and consulting services as well as some other expenditures — from the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action. Both of these are wildlife policy nonprofits based near Washington D.C.

The group has had over 630 unique donors contribute. Around 80% of these individuals and groups are based in Colorado. It has amassed just over 120 donations of $1,000 or more, with donations under $1,000 averaging $96. 

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Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better has raised around $1.87 million and spent $1.3 million. It has received $20,000 in non-monetary contributions from the Safari Club International’s Alaska Chapter and the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Midwest Chapter. According to the filing, these in-kind contributions were for consulting and digital advertising.

This opposition group has had around 740 unique donors contributing to its cause. Of these, around 58% were out-of-state individuals and organizations. It has had 77 donations of $1,000 or more, with donations under $1,000 averaging $78. 

Both groups have drawn significant interest and funding from various organizations both in and out of Colorado. 

The Wild Animal Sanctuary has been the largest donor to Cats Aren’t Trophies, donating over $1 million in several donations to the cause. The Keensberg-based nonprofit operates three wildlife refuge facilities in Colorado in addition to one in Texas. 

In addition to their non-monetary contributions, the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action have been two of its largest monetary donors, contributing over $1,500 and $651,000, respectively, to the group in 2024. Both organizations also each gave $100,000 to Cats Aren’t Trophies in December 2023. 

Other organizations topping Cats Aren’t Trophies’ largest donations include:

• $225,000 from Big Cat Rescue Corp, a Florida-based organization founded by Carol Baskin — known from the Netflix show, “Tiger King” —  with the stated mission to preserve and protect exotic wildcat species  
• $170,000 from Mountain Lion Foundation, a national nonprofit based in California 
• $100,000 from the Animal Wellness Foundation, a California-based animal advocacy nonprofit
• $110,000 from Wildlife Protection Solutions, a Golden-based nonprofit leveraging technology for conversation purposes across the globe 

It has also received some significant donation amounts from individuals, including:

• $100,000 from Richard Prizlaff 
• $70,000 from John Buckley, Jr. 
• $56,195.40 from Cheryl Mach

Cats Aren’t Trophies spending has predominantly gone to advertising, consulting and professional services. The group’s spending ramped up through the summer, spending around $1.5 million in September. So far in October, it has spent around $590,000.  

Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better’s largest donor is the Concord Fund, a conservative advocacy and donor organization based in Virginia. The group, which has ties to Leonard Leo, co-chairman of the Federalist Society, contributed $600,000 to the committee. 

Its next largest donor is the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy organization for hunters, anglers, trappers and recreational shooters. To date, the group has donated $237,000 to the committee. 

Safari Club International’s Colorado Chapter donated $150,000, making it one of several Safari Club International chapters to do so. This group is a hunting rights organization based in Washington D.C. representing hunter interests. It has 50,000 members nationwide. 

A Safari Club International chapter, based in Tuscon, has donated $41,500 to the committee opposing 127, with its Upper Colorado River, Michigan, Southern New Mexico, Alaska and Four Corners chapters also making contributions. 

Other large donations to Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better include:

• $200,000 from Rocky Mountain Elk, a Montana-based nonprofit with chapters in various states including Colorado, with the stated mission to protect elk, habitat and the heritage of hunting.  
• $150,000 from Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, a group that has been outspoken against 127 and Denver ballot measures to ban fur and slaughterhouses 
• $100,000 from the Wild Sheep Foundation, a Montana-based organization supporting wild sheep conservation
• $50,000 from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the firearms industry based in Connecticut
• $35,000 from Fur Takers of America, a national fur trapper association based in Wisconsin, which has a Colorado affiliate, Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association 
• $25,000 from the Mule Deer Foundation, a Utah-based nonprofit that supports deer conservation and regulated hunting as a part of wildlife management

It has also received donations from the National Rifle Association and various other cattlemen and wool grower associations as well as sportsmen and hunting outfitters. 

Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better main spending has been on advertising and consulting services. As the election nears, the group spent around $646,000 in September and has spent around $427,000 in October so far. 

Ballots were mailed starting Oct. 11. Election Day is Nov. 5.