LAUNCHES OUTREACH EFFORT TO COLORADO OUTDOORSMEN
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today released his conservation agenda for Colorado, which includes protecting Colorado’s wilderness areas and supporting the state’s strong hunting and fishing heritage.
As part of the agenda, Ritter has launched an outreach effort aimed at recruiting Colorado’s hunters, anglers, and other outdoorsmen and women in his conservation plans. Ritter has launched a new Sportsmen’s page on his campaign website and published a "Sportsmen and our Great Outdoors" position paper.
"Colorado issues more than a million hunting and fishing licenses every year," Ritter said. "One of those fishing licenses is mine, and my second-oldest son is now an accomplished deer hunter. So when I talk about how important sportsmen are to Colorado, and why partnering with them to protect our outdoor heritage is a top priority, I’m speaking from personal experience. I want to ensure that we are able to protect our wilderness areas and public lands - and pass on this legacy to future generations."
Ritter, an avid fly fisherman, said hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers are central to the Colorado lifestyle and play an integral role in Colorado’s economy. Hunters, anglers, archers, and others spend more than $1 billion a year on travel, equipment, food, lodging, and other wildlife-recreation activities in Colorado. The industry supports at least 20,000 full-time jobs. "Protecting Colorado’s wilderness and roadless areas makes good environmental sense and good economic sense," Ritter said. "Public land should be just that – public, something that benefits everyone, not sold off to benefit special interests."
Ritter’s conservation agenda is just one part of his commitment to the environment as well as to alternative energy and sound water management.