(DENVER) — Colorado voters rejected Proposition 127  Tuesday keeping the current regulations around mountain lion, bobcat, and lynx hunting. With 78% of votes counted, the measure failed to pass with 55.5%  of the voters rejecting it, according to the New York Times.

“Thank you to the voters, volunteers, and partner organizations who worked tirelessly to protect the integrity of Colorado’s wildlife management practices,” said Crystal Chick, a former Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) wildlife manager.

The measure failed to ban mountain lion hunting, which is currently restricted to one lion harvest per hunter a year, and bobcat hunting, which currently does not have restrictions on harvest numbers. Lynx is an endangered species in Colorado, and already illegal to hunt. 

Local residents hold up “Vote No on Prop 127” signs at the Colorado State Capital Building [Credit: Holly Yu Tung Chen]

Before Election day, research from Colorado State University showed that Coloradans are closely divided on hunting big carnivores such as mountain lions in general, but 78% of Coloradans disapprove of hunting mountain lions for sport or recreation. The survey also found that 88% of Coloradans disapprove of hunting mountain lions with dogs. The measure pitted rural residents against urban conservation efforts and is the latest in a long heated debate about wildlife conservation, animal rights, and hunting traditions. It marks a growing divide between urban and rural voters on wildlife management practices.

Chase Rupp, a houndsman and hunter, spoke of his many concerns during a Prop 127 rally on October 18 at the Colorado State Capital. He fears the potential widespread economic impact of a passed ban, and that he and his dogs would be out of a job.

The Colorado Secretary of State estimates a $450,000 loss in revenue for the CPW would result from the decrease in hunting licenses. Furthermore, the Common Sense Institute estimates that the “dynamic impact” could range from $3.6 million to $5.8 million as elk and mule deer hunting-related revenue would take a hit due to the increase in the mountain lion population. 

Chase Rupp’s Lion Hounds [Credit: Holly Yu Tung Chen]

Now Rupp and other residents opposing the measure celebrate its defeat and breathe a sigh of relief from the fear of its impact on local economies.