Luke Hilgemann
ON THE RECORD · 13 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“They are playing the long game,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann said supporters of Oregon's failed Initiative Petition 28, which sought to criminalize hunting, fishing, and other activities, are expected to try again.
“It gives it that extra layer of protection to make sure that when the political winds change, because they always do, that hunting and fishing in our outdoor heritage and tradition will be carried on, regardless if it's a Republican, Democrat, or Independent sitting in those offices that make these decisions.”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann said constitutional protection ensures hunting and fishing traditions endure regardless of which party holds political office.
“It doesn't go backwards. It doesn't bring those things back.”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann stated that the amendment does not reverse previously banned hunting practices in Colorado.
“If we don't have hunting and fishing in a state like Colorado, someone needs to step up and pay for the conservation that happens,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann noted that hunting and fishing revenue helps fund wildlife conservation and said someone would need to pay for that conservation if those activities disappeared.
“Well, it's legal, but that doesn't mean that it's forever protected, right?”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann explained to OutKick OutDoors why constitutional protection for hunting and fishing matters even though the activities are already legal in Colorado.
“That's why the constitutional right is so important,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann explained why establishing hunting and fishing as a constitutional right is central to IOTR's nationwide strategy.
“I mean, the biggest thing that the Constitution does is it gives it a higher power than just a statute.”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann argued that a constitutional right carries more weight than a statute that lawmakers can change.
“If we don't do this now, unfortunately, I don't think it's ever going to happen in a state like Colorado,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann argued that with Colorado's population and attitudes toward outdoor recreation changing, the time to act is now.
“Seasons stay, regulations stay. We want responsible management through science,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann clarified that Amendment 83 would not eliminate existing hunting seasons, bag limits, licensing requirements, or other regulations.
“There was a proposal that would have changed that word 'shall' to 'may,' which would have made it an option, right?”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann pointed to a recent Colorado legislative proposal that would have changed the wording of an existing state law regarding hunting and fishing as wildlife-management tools.
“We worked together on a strategy to say how can we push back against the hunting and fishing and the conservation attacks that we've seen across the country, and came upon the constitutional right to hunt and fish as a way to slam the door against some of these radical policies that we're seeing take hold in states across the country,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann said the Colorado campaign is part of IOTR's larger national effort to push back against policies threatening hunting, fishing, and conservation.
“We thought, you know, Colorado maybe in two or four years,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann said IOTR had originally expected Colorado to take up the issue in a later election cycle before a private citizen began the ballot process.
“That's not going to happen as a result of our amendment,”
Luke Hilgemann · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-23
Hilgemann addressed concerns that the amendment could bring back previously banned hunting practices such as certain forms of bear hunting and trapping.