GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — An animal by many names, like the mountain ghost, lurks in the depths of the shadows in Colorado's backcountry.
It's rare to see this apex predator that preys on deer, elk, and bighorn sheep, even though there are roughly 4,000 here in Colorado.
Outfitter Jack Cassidy has hunted mountain lions for over 20 years. He says the sport isn't to kill something, but rather see your dogs at work and enjoy the outdoors. However, a new proposition on the November ballot could change Cassidy's career.
Campaign Manager Samantha Miller for Cats Aren't Trophies is the one who put Prop 127 on the ballot. Prop 127 prohibits the hound hunting and fur trapping of mountain lions and bobcats. Contrary to what Cassidy says, she believes the primary purpose for lion hunts is for a trophy.
Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis is against Prop 127 and organized a rally with Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado last week. Davis tells WesternSlopeNow the Front Range is voting to take an economic driver off the Western Slope.
Former CPW Northwest Regional Manager Ron Velarde attended the rally because he believes putting this on the ballot is "ludacris."
Cassidy claims the mule deer population has been suffering in Colorado, but Miller argues there isn't any research indicating mountain lions decimate deer populations when not hunted. She calls on a study done by the wildlife society between 1997 and 2003 in Idaho.
The study reads, "Although mountain lion removal increased mule-deer survival and fawn ratios, we were unable to demonstrate significant changes in population trend with mountain lion removal."
However, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's website states, "Present levels of human-caused mortality under the West Slope plan are commonly cited as being sustainable and below levels believed by some to cause social disruption."
Miller adds Prop 127 still gives CPW the power to manage conflict cats just as they do now.
Cassidy tells WesternSlopeNow he's had his run in with conflict cats killing more deer than usual right here on the Western Slope. One cat he saw killed two deer and didn't even eat them.
There is some common ground - both sides don't want trophy hunting, though Miller believes every cat killed is a trophy, while hunters like Cassidy believe it's needed to balance the ecosystem.