Colorado hunters, anglers, landowners, teachers, and everyday wildlife lovers now have until March 31 to nominate the person or group who is quietly doing the most for the state’s deer, elk, trout, sage grouse, and wild places.
The Colorado Wildlife Council, funded by hunters and anglers through license fees and excise taxes, just launched the call for its second annual Conservationist of the Year Award. The winner will be revealed in May and celebrated across the state.
“This isn’t about finding the loudest voice,” said Brittni Ehrhart-Gemmill, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s representative on the council. “It’s about shining light on the people who show up year after year, boots on the ground, making Colorado’s wildlife and habitats better for all of us.”
Who Can Be Nominated?
Anyone. Seriously.
Individuals, families, nonprofits, sportsmen’s clubs, youth groups, teachers, ranchers, even businesses that go above and beyond for conservation are all eligible.
Self-nominations are not only allowed, they’re encouraged.
Last year’s inaugural winner was Dr. Terry Fankhauser, former executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, who spent decades building bridges between ranchers, hunters, and wildlife managers to keep migration corridors open and habitats healthy.
Why This Award Matters More Than Ever
Colorado is growing fast. More people means more pressure on elk winter range, cutthroat trout streams, and sage grouse leks.
Yet wildlife funding hasn’t kept pace. Hunting and angling license dollars still pay for roughly 90% of non-game species management too, from lynx and bighorn sheep to songbirds and native plants.
That’s why the council wants every Coloradan to know: conservation here is powered by hunters and anglers, but it benefits everyone.
“This award is our way of saying thank you,” Ehrhart-Gemmill told me. “And it’s also a reminder that one person, one family, one small group can move mountains for wildlife if they stay committed.”
Real Impact From Last Year’s Winner
After Dr. Fankhauser won in 2024, youth hunting recruitment in his home county jumped 28%. Ranchers who once viewed wildlife agencies with suspicion started calling CPW biologists for help with habitat projects.
That’s the ripple effect the council is chasing again this year.
How to Nominate Someone (or Yourself)
Go to the official Colorado Wildlife Council website or CPW’s awards page. You’ll need:
- A clear description of what the nominee has done in the last few years
- Specific results: acres restored, youth educated, wildlife populations helped, fences modified, water improved, etc.
- Any past awards or recognition (not required, but helpful)
- Photos or short video clips are gold
Nominations close March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
The council will pick finalists and then the full board votes. The winner gets a custom bronze sculpture, statewide recognition, and a feature video shown at sportsmen’s banquets and wildlife events all year.
This Year Feels Different
Social media is already buzzing. #COConservationist2025 started trending on X within hours of the announcement, with people tagging quiet heroes, retired game wardens, 4-H leaders, and moms who turned their backyard into a pollinator paradise.
One post I saw said it best: “Nominate the person who fixes fence for elk before anyone notices it’s broken. That’s the real Colorado conservationist.”
If you know someone like that, don’t wait. Tell their story before March 31.
Because in a state that loves its wildlife as much as Colorado does, the people protecting it deserve to hear their names spoken out loud, just once.
Drop your nominations below in the comments and tag the person who should win this year. Let’s flood the council with Colorado’s best.
