The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission just took a historic step Wednesday, voting 6-4 to advance a petition that would completely ban the commercial sale of fur from wild animals trapped or hunted in the state.

If the rule becomes final, Colorado would join California as only the second U.S. state to outlaw the fur trade from native wildlife.

What Exactly Was Decided in Denver

The commission met for two days in Denver and formally accepted the petition filed in June 2025 by the Center for Biological Diversity. That acceptance moves the proposal into the official rulemaking process.

This means staff will now draft specific language, hold public hearings across Colorado, and take comments before the commission votes again, likely in late 2026 or early 2027.

The ban would only cover commercial sales of pelts. Trapping itself would remain legal for personal use, damage control, or population management. Hunters and trappers could still keep hides for their own use or give them away.

The rule would apply to all furbearers: bobcat, coyote, red and gray fox, beaver, marten, mink, muskrat, raccoon, badger, striped skunk, and weasel.

Why Supporters Say This Is Long Overdue

Animal protection groups celebrated the vote as a major victory for wildlife.

“For too long, Colorado has allowed beautiful native animals to be killed just so their fur can be turned into coats and trim,” said Wendy Keefover, native carnivore specialist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Most Coloradans don’t wear fur. They don’t want their wildlife killed for vanity either.”

Supporters point out that fur prices have crashed in recent years. Bobcat pelts that once fetched $500 to $800 now often sell for under $100. Many trappers report making just a few hundred dollars all season after expenses.

Fashion has also moved on. Major designers like Gucci, Versace, Prada, and Chanel have gone fur-free. Cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Berkeley already ban fur sales completely.

Trappers and Hunters Push Back Hard

Rural commissioners and hunting groups strongly opposed the move.

Commissioner Duke Phillips, a rancher from the Western Slope, voted no and warned the rule could hurt wildlife management.

“We use trapping to control predators that kill livestock and compete with deer and elk,” Phillips said after the meeting. “If there’s no market for the hides, fewer people will trap, and we’ll have more coyotes and foxes killing calves and fawns.”

The Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association says about 1,200 licensed trappers remain active in the state. They argue trapping is heavily regulated, sustainable, and helps fund wildlife conservation through license fees.

Some commissioners worried the rule would set a dangerous precedent. Commissioner Marie Haskett asked if the next step would be banning the sale of elk hides or deer antlers.

What Happens Next for Colorado Residents

The rulemaking process will include multiple public hearings, likely in Grand Junction, Durango, Pueblo, and the Front Range in the coming months.

Anyone can submit written comments once the draft rule is published, expected this summer.

The commission could still reject the rule, weaken it, or pass it exactly as proposed when they take the final vote.

Similar petitions have failed before in Colorado. In 1996, voters rejected a bear and mountain lion hunting ban. But public attitudes have shifted dramatically on fur in the last decade.

A 2024 Remington Research poll showed 69 percent of Colorado voters support banning the commercial fur trade.

California’s fur sales ban went into effect in 2023 and has not led to any increase in problem wildlife, according to state officials there.

The Colorado vote comes as cities around the world continue to restrict fur. Israel became the first country to ban fur sales entirely in 2021, followed by several Brazilian states.

For now, Colorado trappers can still sell their pelts legally, at least through the upcoming 2026-2027 season.

But the writing appears to be on the wall.

Wildlife in Colorado may soon be valued for their lives, not their coats.

What do you think, Colorado? Should the state end the commercial fur trade for good? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and if you’re fired up, use #ColoradoFurBan on social media and tag your friends.