A substantial portion of Nov. 14 public comment focused on fur‑bearer policy and a pending citizen petition to ban commercial sale of wild fur.

Rainer Gerbache and several other speakers argued that unregulated trapping and commercial sale of wild fur are not consistent with science‑based management and called for suspending aspects of trapping until a transparent review is complete. Jennifer Clanahan (Colorado Nature League) said she participated in the fur‑bearer stakeholder working group and that the commercial‑sale ban had been raised and received strong initial support in the group.

Director staff described how the fur‑bearer working group was formed to focus on management and data‑collection expertise. Brian Dreyer, assistant director for wildlife, said timing played a role: the commercial‑sale petition was filed on the first day of the working group, after members were already selected, so the working group’s membership did not reflect petition interests. Dreyer said the petition will be considered separately by the commission, which will provide opportunities for public and industry input as that citizen petition proceeds.

Commissioner Silva Blaney asked whether fly‑fishing industry representatives were included; staff responded that the working group selected a range of subject‑matter expertise rather than formal industry slots and that industry and public input will feature when the commission reviews the petition.

Speakers urged greater limits on commercial exploitation of furbearers, protections for non‑hunting public interests, and clarified that regulating commercial markets is distinct from management practices on trapping and harvest. Several commenters suggested the commission should respond to citizen petitions in six months or less; commissioners and staff discussed petition timelines and agreed on more transparent status updates going forward.

The meeting record shows staff intends to keep the management work group and the separate citizen petition process distinct and to give the petition its own commission consideration and public input opportunities.