Many people think that hunters and environmentalists are on opposite sides of the spectrum. However, newly appointed Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission member Gary Skiba proves that this is not the case. Gary is a dedicated hunter who also cares deeply about conserving Colorado’s natural resources. For him, hunting is more than a sport or hobby; it is a way of life that respects and protects the wildlife and the land.

Gary Skiba began hunting at the age of 12, Gary’s dad gave him a 20 gauge Remington Wingmaster 870 pump shotgun; Gary still uses that gun today. When he moved to Colorado he actively hunted big game, especially bowhunting for elk and rifle hunting for deer. He also bowhunted for bighorn sheep in the Rawah Wilderness. Gary managed a private hunting area near Milliken, which was used primarily for duck hunting, but it also had good pheasant hunting in some years. The property is an old oxbow of the South Platte River and is fed by warm water springs which keep some areas ice-free in even the coldest Front Range winters. It was there that Gary developed his passion for duck hunting and for training Labrador retrievers as duck dogs.

Gary is also an angler and has the good fortune to have a small pond in his neighborhood that holds a few good-sized bass and green sunfish. But his favorite form of angling is for trout in Colorado’s high mountain lakes, with some of his favorite spots in the Weminuche Wilderness north of Durango.

But Gary is not just a hunter and an angler. He is also a highly respected wildlife biologist and manager, with over 30 years of experience working for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. He has handled complex issues such as wolf reintroduction, endangered species recovery, habitat restoration and ecosystem health. He knows the science and the policy of wildlife management.

Gary also knows the people and the culture of rural Colorado, where he has worked closely with landowners, ranchers, hunters, and anglers to find common ground and collaborative solutions. He respects private property rights while promoting public access and stewardship. He values hunting and fishing as essential tools for wildlife conservation and as vital parts of Colorado’s economy and heritage.

Gary is the ideal representative for sportsmen on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. He has the skills, experience, and passion to help guide Colorado Parks and Wildlife in its mission to conserve, protect, enhance, and manage Colorado’s wildlife resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

Gary Skiba is a voice for both hunters and conservation in Colorado. He deserves our full support.