A large Colorado county scattered with open space has voiced opposition to a state ballot measure proposed to outright ban the hunting of large mammal cat species.

As the November election nears, Douglas County Commissioners on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning a state ballot measure prohibiting the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats, or lynx.

If the Proposition 127 measure is approved by Colorado voters in November, then hunting those species of animals would become a criminal offense — misdemeanor. The proposal also helps eliminate large cat hunting “big game” damage claims made with Colorado Parks & Wildlife. The proposition mentions trophy hunting, but that is already prohibited for these species.

This is the only ballot initiative that Douglas County, the large county 25 miles south of Denver, has collectively voiced its opinion on in this election season. The county is filled with more than half open space, generally areas where mountain lions like to roam, or in areas where there are high levels of other wildlife.

“Both mountain lions and bobcats are considered to have healthy and stable populations. Prohibiting the hunting of these animals could result in rapid population increases, which would pose a significant threat to other species in Colorado,” Douglas County’s approved resolution said, attributing Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

“This ballot measure would create a cascade effect that would require changes to wildlife management procedures that may do more harm than good,” the resolution adds.

Commissioner Lora Thomas, who brought forth the resolution opposing Proposition 127, condemned the state ballot measure as “biology at the ballot box,” she said.

“This isn’t about trophy hunting,” Thomas said, citing efforts Colorado wildlife officials are taking on mitigating. “When you look at all the different things that already are in place in this arena, it’s going to undo a lot of good that is already taking place. So I am opposed to it.”

If approved, Proposition 127 would prohibit discharging any weapon at mountain lions, bobcats or lynx in Colorado. Punishments include fines of up to $1,000, up to 364 days in jail or a five-year hunting license ban, according to the proposed state measure facing voters in November.

Douglas County Commissioner George Teal, a self-proclaimed hunter, said: “I appreciate that they want to make killing a Wildcat a misdemeanor, but if it’s prohibited, that means there will be no licenses issued, or folks to hunt without a license in the state of Colorado. It’s just a poorly written law.”