Coyote Kill Contest Draws Ire From Wildlife Groups
OPB | Jan. 16, 2015 2:09 p.m.
http://www.opb.org/news/article/coyote-kill-draws-ire-from-wildlife-groups-/
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A coyote hunting contest scheduled in Burns this weekend has drawn criticism from wildlife advocates.
This is the second year of the Coyote Classic which awards prizes to those who shoot the most coyotes during a three day period. Wildlife advocacy groups are protesting the event through social media.
The contest is legal under state law since coyotes are classified as an unregulated predator.
“Hunting of coyotes is pretty wide open.” says Rick Swart, spokesperson for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Swart says coyotes can be hunted year-round, and there’s no limit.
“If people want to have a derby to hunt coyotes under current laws they’re allowed to do so,” says Swart. “At the same token we understand that not everybody buys into that.”
The organizers of the Harney County Coyote Classic could not be reached for comment.
Exposing the Big Game 
How nice of Swart to note that “not everybody buys into that” (derbies). These agencies better start paying attention to the “other” voices who are past beginning to get riled over being ignored once too often. Maybe there needs to be a major campaign to encourage all private landowners who currently allow hunting to POST their land. That should get plenty of attention, esp in the northeast where “contests” are gaining in popularity.
Hunting regs aside, gathering to gamble on who kills the most wildlife is despicable and needs to be outlawed in any states that allow it.
Believe me, derbies will never ‘catch on’ in the Northeast. This is so frigging backward!
That’s good to hear, Maybe folks there can lead by example.