WA Residents:
Help Pass Proposed Rule to
Ban Wildlife Killing Contests!
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) has proposed a rule to ban wildlife killing contests statewide for certain species that don’t have a bag limit, including coyotes, bobcats, crows, foxes, and raccoons. WDFW has opened a public comment period that includes opportunities for submission of written comments as well as attending and testifying at the July 30-31 – August 1 Commission webinar. Final action by the Fish & Wildlife Commission—which sets policy for WDFW—is expected during their August 21 webinar.
WA Residents ~ We need your help to urge the Commission
to support this proposal!
Please submit your written comments now (the deadline is July 14),
and plan to attend the upcoming Commission webinar!
The Fish & Wildlife Commission rightly states that:
The Fish and Wildlife Commission has determined that hunting contests that encourage and reward killing large numbers of native wildlife are not consistent with sound wildlife management principles. WDFW is addressing that concern through this proposed rule amendment. Under this new prohibition, for example, WDFW would no longer issue permits for contests that reward hunters for killing the highest number of coyotes …. Applying accountability measures at the level of the individual participant and clearly stating that there could be a monetary penalty imposed on an individual who is in violation of this rule helps strengthen the enforceability of these rules, thus increasing the likelihood of achieving the objective of the first proposal.
Six states have already outlawed wildlife killing contests (AZ, CA, CO, MA, NM and VT)—let’s make Washington the seventh!
Speak up for the voiceless animals who need your help.
Here’s how you can help (and see the Talking Points below) ~ more information here. (Please only take action if you are a Washington resident.)
- Submit comments directly – July 14 deadline:
ONLINE: (If you have limited time, simply click on the surveymonkey link and click the “Agree” radio buttons for both questions. If you have more time, please personalize your message—using the Talking Points below—to (1) add comments to the survey in the “Other” field, and/or (2) email WDFW directly.)
-
- By clicking on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/July2020FWC. The deadline to fill out this survey is midnight on Tuesday, July 14.
- Via email: rules.coordinator@dfw.wa.gov (the subject line should say: Re: CR-102 Hunting Contest Proposed Rulemaking)
BY MAIL: Submit written comments to:
Wildlife Program
P.O. Box 43200
Olympia, WA 98504
- The Commission will also be accepting comments during the July 30-31 – August 1 webinar on this issue, during which they will be deliberating this issue. For updates on the schedule, see “Upcoming Meetings” here; and for information on testifying, see “Testifying at Fish and Wildlife Commission Meetings” here.
- Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper. Please be respectful, and commend WDFW for proposing this rule. Encourage others to support the proposed ban on wildlife killing contests.
Talking Points:
This proposed rule will prevent a small minority of the population from recklessly slaughtering coyotes, bobcats, foxes and other non-game wildlife as part of a contest.
- Let the Commission know you support the proposed rule (CR-102 Hunting Contest Proposed Rulemaking) and commend them for taking action on this important issue.
- Killing contests are a bloodsport like dogfighting and cockfighting.Killing wildlife for thrills and prizes—with no respect for their intrinsic or ecological value—is senseless violence and waste and shows no respect for wild animals and their habitat. Participants may use high-tech electronic calling devices to lure animals in for an easy kill, and often dump the carcasses after the prizes are awarded. As a result of these horrific events, animals may be left injured and unable to defend themselves, and dependent young may end up orphans, left to die from starvation, predation, or exposure.
- By disrupting coyote pack structure, killing contests and other indiscriminate killing can also increase conflicts with livestock. The WDFW points out that “prevention is the best tool for minimizing conflicts with coyotes and other wildlife”
- Killing contests damage the reputation of responsible hunters by violating fundamental hunting ethics.Countless animals are injured or orphaned during killing contests. The events put non-target species (including imperiled wolves) at risk. Allowing this blood sport to continue reflects poorly on Washington’s sportsmen and sportswomen.Wildlife agency professionals are increasingly recognizing that these events jeopardize the reputation of hunters.
- Six states have outlawed wildlife killing contests. In April 2020, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to ban wildlife killing contests for various furbearing and small game species in the state. In 2019, New Mexico banned coyote killing contests and Arizona and Massachusetts prohibited them for furbearing and predatory species. Vermont banned coyote contests in 2018, and California prohibited the awarding of prizes for killing furbearing and nongame animals in 2014. More and more citizens across the country are speaking out against these events.
- More than 70 prominent conservation scientists have signed a statement condemning killing contests on ecological and ethical grounds. There is no scientific evidence that indiscriminately killing coyotes reduces their populations, increases populations of game animals like deer, or protects livestock. Randomly killing coyotes disrupts their pack structure, which can increase their populations and increase conflicts with coyotes. Preventing conflicts with the use of humane, non-lethal methods is more effective.
- Coyotes play an important ecological role in healthy ecosystems. They reduce rabbit and rodent populations, control disease transmission, keep environments free of animal carcasses and remove sick animals from the gene pool, and increase biodiversity.
- This rule is not a ban on hunting and does not impact other rules or statutes.The proposed rule does not prohibit fishing tournaments or affect laws related to lethal control of specific, problem-causing predators.
We urge the Washington Fish and Game Commission to follow in the footsteps of public officials and wildlife agencies in Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Vermont who have already banned wildlife and/or coyote killing contests by passing the proposed rule!
For the Wild,
Camilla H. Fox
Founder & Executive Director