Ending Wildlife
Killing Contests
in Illinois
WHAT ARE WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS?
Cruel, Inhumane, and Ecologically Destructive
Wildlife killing contests generally involve a day or weekend-long contest promoting the indiscriminate killing of coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and other wildlife species with prizes awarded to the contestants who kill the most or largest individuals. Wildlife killing contests promote cruelty and disrespect towards wildlife, deplete lands of wild carnivores that are critical for natural processes, such as rodent control/disease prevention, and serve no conservation or management purpose.
OUR WORK TO END WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS
Project Coyote cofounded the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests composed of more than 60 national and state wildlife conservation organizations working together to bring an end to cruel and senseless killing contests nationwide. We work state-by-state to end these contests as well as at the federal level to advocate for a ban of wildlife killing contests on federal public lands.
Contests in Illinois
Illinois
Every year, cruel and senseless wildlife killing contests are held throughout Illinois. Many folks are not aware that these contests exist and are pervasive in The Prairie State. Project Coyote and Humane Society of the United States have identified at least 20 events in as many counties, often held yearly, with some contests encouraging participation in all IL counties. Given their secret nature, it is likely that many other killing contests are frequently taking place. In addition to wanton waste of the animals killed, some contests directly encourage youth participation, promoting harmful views from a young age.
In 2023, Project Coyote partnered with The Rewilding Institute and the Illinois Sierra Club, to petition the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests through agency rule-making, as done by six other states. Unfortunately, this petition was denied, and now it is up to the legislature. In 2024, HB2900 was introduced by Representative Anna Moeller which would ban wildlife killing contests statewide. On May 15, 2024, the Illinois House passed HB2900 by a 62-45 vote. The bill is now before the Senate where it is sponsored by state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-District 6) and Sen. Julie A Morrison (D-District 29).
TAKE ACTION IN ILLINOIS
- Raise awareness by sharing this page with your community in Illinois and encourage them to take action!
- Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) and submit it to your local newspaper. Inform your community members and encourage them to support the bill to ban wildlife killing contests. Use these talking points.
- Host a screening of Project Coyote’s Killing Games: Wildlife In The Crosshairs and Comfort Theory’s Wildlife Killing Contests, two award-winning films, and invite lawmakers and activists to attend.
ACTION ALERTS
We’ve been working hard and making strides in our efforts to ban wildlife killing contests (WKCs) in Illinois. On March 12, the Illinois House Agriculture
File a witness slip to support HB2900 Every year, cruel and ecologically destructive wildlife killing contests are held throughout Illinois targeting coyotes, foxes, raccoons and
