NV Residents ~ Help Us Ban Wildlife Killing Contests & Bear Hounding!

On Saturday, March 20, 2021, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will discuss wildlife killing contests and may provide direction to the Nevada Department of Wildlife to consider regulatory prohibition on contests across the state. This action follows swiftly on the heels of a 7-0 vote from the Clark County Board of County Commissioners in favor of a resolution opposing wildlife killing contests.

Project Coyote, as part of the Nevada Wildlife Alliance, has been working for years to end wildlife killing contests statewide. The Clark County resolution is a clear indication of public sentiment that wildlife belongs to all and should not be killed for entertainment, cash and prizes. The Las Vegas Sun Editorial Board agrees, as expressed in this editorial condemning killing contests.

During this two day meeting, the Board will also consider a ban on hunting bears with hound dogs (bear hounding). This item is on the agenda for Friday, March 19. Please include support for a ban on this equally cruel practice in your comments to the Board (and see Talking Points below).

Speak up for Nevada’s Wildlife & Ask the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners to Support a Ban on Wildlife Killing Contests and Bear Hounding TODAY!

Here are three ways you can support a ban on wildlife killing contests:

1. Attend the meeting 9am PT on Saturday, March 20, 2021, and give oral comment:

• Prepare your oral testimony ahead of time by personalizing the Talking Points below. Keep your comments respectful, polite, and brief (3 minutes or less).
• If you wish to make public comment, please use this link to join the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86771272938?pwd=WFl6T2cvdFBsc1RGbnNESVJsNXlzUT09

GUIDELINES FOR TESTIMONY (from the Commission):

• Keep yourself on mute while the meeting progresses.
• This issue is toward the end of the agenda. During consideration of this issue, the Chair will invite comments from the public. You will indicate that you wish to speak with the Zoom “Raise Hand” function. Please remain on mute until you are called upon.
• When it’s your turn, unmute yourself and speak clearly and politely. You will likely have 3 minutes but Chair Tiffany East may adjust that time depending on how many people are giving testimony.

2. You can also email written testimony to wildlifecommission@ndow.org in lieu of oral comment at the meeting or, ideally, as a complement to your oral testimony. Craft your email in your own words using the Talking Points below. Please be sure to submit your written comments before the meeting on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
3. Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of your local newspaper:

• Encourage fellow Nevadans residents to support a ban on wildlife killing contests and hound hunting of bears.
• Use the Talking Points below, and see tips on LTEs here.

Wildlife Killing Contests ~ Talking Points (please personalize!)

• Hunters in Nevada are voicing support for this ban. Clark County Commissioner James Gibson, when speaking of killing contests, stated, “We have been hunters in our family, and we have friends all around us that do, and not a one of them would ever go out to see how many they can kill or something so they can win a prize. That’s not what I think of when I think of hunting.” Commissioner Gibson is one of many hunters who are backing the resolution and pushing for a statewide ban.
• This regulatory prohibition is not a ban on hunting and does not impact other laws. Individuals will still be allowed to hunt coyotes and other wildlife according to state laws. Following the example set by neighboring states, the language of a potential ban can make clear that it will not prohibit fishing tournaments.
• 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 also non-target species at risk.
• Nevada should join neighboring states (Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico) in enacting commonsense prohibitions. Contest participants from other states are now coming to Nevada and killing wildlife that should be enjoyed and appreciated alive by Nevadans.
• Seven states have prohibited wildlife killing contests. Wildlife killing contests are still legal in 40+ U.S. states, but Americans are increasingly demanding an end to this bloodsport as the public becomes increasingly aware of these barbaric events.
• The majority of Nevadans believe people should coexist in harmony with wildlife. According to a recent study by Dietsch and colleagues(including Project Coyote Science Advisory Board member Jeremy Bruskotter), 85-95% of Nevadans believe coyotes should be managed with non-lethal coexistence practices.
• Killing contests are a bloodsport like dogfighting and cockfighting. Killing coyotes for thrills and prizes—with no respect for their intrinsic or ecological value—is senseless violence and waste.
• 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 between coyotes, humans, and domestic animals. Preventing conflicts by utilizing humane, non-lethal solutions is more effective.
• Wildlife targeted by contests play an important ecological role in healthy ecosystems. For example, coyotes reduce rabbit and rodent populations, scavenge animal carcasses, and increase biodiversity.
• Nevada’s wildlife is managed in trust for all Nevadans. Allowing individuals to wantonly kill wildlife as part of a cruel bloodsport is a grave violation of the state’s duty in this regard.

Here are three ways you can support a ban on hound hunting of bears:

1. Attend the meeting 9am PT on Friday, March 19, 2021, and give oral comment:

• Prepare your oral testimony ahead of time by personalizing the Talking Points below. Keep your comments respectful, polite, and brief (3 minutes or less).
• If you wish to make public comment, please use this link to join the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81548622564?pwd=TmEveC9WMkJYK0p1SDRieXNaYjlJQT09

GUIDELINES FOR TESTIMONY (from the Commission):

• Keep yourself on mute while the meeting progresses.
• This issue is last on the agenda. During consideration of this issue, the Chair will invite comments from the public. You will indicate that you wish to speak with the Zoom “Raise Hand” function. Please remain on mute until you are called upon.
• When it’s your turn, unmute yourself and speak clearly and politely. You will likely have 3 minutes but Chair Tiffany East may adjust that time depending on how many people are giving testimony.

2. You can also email written testimony to wildlifecommission@ndow.org in lieu of oral comment at the meeting or, ideally, as a complement to your oral testimony. Craft your email in your own words using the Talking Points below. Please be sure to submit your written comments before the meeting on Friday, March 19, 2021.
3. Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of your local newspaper:

• Encourage fellow Nevadans residents to support a ban on wildlife killing contests and hound hunting of bears.
• Use the Talking Points below, and see tips on LTEs here.

Hound Hunting of Bears ~ Talking Points (please personalize!)

• Hunting with hounds is not wildlife management. It is a form of hunting that violates fair chase principles and is increasingly opposed by hunters and the public alike.
• Many hunters in Nevada do not support this cruel form of hunting. Hunting with hounds stresses bears, even if they are not killed at the end of the chase.
• Nevada’s black bears do not need lethal management. Even the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Bear Committee agrees.
• Bears are integral to Nevada’s ecosystems.They provide ecosystem services such as insect control and soil nutrient enrichment by eating colonial insects and moth larvae and breaking up logs as they search. They also eat fruit, thereby dispersing seeds (functioning like insect pollinators!).

Thank you for acting TODAY to protect Nevada’s unprotected wildlife!

For Wild Nature,

PLEASE SHARE THIS ALERT WITH OTHER NEVADA RESIDENTS!