A coyote walks across fresh snow in Boulder, Colo. Some hunting clubs sponsor contests, often targeted at coyotes, with prizes awarded to hunters who bring in the biggest carcasses. In some states, wildlife officials and lawmakers are working to ban or restrict such events, saying they give hunting a bad name. (Photo by Brennan Linsley/The Associated Press) (This image cannot be republished unless you have an AP subscription.)
Last weekend, 50 hunters gathered in New York’s Mohawk Valley to take aim at the local coyotes. A hunting club offered prizes for the largest male and female carcasses, paying out $400 to the winning contestants.
The event was among the last sanctioned animal hunting contests in the state, following lawmakers’ passage of a ban on such events that will take effect later this year.
“There’s growing awareness of these contests and the damage they’re causing ecologically,” said Renee Seacor, carnivore conservation director with Project Coyote, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting carnivore species. “Public attitudes on wildlife management are shifting.”