Pass the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2022

OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection

ACTION LEVEL: Federal

The first of its kind at the federal level, the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2022 would require the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service to enact regulations banning wildlife killing contests within a year. Eight states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington – have already outlawed these events within their borders.

Each year, thousands of coyotes, foxes, bobcats, prairie dogs, crows, and even wolves are targeted in killing contests where contestants win cash, prizes such as semiautomatic weapons, and bragging rights for killing the most or largest animals from a native species. These contests, largely unmonitored by state and federal wildlife agencies, are still legal throughout the United States and often occur on our public lands.

What You Can Do

Contact your Congressmember and urge them to support the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2022, H.R. 7398. Share this Action Alert on your social media to raise awareness, educate, and encourage others to take action.

Find contact information for your United States Representative here. If mailing via USPS, address the envelope to “The Honorable __” at the indicated address.

Take Action

Dear Representative _______,

I respectfully urge you to support the Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2022 (H.R. 7398), which bans these contests on federal land.

Wildlife killing contests are primitive and barbaric events, resulting in the senseless deaths of tens of thousands of wild animals. Sadly, thousands of these events occur across the United States every year.

• Wildlife killing contests are brutal spectacles that sacrifice innocent animals for the sake of entertainment. Even many hunters have condemned them as unethical.
• There is no concept of “fair chase” during these shocking and senseless competitions.
• A wide variety of tactics are used to attract, manipulate, or confuse wildlife.
• Animals are often baited or lured toward the hunters with electronic calling devices that mimic the distress calls of wounded young.
• Dependent young may be orphaned during contests and left to die from starvation, predation, or exposure.
• Killing contests also conflict with modern principles of wildlife management.
• Studies also have demonstrated that randomly killing native carnivores does not protect livestock or game species, which contest participants often cite as justification for their actions.

In summary, I ask you to support and help to pass the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act of 2022 (H.R. 7398). Thank you for your consideration of this issue.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your address
Your email