Action Alert: Wildlife Killing Contests

Speak out against wildlife killing contests.

OAA PROGRAM AREA: Wildlife Protection

ACTION LEVEL: State

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. In Ohio, coyotes are targeted because the Ohio Division of Wildlife allows an open season on hunting them.

In fact, coyote hunting – by any means – is legal year-round in Ohio. Geoff Westerfield, spokesperson for ODNR Division of Wildlife, stated, “The Division of Wildlife does not endorse or prohibit group coyote hunts”.

Approximately one coyote is killed every minute of every day. Help stop the killing by promoting peaceful existence. Please join OAA and other critical animal welfare partners in asking your local officials and ODNR Division of Wildlife to ban coyote/wildlife killing contests.

Nine states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, and Washington — have already outlawed these events within their borders.

What You Can Do

Please use the sample letter below to send your comments, requesting the end to wildlife killing contests, to ODNR/Division of Wildlife.

Please share this Action Alert with family, friends, and co-workers in Ohio, and encourage them to contact ODNR Division of Wildlife as well. Letters to ODNR can be addressed to Chief Kendra Wecker at Wildlife Central Office, 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. G, Columbus, OH, 43229, 614/265-6304 or kendra.wecker@dnr.state.oh.us.

Take Action 

Dear Chief Wecker, Division of Wildlife, ODNR:

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. In Ohio, coyotes are targeted because the Ohio Division of Wildlife allows an open season on hunting them.

  • 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.
  • Research has shown that they do not decrease coyote numbers. On the contrary, they often actually increase coyote populations by destabilizing family structures, which tends to increase reproductive rates.
  • 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.

I respectfully request that the ODNR Division of Wildlife bans the practice of wildlife-killing contests in the state of Ohio.

Sincerely,

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