In response to recent coyote killing contests like the one shown above near Burns, we joined other groups in supporting Senate Bill 723, which would ban these cruel contests in Oregon. After lots of advocacy and careful negotiation, the bill passed out of a committee in the state Senate but is now stalled on its way to a vote of the full Senate.
Please help us bring this bill to a vote by calling (best) or emailing your state senator and asking your senator to:
Support Senate Bill 723.
Encourage Senate leaders (Peter Courtney and Ginny Burdick) to bring the bill to the full Senate for a vote.
For more information about the bill, go here. To find out who your state senator is, and to get your senator's contact information, go here and type your address into the field in the top right part of the page and clicking "Find Who Represents Me."
Additional talking points:
Coyote killing contests cross a line into a complete disregard for the public’s wildlife rather than of fair chase sportsmanship, good stewardship, and respect for the public trust.
Oregon has a history of drawing the line at unfair and inhumane practices that are out of step with our humane values, such as with coyote killing contests. Coyote killing contests are completely at odds with ethical, fair-chase hunting.
Studies show that the indiscriminate killing of native carnivores like coyotes will not protect livestock, and will not increase game species. It can even lead to an increase in coyote numbers by disrupting stable family packs, causing more reproduction.
SB 723 is not an urban vs. rural issue. This is about the state of Oregon, and how Oregonians value and treat the public’s wildlife. We can value hunting as a tradition and establish restrictions on practices that are cruel and unsporting.
Oregon’s wildlife, all wildlife, including coyotes, belong to all of us including, the majority of Oregonians who are non-hunters.
A recent public opinion poll commissioned by Remington Research Group indicated a strong majority of Oregonians support legislation to ban coyote killing contests across all five congressional districts.