The vote was 8 – 3. On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Colorado banned hunting contests. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission approved the ban. It affects organized hunting contests. However, an effective date has not yet been set but is anticipated to be June 30, 2020. Specifically, the ban affects predator and varmint control hunting contests of the following species:
- Black-tailed prairie dogs
- White-tailed prairie dogs
- Gunnison’s prairie dogs
- Wyoming (Richardson’s) ground squirrels
- All furbearer species.
“I believe we’re still leaving the opportunity for private landowners to manage their properties. At the same time, I believe that for these hunting contests, the staff recommendation [to ban] is a good one.”
– Marvin McDaniel, Commissioner
History & Details
The decision is resultant of a process initiated in the November, 2019, Commission meeting. CPW staff were directed to research and report back to the Commission regarding how other states were/are regulating hunting contests.
Naturally, Colorado already had a partial statutory ban on hunting contests. Colorado Revised Statute C.R.S. 33-6-118 prohibits contests for big game. Additionally, some regulations already existed restricting this type of hunting on small game and fur bearers. The April 30th decision simply applied further restrictions on small game and fur bearer hunting.
“We are committed to sound wildlife management in Colorado and always strive to review wildlife-related issues. We studied the issue over the past several months. Staff brought forward a thorough recommendation for the Commission to consider.”
– Dan Prenzlow, CPW Director
States That Banned Hunting Contests
- Bans in these states do not all affect the same species and do not include regular, legal hunting seasons & methods.
- Partial bans exist in Idaho, Montana, North Carolina, Utah & Washington
- 2014 – California: banned
- 2018 – Vermont: banned
- 2019
- Arizona: banned
- Massachusetts: banned
- New Mexico: banned
- 2020 – Colorado: banned
What Is A Hunting Contest And Why Do They Exist
A hunting contest is simply an organized event where participants compete for bragging rights and/or prizes on the basis of varmint and/or predator control. Lawfully, in keeping with all state regulations, the goal is usually to take – for example – as many coyotes as possible within a given time frame.
Rural communities encourage predator control. Without managing coyote populations, livestock and pets are at risk of depredation. Further, controlling predators helps improve deer fawn, elk calf and turkey poult viability.
Other Crazy Coyote News
In January, 2020, a man in New Hampshire killed a coyote with his bare hands after it attacked his 2y/o son. Similarly, in June 2019, a boy and his mother were attacked in New Jersey. In November, 2019, a man in Manitoba hit a coyote, mistakenly identified it as a german shepherd, put the coyote in his car and took it to a vet. Now, we’ll all be able to say, “I remember when Colorado banned hunting contests.”
