Prohibiting Predator Contests
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approves a final notice. A 4-0 vote prohibiting predator contests in Arizona is the verdict. Their reasoning for the ban was to address “Social Concerns” and “Public Objections.” Kurt Davis, a member of the Commission said,
“To the extent, these contests reflect on the overall hunting community, public outrage with these events has the potential to threaten hunting as a legitimate wildlife management function.”
They continue to explain that it sheds a negative light on hunting as a whole and they are trying to avoid those feelings. The Commission fears that if these contests continue it could equate to the eventual entire loss of hunting privileges and loss of conservation efforts. Read the entire article that the AZ Game and Fish Commission posted here.
The rule goes to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council for its review. If approved it could become effective January 1, 2020. This would not affect the lawful hunting of predators and fur-bearing animals.
Does anyone else feel like a lot of emotion and feeling was placed into the decision of the commission? States form these contests as a way to regulate wildlife. The populations of animals are getting out of control. Contests are an incentive to get more hunters out there to help control them. That is my opinion if anyone else feels differently please help me to see the reasoning of this decision.
As an example of the need for coyote management, here is a video of a child attacked by a coyote last week. You can also read about a separate coyote attack on a mom and a child here.
