Senate Bill 723, the bill to ban cruel contests that award prizes for killing the most coyotes, recently won approval from a second committee of the Oregon State Senate. Now it needs approval by the full Senate so it can go to the House of Representatives for consideration there. Sadly, the bill has strong opposition from some quarters and needs your help to pass.
Please call and email your state senator. Ask your senator to:
Make sure Senate Bill 723 gets a vote by the full Senate; and
Vote "yes" on Senate Bill 723.
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; then click "Find Who Represents Me."
Additional talking points:
Oregon has a history of drawing the line at unfair and inhumane practices that are out of step with our humane values. Coyote killing contests are completely at odds with ethical, fair-chase hunting.
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, 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.
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 would not change any law regarding hunting or killing coyotes to protect people, pets or farm animals. It would only ban contests that give prizes for killing the most coyotes.
Oregon should follow in New Mexico’s humane footsteps by being the next state in the west to ban coyote-killing contests.