ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State has taken a significant step in protecting its wildlife by enacting a new legislation that puts an end to certain hunting contests. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation on Friday, prohibiting competitive events where participants vie to kill the most, the heaviest, and the smallest animals for cash and prizes. The law covers contests involving species such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, squirrels, raccoons, crows, and more.
The all-encompassing legislation makes it illegal to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote, or participate in any contest, competition, tournament, or derby aimed at hunting or taking wildlife for prizes, entertainment, or inducement. Animals killed during such activities will now become the property of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
It’s worth noting that the new law doesn’t apply to contests involving white-tailed deer, turkeys, bears, or fishing. The state already has detailed regulations in place to carefully govern fishing competitions.
Introduced by Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Sen. Tim Kennedy, the legislation garnered bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate earlier this year. New York now joins the ranks of ten other states that have already ended similar wildlife killing contests. Oregon became the ninth state to pass such legislation in September.
The bill received strong support from animal protection and conservation groups, as well as thousands of New Yorkers. It also found backing from hunters, farmers, veterinarians, and wildlife rehabilitators, all of whom recognized the value of safeguarding wildlife from these contests, as stated by the governor’s office.
The decision to end these controversial contests is rooted in scientific evidence. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has determined that indiscriminate killing of coyotes, for example, does not lead to a reduction in their numbers or prevent conflicts with livestock. In fact, it can actually increase coyote populations and escalate conflicts with livestock. The best available science supports this conclusion.
Animal protection organizations, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), have been instrumental in drawing attention to wildlife killing contests. The HSUS conducted undercover investigations at contests held in ten states, including two in New York. Their findings revealed participants carting in piles of dead foxes and coyotes, which were weighed and counted for prizes. Contestants were observed making callous remarks about the thrill of the kill and carelessly disposing of dead animals in dumpsters.
In January and February of this year alone, more than 20 wildlife killing contests took place across New York State, underscoring the urgency of taking action to address this issue. Governor Hochul’s signing of the legislation represents a significant victory for animal advocates and environmentalists.
Brian Shapiro, the New York state director for the Humane Society of the United States, expressed gratitude for the governor’s actions, commending the leadership of Assemblymember Glick and Senator Kennedy. Shapiro believes that these brutal competitions must be put to an end across the country, and he hopes that other states will follow in New York’s footsteps.
Hunters and wildlife management professionals throughout the United States have also voiced concerns about the ethical implications of these killing contests. They argue that such competitions harm the reputation of hunters and pose a threat to the future of hunting as a whole.
Assemblymember Glick, who is also the chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, commented on the legislation, stating that while wildlife killing contests may have been seen as part of tradition, it is crucial to reassess customs that undermine the health of ecosystems. The measure explicitly allows farmers, ranchers, and others to address nuisance animals that threaten livestock or companion animals in accordance with Department of Environmental Conservation regulations.
New York has taken a strong stand against wildlife killing contests, becoming the tenth state to eliminate these contests and safeguard its rich biodiversity. By doing so, the state has not only protected its wildlife but also sent a powerful message about the importance of ethical and responsible hunting practices.
