Wildlife killing contests are organized, competitive events where participants compete to kill the largest number or greatest size of designated wild animals within a specific timeframe for prizes. These events differ from traditional regulated hunting by the competitive structure centered on maximizing kills or weight for an award, rather than subsistence or standard harvest limits. Contests are typically run by local organizations, and participants often pay an entry fee to compete for cash, rifles, or other equipment. Since the animals are not taken for meat or fur, the carcasses are often discarded afterward.
Mechanics and Target Species
The format of a wildlife killing contest is designed to incentivize the mass killing of animals across a designated area, often lasting a day or a weekend. Competitive categories frequently award prizes for the highest body count, the heaviest animal, or even the smallest animal killed. Some categories may target the killing of the most females or the youngest animals.
The most frequent targets are native carnivores, which are often classified as unprotected species with few or no bag limits in many jurisdictions. Coyotes are the species most commonly targeted, but contests also focus on foxes, bobcats, raccoons, and prairie dogs. Participants often use electronic calling devices that mimic the sounds of distress or injured prey to lure animals into close range. This method exploits the animals’ natural instinct to investigate or assist and is central to the contests’ mechanics.
Historical Roots of Contests
The concept of competitive wildlife killing is an extension of historical American practices rooted in predator control. Early practices, often tied to agricultural protection, viewed certain carnivores as “vermin” or “pests” that needed to be eliminated to protect livestock and game species. This perspective fueled government-sponsored bounty systems and widespread poisoning campaigns throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The transition from localized, government-backed culling efforts to formalized, competitive events began with the goal of predator eradication. The first documented U.S. contest is believed to have been held by ranchers in Chandler, Arizona, in 1957, marking the transition from simple pest removal to an organized, competitive sport with incentives. These modern contests essentially perpetuate an antiquated paradigm of wildlife management.
Ecological Consequences
The ecological impact of indiscriminate mass killing extends beyond simple population reduction. For apex predators like coyotes, removing individuals often triggers compensatory reproduction in the remaining population. This mechanism involves younger females breeding earlier and producing larger litters, which can quickly negate the effects of the initial population reduction.
The disruption of social structures is another effect of removing adult pack members, such as alpha males or breeding females. When established packs are broken up, the remaining animals often lose learned behaviors that prevent conflict. This leads to an influx of younger, less experienced coyotes who are more likely to prey on livestock, potentially exacerbating human-wildlife conflicts.
The sudden removal of mid-level predators can also have cascading effects that alter the entire food web, a phenomenon known as a trophic cascade. A reduction in the coyote population, for example, may lead to an increase in smaller predators, such as raccoons or skunks. These smaller predators can then depress the populations of game birds or other small prey species. The loss of adult animals also results in the orphaning of dependent young, which are then left to die from starvation, exposure, or predation.
Current Regulatory Status
The regulatory landscape concerning wildlife killing contests is a patchwork of state-level actions. As of late 2024, at least ten states have enacted bans on these contests. The nature of these bans varies, with some states issuing outright prohibitions on contests for certain carnivore species like coyotes and foxes.
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Washington
Other states have focused on limiting the financial incentives or the scale of the killing to reduce the competitive element. For example, Washington state has prohibited contests with unlimited bag limits and capped the value of prizes that can be offered. Legislative efforts continue across the country, with states such as Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia considering bills to introduce similar prohibitions. There has also been movement at the federal level, with legislation introduced to prohibit organizing or participating in these contests on hundreds of millions of acres of U.S. public lands.