It seems to imply it’s mostly related to competitive hunting of coyotes, rabbits and squirrels and that the competition is the problem more than what and how they hunt?
Now, I don’t know much about these specific contests, but conceptually, I fail to see a real problem with competitiveness, assuming whoever is doing the hunting first abides by the other laws, hunting seasons, bag limits, safety, etc.
A cursory search about Oregon suggests that coyote hunting is open season all year, no bag limit.
For squirrels, it depends on the exact kind, but the article is really about unprotected mammals, likely classified as such due to their abundance and in some cases outright nuisance.
Unprotected mammals include coyote, cottontail rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbit, opossum, nutria, California ground squirrel, and Belding’s ground squirrels.
Reading more about this, banning these contests is probably a good thing.
To me it’s not so much about the amount hunted (if the commission cares about that they can issue bagging limits?)
Thing is, they seem to be using night vision and electronic baits which is likely already illegal.
It’s also mentionned that a lot of these aren’t clean kills either, which I take issue with.
While out hunting, it is irresponsible to have them suffer for days when you can take the time to go for a proper killing blow. At least that’s how it is up here.
It seems to imply it’s mostly related to competitive hunting of coyotes, rabbits and squirrels and that the competition is the problem more than what and how they hunt?
Now, I don’t know much about these specific contests, but conceptually, I fail to see a real problem with competitiveness, assuming whoever is doing the hunting first abides by the other laws, hunting seasons, bag limits, safety, etc.
A cursory search about Oregon suggests that coyote hunting is open season all year, no bag limit.
For squirrels, it depends on the exact kind, but the article is really about unprotected mammals, likely classified as such due to their abundance and in some cases outright nuisance.
Unprotected mammals include coyote, cottontail rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbit, opossum, nutria, California ground squirrel, and Belding’s ground squirrels.
idk, either there’s a bag limit or there’s not?
Reading more about this, banning these contests is probably a good thing.
To me it’s not so much about the amount hunted (if the commission cares about that they can issue bagging limits?)
Thing is, they seem to be using night vision and electronic baits which is likely already illegal.
It’s also mentionned that a lot of these aren’t clean kills either, which I take issue with.
While out hunting, it is irresponsible to have them suffer for days when you can take the time to go for a proper killing blow. At least that’s how it is up here.