The Force of the Horse

WY Welfare Ranchers Shift Blood-Lust from Wild Horses to Coyotes

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By Mike Koshmrl Jackson Hole Daily

“These contests and their impacts on public resources will be significant,”

Jackson Hole animal advocates are pushing back against coyote-killing derbies they allege are illegally taking place on federal land in Wyoming.

coyote-derbyWyoming Untrapped Program Director Kristin Combs argued to the Bureau of Land Management office that coyote derbies that operate around the state lack necessary permits.

One contest, the $50-per-person Wyoming Coyote Classic, is set for outside of Rock Springs on Saturday.

In a letter to BLM’s Rock Springs office Combs contended that because the Coyote Classic and similar events are a commercial and competitive use of the land, they need a special recreation permit to be legal. By not requiring one, she said, the BLM is violating the code of federal regulations.

“These contests and their impacts on public resources will be significant,” Combs wrote, “and should be fully reviewed by the agency and the public prior to granting a permit.”

Wyoming Untrapped gathered environmental and animal rights groups to sign, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity and Western Watersheds Project.

Kristen Lenhardt, BLM’s deputy state director for communications, stood behind unpermitted killing derbies. Contestants, she said, are no different than regular hunters.

“There is a misperception out there right now regarding these coyote hunts,” Lenhardt said. “The reason why this event does not need a special event permit is because it isn’t beginning and ending on public land and there is no designated route that ensures the public will be using BLM lands. And there’s no significant threat that shows that there will be significant damage to natural resources.”

A company that’s making money leading people on tours of BLM lands, Lenhardt said, would be an example of a commercial activity that would require a special recreation permit.

Although no such events occur in Teton County, coyote-killing derbies take place regularly in Wyoming. At least two typically happen in Sublette County each winter, there’s an annual Cheyenne event, and on Feb. 4 the “Best of the Best” coyote hunting tournament comes to Rock Springs.

The land where the 30 to 50 Wyoming Coyote Classic contestants will hunt Saturday is a checkerboard-style of private and BLM property, said Eric Adams, a longtime participant.

“So there’s as much hunting on private property as public,” he said.

The Wyoming Coyote Classic, a 15-year-running Rock Springs tradition, Adams said, is “just a bunch of guys hunting.” Coyote derbies, he said, are unfairly vilified. He pointed out that all animals killed are skinned and their furs put to use.

“Whether I’m hunting on the weekend or in a contest, whatever animal I’m going to kill, it is as ethically and humanely as possible,” Adams said. “Coyotes are so smart, and I treat them with just as much respect as I do deer or elk…(CONTINUED)

http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/local/mass-coyote-kills-take-heat/article_a48f45fd-c857-592b-8f92-2ee685aa2a8f.html

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27 replies »

  1. This is the methlity of these back woods people. No one in fashion wants furs, fur collars or fur anymore. So what the deal? Whose is buying the pelts? And what about the pups? Do they kill them too? Sick people and they wonder why our ecosystems are out of each. This is not the 1840s where people needed the skins to wear this is 2017 and just who wants to wear these poor animals. Let’s make this fair and take away your weapons Mr or Mrs Coyote Killer and really see what happens. And no hirses or ATVs to ride up in the back country. Just pitiful!! It seems Wyoming vacations are out for me even if it was offered for free!! Another redneck cruelty state!! Not me, never no way no matter how beautiful they think their state is. But I am going to call the Governors office. I hope other people call or email too. The people believe because they live out there the land and the animals are theirs to do what they want. NOT!!! Just like the Wild Horses and poor little Burros!!,

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  2. Humane & ethical? Thats this guys description of that picture? Looks just like the pictures from 100 years ago done by people who knew no better! Putting the fur to “good use” makes me think these guys get their money back one way or another! Or does it go to a “good” cause? Obviously there is NO tiny thought given to the fact that you are removing an entire species from that area – wildlife that had a purpose.

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  3. The thought of what these things must be like is really sickening to imagine – that this kind of thing either is approved of by American society, or that they turn a blind eye because they are too involved with whatever the Kardashians are doing or their own lives. If there are so many ‘good’ people in the world, why is the world in such a mess, and why does it never change? Even this year’s election results show our true colors – only concerned about ourselves and our own well-being.

    These ugly ‘contests’ or exercises in total lack of restraint or decency where people cannot see, and willful ignorance, will end – and the sooner the better. Some of us will make it our life’s mission to end them.

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  4. They’ll probably get on the horn to their favorite crooked Congressperson (nobody can say I’m not PC), and get them to throw together another quick law to cover their a$$. Those who respect the sanctity of all life will keep hammering. 🙂

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  5. Aren’t wildlife considered to be natural resources in Wyoming? Killing randomly throughout an ecosystem does cause significant damage, especially if the targets are predators, as has been shown over and over and over by established, credible, scientific research. Even a grade schooler can understand if you kill off the coyotes, whatever they were eating will reproduce more successfully. The coyotes themselves will reproduce more quickly as well (compensatory reproduction), so the point seems to be killing for fun, with the furs being sold to pay for bullets and beer. On public lands, killing wildlife that belongs to everyone.

    “And there’s no significant threat that shows that there will be significant damage to natural resources.”

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  6. The Hidden War on Wildlife:
    KILLING CONTESTS IN NORTH AMERICA
    http://www.projectcoyote.org/wkc/

    Each year thousands of coyotes, foxes, bobcats, wolves and other wild animals are killed in senseless “competitions” throughout North America. Those who kill the most and the largest animals win prizes including cash, guns, and belt buckles. These “tournaments,” or “derbies,” are often held on public lands. Children as young as ten are encouraged to participate, and social media pages show them posing with assault rifles beside the bodies of the animals they killed. These contests send a chilling message that killing is fun, wild animals are disposable, and life is cheap

    When most people first hear about wildlife killing contests, they are outraged to learn that these barbaric, unnecessary slaughters exist. This is killing for fun. The contests serve no ecological purpose; they are at odds with all principles of conservation biology and ecosystem-based management. Far from offering any beneficial management purpose, wildlife killing contests simply promote gratuitous violence, the destruction of countless magnificent and ecologically vital apex predators.

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  7. I thought that one of the Rock Springs BLM coyote hunts was going to be last Saturday? Any news on this?

    So obviously this wildlife hunter has NO respect for ANY animal that gets in the scope of his gun? “… whatever animal I’m going to kill, it is as ethically and humanely as possible,” Adams said. “Coyotes are so smart, and I treat them with just as much respect as I do deer or elk…”

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  8. MODOC

    Coyote killing contest raises more hackles, leads to possible legislation
    By Peter Fimrite on February 10, 2014
    http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2014/02/10/coyote-killing-contest-raises-more-hackles-leads-to-possible-legislation/

    Hackles were up once again this weekend at the annual coyote drive in Modoc County, which has provoked outrage among wildlife advocates and prompted a statewide campaign to halt the hunt.

    Some 40 coyotes were gunned down Saturday and Sunday at Coyote Drive 2014, an event in which hunters flare out in the woodlands around the rural town of Adin, in the far northeastern corner of California, and kill as many of the canine predators as they can find.

    More than 6,000 people signed a petition last year to end such “killing contests.” The California Fish and Game Commission agreed last week to take up a possible ban, but the move came too late to stop this year’s contest.
    The eighth annual hunt, which is sponsored by the Pit River Rod and Gun Club and Adin Supply Outfitters, awards belt buckles and other prizes to the hunters who kill the largest and most coyotes. It is, say the sponsors, an attempt “to manage coyote populations in the Big Valley area.”

    “Coyote numbers are high here and predator hunting is legal,” said Buck Parks, of the Pit River Rod and Gun Club, adding that the 40 or so coyotes that were killed make up a small percentage of the actual numbers in the area. “We’re just trying to re-expose people to the outdoors. Coyotes are a pretty smart adaptable predator. I don’t really think we’re putting much of a dent in the population.”

    Camilla Fox, the executive director of Project Coyote, the nonprofit group that is leading the effort to reform the state’s predator control program, said the contest is irresponsible, inhumane and counterproductive in that it actually causes more coyotes to breed.
    “Killing wildlife en masse for fun and prizes is callous, disrespectful and violent,” Fox said. “We need to stop perpetuating this culture of violence by starting with a statewide ban on wildlife killing contests.”
    Heavy rains dampened the number of protesters this year, but the event was not without controversy.

    Roger Hopping, a 73-year-old conservationist from Adin, claimed he was pushed to the ground during a confrontation with event sponsor Steve Gagnon, the proprietor of Adin Supply Outfitters, and suffered a compressed fracture in his back. Gagnon said Monday that he was provoked.
    The case was referred to the Modoc County District Attorney to determine whether charges should be filed, said Ken Richardson, the county undersheriff

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  9. After the Coyote hunt…there has to be a “Squirrel Roundup” the following month

    The coyote hunt
    When does predator control become blood lust?
    By Allan Stellar
    This article was published on 2.02.13

    For the past seven years, the little Modoc County town of Adin, in Big Valley in far northeastern California,

    Surprise Valley Squirrel Round-up
    By Lorissa Soriano
    03/13/13 -The Greater Surprise Valley 23th Annual Squirrel Round-up is set for Saturday March 23, 2013 and will be followed by, a BBQ at the Modoc County Fairgrounds, in Cedarville.

    http://www.myoutdoorbuddy.com/hunting_report.php?Hunting=7064

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    • Well, of course, Louie – once the coyotes are “removed” – then we cant have all those squirrels over-producing can we! And apparently its much more fun for humans to kill them than leaving it up to the coyotes!

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  10. To me, no matter how people try to make it sound acceptable, it’s about a violent part of human nature, that somehow society has condoned that it’s ok to treat animals this way because they are not ‘human’ and are of lesser value. The same activity that would get a person thrown in prison or tried for war crimes if it were done to humans.

    Some people obviously are more violent than others, but there really is no reason to have killing as an entertainment. In the old days, it used be jackrabbit bludgeoning for the whole family, rattlesnake roundups, and predator killing contests. For some, this still exists. ‘For bullets and beer’ is a very apt and vivid description, and quite repulsive.

    Does anyone know if this ‘thing’ ever went through, or is it must another example of macho blustering and for ‘benefit’ of the environmentalists?

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  12. I cannot find the words to describe these ignorant, kill-crazy two-legged animals. They are beyond despicable. Great White Hunters, my ass.

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  15. Reblogged this on uddeer and commented:
    Coyotes are predators “managed” by USDA APHIS which kills over 3 million wildlife yearly. USDA APHIS is coming to Upper Dublin to kill our deer soon.

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  17. So who is collecting the $50 entry fees, and what do they do with the money? Taxable or not? And what about the sales of furs for money, isn’t that a commercial use of public lands? It’s beyond disingenuous to think that the event won’t happen on public lands, despite beginning and ending on private lands. It’s pretty clear a lot of coyote lives will end on public lands, including the wounded who get away and die later.

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  18. This is so cruel,inhumane, heartless. They are nothing but murders. If they keep killing like this the eco system is going to be so screwed up it will take decades to fix if it can ever be fixed. God put these beautiful creatures on this earth for a reason and it was NOT for humans to murder them. STOP THIS DISCUSTING INHUMANE CRUELTY NOW.

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