The Controversy of Coyotes

The Controversy of Coyotes

By Troy Hoepker

Coyote hunting contests have risen in popularity in recent years and while they have increased the interest in hunting, they have also drawn a shining light of focus from anti-hunting groups and animal rights activists as well. The controversial type of hunt that is involved with these contests have led to battles in court as well as state legislatures around the country. Animal rights groups call it cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals. Pro-hunting groups defend that it is no different than any form of hunting and helps keep coyote numbers in check for certain areas where contests are held. Are coyotes seen as a vile predator that needs vanquished on sight and at every opportunity or as an animal that needs its population managed and regulated like any other mammal?

As a dedicated coyote hunter for many years, I am likely a bit “bias” on the subject, however as with any political election, or controversial topic I always try and be as open-minded as possible and make an informative decision based on the facts. I have a bit of a “love/hate” relationship with the coyote. As a farm kid, I grew up with the mindset of the coyote being the enemy, the dark wolf that comes in the night to attack our cattle, sheep, chickens and pets. As years wore on, I realized that I enjoyed a stable population of coyotes to hunt and like any animal they have their place on the food chain. Coyotes have long been viewed as a varmint and as such have not been offered the protection of hunting seasons or take limits by many states. Year-round hunting of the coyote, like we have here in Iowa, provides farmers and ranchers the flexibility to kill a coyote they may see as troublesome to their herd or young calves or lambs. Hunters can still hone their hunting skills in the spring and summer months by hunting coyotes and since they are classified as a varmint, not much is made of it.

Personally, I hunt coyotes when their pelt is sellable. That’s not to say I haven’t taken a coyote “out of season” however and that’s not to say that I haven’t sat over a freshly mowed hayfield trying to call in a coyote in the summer before. I have. But for the most part I like to give the coyote a chance to raise it’s young and go after coyotes for the value of what the animal is worth once it is dead. Iowa coyote pelts are not sellable in warm weather months. I’ve known many dedicated coyote hunters and most share my beliefs but have also dabbled in off-season coyote hunting for one reason or another. I don’t begrudge anyone from hunting coyotes when their fur is unprimed nor do I hold it against anyone for taking a mother coyote with dependent pups. After all, that is anyone’s right in Iowa and in some cases is very necessary.

I’ve been called on several times to try and kill a spring coyote with calf blood on its lips. The argument has been made that once you kill a domestic killing coyote then the killing will stop. The argument has also been made that if you kill a food providing parent coyote then the pups will look for easier prey and you can make the problem worse on a calf herd. While scientific numbers neither support one side of the argument over the other, I can see both cases. In my opinion however, if a rancher has animals being attacked there is no other option than to try and eradicate every coyote seen around that pasture. It’s simple defense of animal and property.

That is why Iowa and many other states allow year-round coyote hunting, because it is needed. Stress to expectant mother cows and those that have just given birth trying to protect their young from multiple coyotes is harmful to the cowherd as a whole as well as the cow defending her calf. If you’ve ever witnessed it, you know what I’m talking about. Coyotes rarely “thrill kill” sheep herds, however they can inflict horrible wounds on multiple ewes and lambs as they unsuccessfully attack the herd before finally getting a lone sheep down for a meal. Besides just the loss of one animal at a time, injuries and stress to animals play a very real role in loss for ranchers. Some animal rights activists care more for the predator being shot than about ranchers or even vulnerable calves or lambs believe it or not. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at their fierce protection of wolves in western states even in the face of what wolves have done to elk herds there.

The days of cyanide poisoning coyotes are over and probably rightly so, however certain government agencies in this country still aerial gun hunt coyotes on a regular basis and government trappers and hunters still kill coyotes in large numbers. These practices are certainly opposed by anti-hunting groups as well but the easier target of their efforts is you and I and fellow everyday hunters. Shutting down coyote calling contests have become a priority of theirs and they are having success. In 2016 The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the organizers of a coyote calling contest in WaKeeney, Kansas. The suit was settled with the organizers of the event agreeing to never hold the event again and paying the plaintiff’s legal fees.

This same outcome has happened over and over to contest organizers around the country. Anti-hunting groups who are well funded with big money from wildlife activists sue and organizers lack the money to fight a long, drug-out court battle to argue their case. Few, if any, cases ever make it to a verdict. The fear of losing can bankrupt organizers personally and affect their lives for years to come. It’s not the hunt itself that is illegal as long as local game laws are observed. Contests encourage obeying all hunting laws for fairness of their competition. In that regard animal rights groups have no legs to stand on legally.

Instead they attack on the basis that these contests violate state gaming laws where they are held. Most contests award the winners a prize of monetary value. Contestants pay an entry fee to compete and that entry fee along with sponsorship dollars are paid out to the winners. In some cases the amount can get quite high. Organizers simply aren’t willing to take their chance in court for the risk of losing and settle out of court under the agreement that they will shut down the contest. And that is all that the anti’s are really after.

I’ve competed in several coyote calling contests over the years. Anti’s would have you believe that these hunts are some kind of bloodthirsty killing fest where hunters blaze away at everything that moves. Often using language like “heartless,” “slaughtering” and “gruesome,” liberal media outlets gobble up every chance to denounce hunting groups to promote their agenda.

The truth is that if a coyote hunting competition ever endorsed the taking of game illegally, the majority of those taking part in the hunt wouldn’t support them. Anti’s would also lead you to believe that the coyotes killed during the contest, which can often times number quite high, are discarded wastefully. A common rule of many contests is that the coyotes killed and turned in during the contest are then property of the contest organizers. I don’t know about you but if you had dozens and dozens of coyotes valued at between $30 to $100 apiece, how often do you think the fur isn’t harvested? I’m certainly not saying that it hasn’t happened and contests in the southern part of the country where pelts have little to no value would have their troubles making “use” of the animal but for western states the argument flies in the face of high coyote fur prices and doesn’t hold water.

Now let’s address the anti’s argument of the “mass killing” aspect of these contests. As an avid coyote hunter I always looked at it this way; when contest day arrived, I figured I would be out coyote hunting anyway so I might as well be in the contest. Anti-hunting groups would have you believe that if these contests weren’t organized then no one would go hunting that day if the contest didn’t happen. The truth is quite the opposite. The hunters competing in these competitions are dedicated hunters and likely to be out hunting regardless. No doubt the pile of coyotes killed at some of these events is impressive but attending contests I’ve seen well over half the field of hundreds of hunters get completely skunked for the day trying to accomplish killing a single coyote.

Let’s face it, calling and killing coyotes is not the easiest thing in the world to do. While these contests are taking place in the winter endless amounts of hound hunters and truck hunting groups with use of c.b radios are stacking up coyotes all over the country, yet no one is going after them to shut them down. Mostly because they don’t have an avenue to do so such as the threat of violating state gambling laws. My point is, coyote hunting is extremely popular and vast amounts of coyotes are going to die every winter from hunters and trappers regardless of whether contests take place or not.

If someone was bold enough to take the risk they may just win in court against the gambling argument. The Animal Legal Defense Fund and groups like them hope that by taking a lawsuit to the front door of common people that can’t afford the legal battle that they will effectively end coyote calling contests and take one little bite out of hunter’s rights in doing so. Winning a coyote calling contest does not happen because of luck I assure you. It is not like going to the casino and pulling the arm on a slot machine or hoping for an Ace and a face card at the Blackjack table. It takes the talent of good shooting, good calling, knowing the terrain, scouting and many other things to be successful on contest day. It is a competition of which skill is involved not the luck of chance. Just as would be the case of being awarded a prize for running the fastest time in a race, lifting the most weight in weightlifting or earning money in any sporting event.

Essentially the same thing, fishing tournaments take place every weekend across this country. These arguments could be made if given the chance in a court of law. Someday, someone will stand up to them and take it to court I’m sure. There’s a reason some of the same teams travel all around the country winning and placing high in multiple competitions that involve thousands of teams.

California banned coyote calling contests in 2014 and Vermont followed suit in 2018. New Mexico joined them in April of this year and several other states are discussing doing the same. Whether you agree or disagree with coyote hunting contests, the banning of anything hunting related further nibbles away at our rights as hunters and outdoorsmen. Passing these laws through state legislatures take away one more tiny slice furthering their agenda in hopes of someday eradicating hunting all together for our children and future generations.

A century and more ago farmers and hunters would gather for “circle hunts.” Armed with shotguns, people would encircle blocks of cover and all converge toward the middle of it shooting coyotes and other small game as they tried to escape. These circle hunts have been replaced today by more modern methods but the intent is still the same; to keep coyote numbers in check so prey animals that humans eat thrive, have fur to sell, develop camaraderie, and pass down hunting traditions to the next generation.

Coyotes are extremely cagey animals. Perhaps no animal in the history of this country beside the wolf has been so targeted, yet the coyote’s resilience remains strong and in good number yet to this day. As long as our hunting traditions of the coyote remain legal, retain fair chase ethics and hold a certain respect for the animal we should be allowed our right to hunt them with whatever style of hunting we prefer.