The California Fish and Game Commission is considering banning wildlife hunting contests, including for coyotes. CFG Commission is publishing a notice of its intent to adopt regulations relating to predatory mammal-hunting contests.

Public comment prior to the meeting was overwhelming in support of this decision. Of nearly 13,000 letters to the commission, fewer than 10 people supported not changing these hunting contests. The commission vote was 3-2.

Project Coyote in Larspur, California, stated its support in an April 2 email to the commission.

“Regarding wildlife killing contests, we are requesting that the commission promulgate regulatory language that reflects the intent of Section 2003 of the California code and that ensures against the mass killing of wildlife as part of a contest, tournament or derby,” wrote Camilla H. Fox, founder and executive director of Project Coyote. Fox added: “To make it unlawful to offer any prize or other inducement as a reward for the taking of any mammals and that ensures against the mass killing of wildlife as part of a contest, tournament or derby.”

The proposed language would prohibit prizes or inducements for hunting contests involving mammals.

It will state, almost exactly Fox’s request: “It is unlawful to offer any prize or other inducement as a reward for the taking of any mammals in an individual contest, tournament or derby.”

“At its April 16 meeting, during agenda item 3, the Fish and Game Commission authorized its staff to publish notice of its intent to adopt regulations relating to predatory mammal hunting contests. It will be a few weeks before the notice is published,” wrote Sherrie Fonbuena of the CFG Commission. The proposal should be announced shortly and the public will have 60-day period for comment.

A general store in Modoc County has held a coyote drive contest for the past eight years.