HB 4075 Prohibits Coyote Hunting Contests

This bill prohibits coyote hunting contests protecting a predator that is over-populated.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
This will prohibit youth hunting camps or other such rifle or bow training camps. It will prohibit contests, even if event is held on private property. Contests are revenue generating festivals. Coyotes are very destructive animals that can only be properly controlled with these types of hunts that includes prizes or payoff, because the animal itself isn’t worth much to a hunter.

Limited Government
An overreach of government as a step towards controlling the use of firearms and property. Requires transportation of injured wildlife to licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility or veterinarian. Provides that person that injures or kills wildlife in violation of Act forfeits remains of wildlife to State Department of Fish and Wildlife even though they have no regulations against the killing of coyotes. An abuse of the emergency clause.

Local Control
Coyotes are defined as predatory animals. ORS 610.002. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) estimates that there are 300,000 coyotes in Oregon. Coyotes are not a protected species and the hunting of coyotes is not regulated by ODFW. Coyotes can be killed on an owner’s land without a hunting permit and on public land with a permit. There is currently no limit on the number of coyotes that can be killed by a single individual or during a single hunting contest or event. Repeat of SB 723B(2019) prohibiting individuals or groups from conducting or participating in coyote hunting contests or events for prizes. It makes this violation of the prohibition a Class A violation and requires that the remains of coyotes killed during such contests be turned over to ODFW even though they don’t regulate them.

Lack of controlled hunts will put farms and ranches at a great risk from this predator.