NM Coyote Hunting Contest Stirs Critics

From necn.com -A contest that involved killing more than a dozen coyotes in Farmington is drawing ire from a state wildlife protection group for its "bloodthirstiness  The Farmington chapter of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife held a so-called coyote-calling contest last weekend, attracting 22 hunters who killed 16 coyotes in two days. It was the seventh year for the event.  Hunters use specialized reeds to mimic the sounds of a dying animal, such as a rabbit, to attract the coyotes to kill them. The Farmington Daily-Times reports ( ) that such events aren't too common in New Mexico, but Sportsmen member Frances Espinoza said hunting predators is a fast-growing hobby across the country. Proponents of the practice say that coyotes damage deer herds and kill livestock and sometimes people's pets, while critics say it amounts to animal cruelty. "While these events aren't illegal, they are astonishingly egregious for their bloodthirstiness," said Phil Carter, wildlife campaign manager for Animal Protection of New Mexico. He said anyone who supports the "repulsive killings contests" is displaying a callous disregard for wildlife.  More News New Mexico

NM Coyote Hunting Contest Stirs Critics