Coyote Killing Contests – Upcoming Events for Protest

Press Release
Contact: Jan Raffaele, 774-237-0797

It’s time to end coyote killing contests in Massachusetts

In 2017 Powderhorn Outfitters, a Hyannis gun shop, launched its first “annual” coyote killing contest on the Cape, to award prizes for the heaviest coyote and the largest coyote killed by men, women, and youth. The second annual killing contest just ended on 3/10/19. A similar event is annually held in Granby, MA.

The idea of killing contests for fun and for prizes brings outrage too many people. Remember Cecil the lion?

As more and more people learn about the practice of senseless killing contests across the country they find it more and more disturbing. As concerned citizens of Cape Cod we need to make our voices heard about what is going on in our own backyard.

Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Sarah Peake have been working for months with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (MassWildlife) to get a meeting scheduled here on the Cape regarding the coyotes and particularly the coyote-killing contest that has been sponsored by Powderhorn Outfitters in Hyannis and will be in attendance.

There are two important upcoming events you should plan to attend.

Thursday April 4th, 6-8 pm – Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Iyannough Road, West Barnstable, in Lecture Hall A in the Science Building (Building 6).

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) will hold a public listening session. Staff will make a short presentation which will be followed by a comment and ask-question period.

A map of the campus is available at: https://www.capecod.edu/web/about-us/campus-map.

June 18th, 2019 – A time and suitable location will be later determined.

MA Fisheries and Wildlife Board will hold its annual business meeting on the Cape, followed by a second listening session. Both events are an opportunity for concerned citizens to express their views to MassWildlife on the annual coyote killing contest.

For more information about wildlife killing contests and, specifically, the behavior and biology of coyotes, please go to www.projectcoyote.org.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife solely benefits consumptive users (hunters) despite the fact that our state’s fish and wildlife resources belong to all citizens. Ninety-five percent of Massachusetts residents do not hunt, and non-consumptive users (wildlife watchers) outnumber and outspend consumptive users in our state.

Thank you for caring and for taking action!