I say good. I think hunting needs to mold itself, a bit, to societal pressures to continue. When I think about what I learned as a kid- "eat (use) what you shoot", these contests, unless done with an emphasis on taking the pelt and utilizing that, don't fit the bill. They aren't going anywhere, can still hunt them, no need for a contest.
If coyotes were threatening a population somewhere, they would need intensive management. Otherwise, manage them.
VT banned contests, but has yet to give them a season, which I think is also a reasonable step. We only make ourselves look bad when we vilify a critter like the coyote and draw a line in the sand on it.
Recommended reading- Thinking Like a Mountain by Aldo Leopold: http://www.uky.edu/OtherOrgs/AppalFor/Readings/leopold.pdf
The anti's were able to effectively use the poor social media skills of hunters to make it look like a dog slaughter. The whole thing played out on Facebook. The shop on the Cape where this went down seems to be a long time supporter of hunting and fishing. That said, a majority of the posts by the shop were photos of frozen coyotes in contorted poses laying on pavement. No mention of saving pelts, no photos of the hunters in the field. And then a lot of the hunter comments to the anti's posts on the page were the kind of response you'd expect from twelve year-olds (petty name calling and insults, or saying stuff like "kill them all"). I think we shot ourselves in the foot because at best anybody that doesn't hunt gets no context about the hunt from those photos and comments and at worst they get the confirmation that all the worst falsehoods that anti's use against hunting are true. I didn't attend the hearings, but the summaries I read basically said hunters were saying contests are good and we are performing important management work. But, the anti's were citing well-regarded studies that said hunting isn't an effect management tool to reduce populations of coyotes. We probably would have been better off saying contests celebrate hunting and we can save and sell the pelts making good use of the resource.
Banning contests does hurt the hunting community but doesn't address what may be a reasonable argument to have about the management of coyotes in the state. Anti-hunting zealots aside, if there are concerns from some of the non-hunters that coyotes are being shot and wasted, then F&W should have put a tag fee on them. It shows the resource has a recognized value, and it raises funds for F&W that can go the study and management of predators in general or habitat or whatever. We are trying to reduce deer numbers too and I still have to pay $5 for every doe permit even in areas where they never sell out. Leave the contests out of it.
Hopefully it's a situation the hunting community can learn from because I am sure it will be coming up again soon.
Quote of the year right there, and answers alot of our problems these days.the problem with stupid people is , they aren't aware they're stupid.
There are a number of studies reporting the need for removing coyotes by hunting and trapping. Unfortunately the hunting trapping community on average doesn’t use their computer to educate themselves. Search engines easily pick up studies and from there more studies can be found.The anti's were able to effectively use the poor social media skills of hunters to make it look like a dog slaughter. The whole thing played out on Facebook. The shop on the Cape where this went down seems to be a long time supporter of hunting and fishing. That said, a majority of the posts by the shop were photos of frozen coyotes in contorted poses laying on pavement. No mention of saving pelts, no photos of the hunters in the field. And then a lot of the hunter comments to the anti's posts on the page were the kind of response you'd expect from twelve year-olds (petty name calling and insults, or saying stuff like "kill them all"). I think we shot ourselves in the foot because at best anybody that doesn't hunt gets no context about the hunt from those photos and comments and at worst they get the confirmation that all the worst falsehoods that anti's use against hunting are true. I didn't attend the hearings, but the summaries I read basically said hunters were saying contests are good and we are performing important management work. But, the anti's were citing well-regarded studies that said hunting isn't an effect management tool to reduce populations of coyotes. We probably would have been better off saying contests celebrate hunting and we can save and sell the pelts making good use of the resource.
Banning contests does hurt the hunting community but doesn't address what may be a reasonable argument to have about the management of coyotes in the state. Anti-hunting zealots aside, if there are concerns from some of the non-hunters that coyotes are being shot and wasted, then F&W should have put a tag fee on them. It shows the resource has a recognized value, and it raises funds for F&W that can go the study and management of predators in general or habitat or whatever. We are trying to reduce deer numbers too and I still have to pay $5 for every doe permit even in areas where they never sell out. Leave the contests out of it.
Hopefully it's a situation the hunting community can learn from because I am sure it will be coming up again soon.
I can’t write to specifics on the Mass situation however the consensus among those against coyote contest and hunting coyotes widely claim animals taken are discarded without any type of use.I understand wanton waste and actually agree with most of the regulations against this. I might have missed it but where did it say that most of the coyotes killed end up in the dump? If I did miss it I apologize. Si, what is next? Woodchuck hunting? Crow hunting?
“Hunters” openly opposed are a bigger enemy than the antis
Thanks for the update!Bob Durand, the newest member of the Mass Fish and wildlife board, spoke at our bi-monthly club meeting last night. Bob was the lone opposition to passing the coyote contest and wanton waste bill currently before the board. As a result of his lone opposition the decision was made to open this subject up to public comment. If you have an opinion regarding these topics your time to comment is now as they will be meeting shortly.
Bob made some really good points regarding these subjects, I would suggest you read up on the issue and share your feelings. Realize that the board is being heavily influenced by peta type, well organized anti hunting groups. You can write the board at:
MassWildlife Field Headquarters
1 Rabbit Hill Road
Westborough, MA 01581
I usually keep to myself regarding these subjects write my letters without spreading the word of my opinions but we must keep in mind our way of life is under attack on many many fronts. we all bitched and moaned when Mass voters were hoodwinked into banning leg hold traps due to pictures on the tv of poor little poodles whining in a trap. next will be coyote contest, then deer pools, trout contest, etc, etc.
Speak now or you will be telling your grand kids hunting stories instead of being with them while they make their own.
sorry being so long winded. best of luck to everyone in the coming season
Trackah