On Tuesday, February 26th the New Mexico House of Representatives shot down House Bill 316, a measure banning “coyote killing contests,” by a 38 to 30 vote. Sponsored by Representative Nathan Cote (D-Las Cruces), it would have prohibited holding or participating in organized competitions with the objective of killing coyotes for prizes or entertainment.
This would have banned many common hunting activities like coyote field trials and contests that encouraged sportsmen to hunt overpopulated coyotes.
“We are very happy that the New Mexico House of Representatives voted down this dangerous anti-hunting bill,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance In-House Counsel. “Calls from sportsmen were the difference in defeating this bill. Sportsmen should thank the Representatives that voted ‘no’.”
The bill’s original language would have banned all “animal killing contests” and was broadly defined to include any organized or sponsored hunting contest in which more than one animal could be killed or where a hunting license is not required. This language would have included all field trials where animals are hunted and any contests where animals were killed.
– See more at: http://www.ussportsmen.org/legislative-action/new-mexico-anti-hunting-bill-defeated/#sthash.2Ag3SH58.dpuf
