Wildlife killing contests in New Jersey must come to an end

This month the Parlin Buck Club will host their 9th annual 24 hour predator hunting tournament in which contestants set out to kill as many foxes and coyotes as they can while vying for a cash prize for the largest animal killed.

This event isn’t the only one of its kind; there are countless wildlife killing contests that occur in New Jersey and nationwide each year. These events actively foster cruelty and contempt for New Jersey’s native wildlife and wild nature, in addition to wanton waste of the bodies of animals killed. The motivations for these events are directly opposed to the values of care, respect for, and coexistence with animals and nature shared by the broad public and more specifically in New Jersey where a 2019 poll showed that 57% of New Jersey residents support a ban on wildlife killing contests occuring in the state. Given the growing awareness of this egregious bloodsport, support for a ban is likely even higher today.

Wildlife killing contests can be classified as one of the most extreme forms of legalized slaughter, as participants are encouraged to maximize the killing of wildlife indiscriminately and across the landscape. Not only are these events ethically indefensible and strongly opposed by the public, they also lack any science based justification.

Contestants in these events typically argue their participation is necessary for one of three reasons: (1) to keep wildlife populations in check; (2) to decrease human-wildlife conflicts; and (3) to increase population of prey species such as turkey and deer. All three of these justifications hold no merit.

First, indiscriminate killing of coyote populations (the main target of many of these events) does not result in decreased populations. Coyotes self-regulate and do not require human mismanagement to control their numbers. Increased human hunting pressure can actually have the opposite effect, causing an increase in reproduction by disrupting the species’ social structure and leading to increased litters and pup survival.

Second, indiscriminate killing does not resolve human-wildlife conflicts, such as predation on domestic animals, because it does not target the individual(s), site(s) or time(s) when the incident occurred. Killing may even lead to increased risk of predation through disruptions of individual behavior and social dynamics.

Lastly, these contests do not result in increased prey populations, which are usually regulated by more limiting factors, such as lack of suitable habitat and climate.

Not only are the justifications for these events misguided but this indiscriminate killing is occuring in the background of a global biodiversity crisis in which wildlife populations are plummeting worldwide.

Wildlife killing contests also fail to recognize the vital ecological role species like coyotes and foxes serve in ecosystems, regulating rodent and small mammal populations which in turn can help reduce ticks spreading Lymes and other diseases, which are on the rise in New Jersey. Coyotes are especially important ecosystem guardians by controlling mesocarnivore populations and thereby increasing songbird diversity.

So if none of the justifications for these events is based on fact or scientific evidence, then why is New Jersey still allowing these events to occur? The fact of the matter is that these events are unjustifiable and no longer belong in the Garden State. Fortunately, New Jersey legislators have the opportunity to join the growing list of states that have outlawed these contests by supporting legislation already introduced (S2409/A502), which would outlaw the events statewide. Eight states have already banned these killing contests and local governments across the country have condemned them.

Now is an opportune time for New Jersey to join the effort to support a modern, science-based, and compassionate approach to coexistence with wildlife and put an end to these unethical and inhumane killing contests.

Renee Seacor is the Carnivore Conservation Advocate for Project Coyote and The Rewilding Institute.