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Ban On Coyote Hunting Contests Heads To Oregon House

National Park Service.

A measure that would ban coyote-hunting contests is advancing in Salem after the Oregon Senate approved it Wednesday.

Coyotes are a pain in the neck for ranchers, who lose young cattle and sheep to the wily predator. Some eastern Oregon competitions have awarded prizes, including cash and hunting rifles, to whoever can kill the most coyotes.

Supporters of the bill to ban such contests pointed out the bill does not prevent ranchers and others from hunting coyotes. It simply bans contests.

Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield said it’s about giving the animal a fair chance. “I don’t think it’s in the interest of sportsmanship to have killing derbies,” he said.

But most Republicans, including Senate GOP leader Herman Baertschiger of Grants Pass, called the bill another attempt by city dwellers to regulate life in the country. “It is nothing more than a feel-good bill for my urban colleagues,” he said.

Senate Bill 723 advanced 17-12, on a mostly party-line vote. Two Democrats voted no, and one Republican voted yes. The bill now heads to the Oregon House.

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”
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