***UPDATE! Hearing scheduled for March 6 in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee at 1:30 p.m., Room 317 of the Capitol Building! ***
New Mexico Sen. Mark Moores’ (R-Albuquerque) Senate Bill 76, which would end coyote hunting contests, has passed the Senate 22-17. SB 76 has been assigned to the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. Passage of this legislation would ignore the serious problem that coyotes present to livestock, wildlife and even pets.
Take Action Today! Members should contact their state representative and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bill 76. Members can find contact information for your state representative by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center.
“For New Mexico’s state senators and representatives to pass a law that will undoubtedly cost their tax-paying constituents both financially and emotionally is irresponsible,” said Bruce Tague, vice presidents of government affairs for Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Representatives need to kill this bad bill before it negatively impacts everyone.”
A 2015 USDA report dealing with nationwide cattle losses found that “coyotes accounted for the highest percentage of cattle deaths due to predators (40.5%) and accounted for the highest percentage of calf deaths due to predators at (53.1%). In New Mexico, the percentage of cattle loss due to coyotes in 2015 was 60.5% and the calf losses due to coyotes in 2015 was 49.5%.” Another 2015 USDA report dealing with nationwide sheep and lamb losses found that “coyotes accounted for the highest percentage of sheep losses (54.3%) and coyotes accounted for the highest percentage of lamb losses at (63.7%).”
The National Agriculture Statistics Service reported that predators throughout New Mexico killed 9,900 head of cattle resulting in $5.3 million in losses. The 2010 report also labeled coyotes as the major livestock predator in New Mexico.
Even with a year around season and no limits, coyote numbers are still growing. Coyote contests are cost effective incentive program that involve no tax dollars, and are just one more tool to use that help address a growing problem. They can also help the local economy because they attract hunters from across the state, and even the country, who spend money at hotels, restaurants, retail stores and with local outfitters.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.