Last year, New York sportsmen fought Assembly Bill 5746, a bill to ban wildlife contests.   The same bill is back as Senate Bill 4099/Assembly Bill 2917. This is nothing new in New York, with animal extremists coming back year after year seeking this ban as a way to create a toe-hold in the state to expand their reach and influence to implement bigger bans in the future. On Monday, May 22, at 11:00 a.m. in room 123, the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee is scheduled to hear S4099.  Please use our Take Action button to email the members of the committee urging them to OPPOSE S4099.

S4099 is aimed at banning coyote contests but is written to ban any competition where the goal is to take wildlife for a prize or entertainment. The bill does include exemptions for field trials and other canine performance events, as well as contests for deer, turkey or bear.

Coyotes are North America’s most abundant predator species, with healthy populations in every corner of the country. Being highly adaptable, coyotes have come to occupy just about every type of landscape, in both urban and rural settings.

In fact, coyotes are so adaptable that in many areas, controlling their numbers has been a major problem for fish and wildlife managers. Coyote contests are one important mechanism to control the population to reduce the negative consequences of extremely high populations, including the spread of disease, predation of pets, and attacks on humans.

S4099 would eliminate this important tool. Animal extremists won’t tell you why they are really behind legislation like this, but you only have to look at their materials to know that ending hunting in America is chief among their long-term goals, and bills like this are an important piece of the puzzle for them.

Don’t forget to share this message with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen asking them to email the committee urging them to OPPOSE S4099.

Sportsmen throughout the Empire State need to stand up and be counted on this one.

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.