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FACT BRIEF

Are coyote killing contests held in Nevada?

By Austin Tannenbaum
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YES

“At least 15 annual competitions targeting coyotes, foxes, bobcats, badgers, raccoons, beavers and ringtails take place in Nevada,” according to Rebecca Goff, Nevada state director for the Humane Society.

Contestants are awarded prizes and money for killing the most animals, the largest, the smallest, the greatest number of females, and other categories.

A February poll found that 66% of Nevadans oppose wildlife killing contests while 19% support them, with the rest unsure.

Back in 2021, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commission voted 5-4 to reject a regulation that would have banned wildlife killing contests. The commissioner stated, “What are we regulating? They’re really not doing anything illegal.”

Earlier this year, the Nevada Legislature considered a bill to ban the contests, but it failed to advance.

Eight states — Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts and Vermont — currently ban wildlife killing contests.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Humane Society Just released: Undercover investigations at horrific Nevada wildlife killing contests reveal slaughter of roughly 120 coyotes for cash
Reno Gazette Journal Hunters: Legislation that would end coyote-hunting contests ‘attacks the culture of Nevada’
Public Policy Polling Do you support or oppose wildlife killing contests?
AP News Nevada board rejects proposal to ban coyote killing contests
LegiScan Nevada Assembly Bill 102
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The Nevada Independent
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.