Planned coyote-killing contest briefly raises concerns

A planned coyote-killing contest last week captured the attention of New Mexico’s attorney general, but officials said the event took place in Texas, not Curry County as had been reported.

AG Hector Balderas said in a news release issued Friday that his office had been notified a “‘Dogzilla Best of the Best’ coyote-killing contest” had been scheduled Saturday near Grady.

“Any event such as this violates the law and will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken,” Balderas said in the release.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said Curry County law officers investigated the incident and found it was held in Texas, where such contests are allowed.

Lawmakers early this year banned the practice in New Mexico, effective July 1.

“New Mexico is the third state, joining California and Vermont in outlawing these events, in which armed participants lure coyotes to their deaths using decoy sounds,” the AG’s release said.

“Attracted by the calling devices, coyotes are drawn into the open and subsequently shot. These contests, also called derbies, entice shooters by offering cash and other prizes to those who kill the most coyotes, the biggest coyote, and the smallest coyote.”

Balderas said New Mexico law made clear that killing a coyote in the protection of a person or property will continue to be permitted. Non-competition hunting of coyotes also remains legal.

“While I support a rancher’s right to protect their livestock and land,” Balderas said, “the law does not allow the unlimited killing of animals through the use of contests for cash prizes.”

Reeb said officials believe the contest took place near Bootleg, Texas, which is in southwest Deaf Smith County near the Texas-New Mexico border.

New Mexico law states it is a misdemeanor to organize a coyote-killing contest for cash prizes and a petty misdemeanor to participate in one.

The AG’s office did not address whether it’s illegal to organize a Texas contest from New Mexico.

A call to the AG on Tuesday was not immediately returned.