Politics & Government
AG Balderas Issues Risk Advisory Regarding Coyote-Killing Contest
Curry County contest, apparently advertised via social media, would breach a new state law, AG reminds.
Albuquerque, NM— Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a risk advisory last week in response to reports of illegal coyote-killing contests being proposed for the holiday weekend.
The Attorney General warned New Mexicans that coyote-killing contests are prohibited under a new New Mexico law, NMSA 1978, Section 30-18-16, that came into effect July 1, 2019. That law makes it a misdemeanor to organize or sponsor a coyote-killing contest and a petty misdemeanor to participate in one.
New Mexico is one of three states, along with California and Vermont that outlaw events such as these in which armed participants lure coyotes to their deaths using decoy sounds. 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.
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The new law, NMSA 1978 applies to all who take part in such contests, making organizers as well as participants subject to criminal prosecution. When enacted, the 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,” said Attorney General Balderas, "the law does not allow the unlimited killing of animals through the use of contests for cash prizes.
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The issue came to light when the Attorney General’s office was made aware of a coyote-killing contest being advertised on social media. The contest, scheduled for last Saturday, November 30, was apparently posted through a closed Facebook group and was said to be scheduled for Grady, a small town in Curry County, approximately 40 miles southeast of Tucumcari. In previous years the local school district had helped organize the event in order to raise money for school funds. At this time it is not known whether the event took place or not.
The Attorney General’s office reminds all New Mexicans that an event such as this would violate state law and would be fully investigated.
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