Help End Wildlife Killing Contests on Public Lands

Every year in the United States, thousands of wild animals are violently slaughtered for “fun” during wildlife killing contests.

Like dogfighting, these gruesome events appeal to a fringe segment of society and are rarely witnessed by the general public. Unlike dogfighting, however, wildlife killing contests remain legal in 40 U.S. states.

The animals targeted in these contests include a wide range of native species—coyotes, foxes, prairie dogs, squirrels, rabbits, wolves, mountain lions, and even birds like crows. Participants are often encouraged to kill as many animals as possible, with prizes awarded for categories like “most killed,” “largest kill,” or “smallest kill.”

These animals, many of whom have no legal protections, are typically lured with bait, shot en masse, and discarded like trash once the contest ends.

Species Unite fought for years to end this blood sport in our home state of New York, and in 2023, New York became the 10th state to outlaw wildlife killing contests. While that was a major victory for wildlife, these cruel contests continue to take place across most of the country.

Now we have the opportunity to build on that progress. A federal bill—the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act—is being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives. Led by Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee, this legislation would prohibit the organization, promotion, and participation in wildlife killing contests on more than 500 million acres of public lands across the United States.

The bill has not yet been reintroduced in the 119th Congress, but with enough public support, we can help build the momentum it needs to return and move forward.

Please join us in amplifying our success in New York by urging your representatives to cosponsor the Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests Act when it is reintroduced. Together, we can put an end to this cruelty on a national scale.