NM animal hunting contest ban in the works?? are you ready...

[Tyson C.]

even though this is not Oklahoma related, at least not yet, you might want to be ready. (snowball effect?)

since this is usually about the time of year these tourny's start up around the great state of Oklahoma...i thought some of you might want to see how others might look at these tournaments.

could this be the small step to reflect on what is going on in the news today (your 2A rights!)...hmmmmm i wonder....what about fishing tournaments?? all those poor fish maybe its the voices in my head= this is how "the man" gets his foot in the door

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NM legislator introduces bill aimed at outlawing animal killing contests

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS January 31, 2013

SANTA FE, New Mexico — A southern New Mexico legislator has introduced a bill that would ban animal killing contests.

Organ Democrat Rep. Nate Cote says a recent coyote-killing contest in central New Mexico caused a public outcry and that such events must stop. He contends the contests are senseless.

His bill would criminalize organizing, causing, sponsoring, arranging or holding an animal killing contest. First-time offenders could face a civil fine of up to $1,000. Subsequent convictions could result in a year in prison and a stiffer fine.

The bill has the support of animal protection advocates.

But the owner of Gunhawk Firearms in Los Lunas, Mark Chavez, tells the Las Cruces Sun-News (http://bit.ly/VYygsW) that the bill is a disguised attack on hunting and gun rights. Chavez held a coyote-killing contest in November that attracted national attention.

 

[justin_h635]

Someone around here introduced a bill that would outlaw rodeos and bull castrations a while back. Many Lib's are pathetic human beings who hold animals to the same or a higher extreme than humans. Fortunately for the morally correct, they are generally seen as wacko's and this type of activity gets press but not votes.

 

[Tyson C.]

Someone around here introduced a bill that would outlaw rodeos and bull castrations a while back. Many Lib's are pathetic human beings who hold animals to the same or a higher extreme than humans. Fortunately for the morally correct, they are generally seen as wacko's and this type of activity gets press but not votes.

^ i remember the rodeo stuff. At my more youthful age i clowned/rode bull and would get to hear the ol' cowboys give their opinions...classic stuff, but i agree with you.

BUT since that time (kinda looking back) i feel that more "sensitive" people are getting a bigger voice, look at the lawsuites, fines, in general of the dumb$hit stuff that some how gets by, i mean look at who got voted in again...how did that happen?...lol.

i don't see it holding water in Oklahoma, the farmers i think would have a pretty good voice in it, along with hunters and the Oklahoma wildlife...

googled and found more info: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/new-mexico-coyote-hunting-contest-sparks-protests
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The terms of the competition are simple: Hunters in New Mexico have two days this weekend to shoot and kill as many coyotes as they can, and the winners get their choice of a free shotgun or a pair of semi-automatic rifles.

But the planned two-day coyote hunting contest has sparked an online petition that has generated tens of thousands of signatures worldwide. The FBI is investigating a death threat to the gun shop owner who is sponsoring the hunt. And one protester has even vowed to dress like a coyote to trick hunters into accidentally killing a human.

But none of these episodes will likely stop the owner of Gunhawk Firearms from holding the scheduled two-day coyote hunting race this weekend, despite the international attention the idea has garnered.

"I'm not going to back down," said Mark Chavez, 50, who has faced two weeks of angry phone calls and protests - and even a threat to his life. "This is my right to hunt and we're not breaking any laws."

Under the rules of the contest, the winning team will get its choice of a Browning Maxus 12-gauge shotgun or two AR-15 semi-automatic rifles from the Los Lunas shop, and a hired taxidermist will salvage any pelts and hides from the dead coyotes for clothing.

"I'll even give the furs to the homeless if they need it," Chavez said.

The competition - which opponents are calling a "coyote killing contest" - has sparked thousands of angry emails, social media postings and a petition signed by activists from as far as Europe who have demanded that the hunt be called off. Last week, a small group of protesters held a rally outside of Gunhawk Firearms and waved signs denouncing the event as cruel and "bloodthirsty."

People are upset over the idea of making a contest out of killing an animal that usually lives peacefully alongside residents, said Susan Weiss, 74, who leads the Coexist with Coyotes group in Corrales, N.M.

"There's a tremendous amount of arrogance in conducting this hunt," Weiss said. "(Chavez) is damaging the reputation of ranchers. He is damaging the reputation of legitimate hunters."

But some New Mexico ranchers have complained about the large population of coyotes, estimated to be around 300,000 in the state. Coyotes are blamed for thousands of death to calves annually, and aren't protected under federal or state laws, ranchers say.

"People are trying to portray these animals as something they're not. Coyotes are predators. They survive in the wild by killing what they can, including livestock and pets," said Rex Wilson, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association. "The people protesting this contest have obviously never seen a calf chewed up by a coyote, or watched a mama sheep try to revive a dead lamb."

The controversy began last month when the Albuquerque-based Calibers Shooters Sports Center announced plans for a similar contest. Calibers canceled the event after pressure from Weiss and other activists and attention from national media outlets.

That's when Chavez, a former rancher and construction worker, took up the cause and decided to hold his own coyote hunt, scheduled to begin on private land on Saturday.

"I felt that Calibers backed down to the pressure," he said. "We can't let that happen, especially since it's our right to hunt."

Chavez said he was inundated with complaints and support just as soon as news broke that Gunhawk would organize the hunt. A letter by one resident warned Chavez that he would be dressing in a "coyote outfit" during the contest and said participants would feel guilty once they discovered they had killed a human.

"I hope also there will be a doctor on hand to check this guy out," Chavez said. "Who says that kind of stuff?"

Someone else called and made a death threat, Chavez said. The call was reported to the FBI.

Participants in a coyote hunting contest won't be allowed to shoot coyotes on federal or state land.

New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell told Chavez in a letter Thursday that a permit or lease is needed for commercial use of the state lands and none has been issued. Anyone participating in the contest on state land will be considered a trespasser, Powell said.

In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has also sent Chavez a letter to say that hunting won't be allowed on its land.

Still, Chavez said 60 teams have signed up for a two-day contest that will be conducted on private land of willing ranchers. He said in addition to the angry phone calls and emails, he's getting support for hunters and ranchers who have been battling aggressive coyotes on their lands.

"When I see the happy faces on the people who come in here, that's all the matters to me," he said.

 

[Relentless]

Just wait til one of those libs precious lap dogs gets shredded by a couple coyotes and they'll be calling for relocation haha

 

[Okie4570]

NM is a blue state.

 

[Tyson C.]

this guy/gal--- "And one protester has even vowed to dress like a coyote to trick hunters into accidentally killing a human."

FBI needs to go to this persons house and put them in a crazy house. it's people like this in society that will do harm to themselves/family/others to prove their cause.....BUT then again not much thought went into his plan..

human yote: i'm gonna dress up like a yote and get shot, make someone feel bad, that will teach them vicious hunters
hunter: look at the size of that yote...i'm winning the big dog pot!
BOOOOMMMM!!!!
hunter: calling rancher...
rancher: shows up
hunter: you know this guy
rancher: nope thanks for shooting a wacko tresspasser.

that nite: coyotes eat healthy

its the circle of life....

 

[dennishoddy]

Never gonna happen.

 

[Have Blue]

Does this mean no more Whacking Day?!

 

[imhntn]

And Utah is paying a $50 bounty on coyotes to help the mule deer and antelope population. I am sure they would love more contests there. I hope this is some liberal Sante Fe yuppy that no one else will listen to. The west is filling up with these rich commifornia jerks though and they are pretty active politically.

 

[870WingBlaster]

this guy/gal--- "And one protester has even vowed to dress like a coyote to trick hunters into accidentally killing a human."

FBI needs to go to this persons house and put them in a crazy house. it's people like this in society that will do harm to themselves/family/others to prove their cause.....BUT then again not much thought went into his plan..

human yote: i'm gonna dress up like a yote and get shot, make someone feel bad, that will teach them vicious hunters
hunter: look at the size of that yote...i'm winning the big dog pot!
BOOOOMMMM!!!!
hunter: calling rancher...
rancher: shows up
hunter: you know this guy
rancher: nope thanks for shooting a wacko tresspasser.

that nite: coyotes eat healthy

its the circle of life....

HaHaHaHa!!!