By Brian R. Hackett and Angi Metler 

Many in the Garden State were appalled by recent news of the “First Annual Family Squirrel Classic” in Hammonton. Event organizers have offered trophies and prizes for killing the most squirrels and a “surprise gift” for every “Apprentice Hunter” who attends. Sadly, it is yet one of many examples of the extreme hunting and trapping practices condoned by New Jersey’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. Thankfully, local and Camden County officials who heard this opposition condemned the killing contests as unnecessary, cruel, and extreme.  

New Jersey residents don’t look kindly on encouraging children to kill wildlife—and at this time of year, even pregnant female squirrels—just for fun and games. It’s a pretty bad reflection on our state’s hunters, too. We fully support efforts to introduce legislation in our state to ban these outrageous wildlife killing contests. Several other states have either moved to prohibit these contests, or have legislation pending to do so, and it is time for New Jersey to follow suit. 

This wasn’t the first such killing contest in the state. At last year’s “New Jersey Predator Tournament” in Bordentown, prizes were offered for killing the heaviest coyotes, foxes, and raccoons, and spectators could even wager on the killing contest participants themselves. And around the same time, investigators with the Humane Society of the United States attended the weighing in and judging portions of the Parlin Buck Club’s 24-hour Predator Killing Contest in Barnegat, as well as the Bark at the Moon Coyote Club’s New York State Predator Hunt in Macedon, New York. At these locations, investigators witnessed participants vying for cash and prizes for killing the most or the heaviest foxes and coyotes, slinging their dead bodies into piles, and gloating and joking about the methods used to lure and kill them. Some of the foxes were so tiny that one struggles to find a rationale for the celebratory mood. If you possess a strong stomach, you can view the footage at humanesociety.org/killingcontests.  

It is deplorable and irresponsible for the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife to condone these contests. The New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, which is sponsoring the shocking squirrel killing contest event, nominates six of the 11 members of the Fish and Game Council, which in turn helps nominate the director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The reality is that this same group of hunting clubs has tremendous influence over the Division. Clearly, it is time for reform. The slant of this state agency toward that group disregards the truth and science by condoning extreme, gratuitous practices. 

Studies demonstrate that the random killing of vital carnivores like coyotes will not mitigate conflicts with livestock or pets, and won’t increase numbers of game species like deer or turkeys, either. In a 2016 statement, the Pennsylvania Game Commission wrote, “After decades of using predator control (such as paying bounties) with no effect, and the emergence of wildlife management as a science, the agency finally accepted the reality that predator control does not work…,” adding that carnivores don’t compete with hunters for game species.  

Further, it is a disservice to our state’s people and environment that the Division of Fish and Wildlife does not acknowledge research findings that indiscriminate killing creates instability and chaos in coyote family structures, allowing more in their ranks to reproduce. Killing contests just won’t decrease coyote numbers. Since mass killings of coyotes began in 1850, they have tripled their range in the United States. Here on the East Coast, coyotes have stepped into the top predator role following the eradication of wolves and cougars by humans. And they’re good at their job, keeping rodent populations in check—curtailing hantavirus, a rodent-borne illness that kills humans—increasing biodiversity, removing sick animals from the gene pool, and protecting crops. 

It’s time for our legislators to consider a bill to close the door on these grisly, unsporting and embarrassing wildlife killing contests. We will fully support them in this effort to reign in the extreme, unsportsmanlike and counterproductive practices which are overwhelmingly opposed by the residents of our state. 

Brian R. Hackett 

New Jersey State Director  

The Humane Society of the United States 

Angi Metler 

Executive Director 

The Animal Protection League of New Jersey