Commission stops short of outlawing coyote killing contests
By Terry Murry on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PORTLAND – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has ordered ODFW staff to work with the Department of Justice to develop rules to stop coyote-killing contests in a way that is consistent with existing rules on the books. The commission then denied a petition from 15 organizations requesting new rules be written to address the issue. The vote was 6 to 1.
Under Oregon law, coyotes are classified as predatory animals when they “are or may be destructive to agricultural crops, products and activities.” The law states that the commission shall not prescribe “limitations on the times, places, or amounts for the taking of predatory animals.
When the above conditions are not present coyotes are classified as unprotected mammals. At that point, ODFW can regulate the manner of the take. The state can exercise regulation at this point.
Also at its meeting Friday, the commission adopted a cooperative management agreement and associated rules to advance the government-to-government relationship with the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The partnership will see the state and the tribe working together to develop and implement plans to protect, restore, and enhance fish and wildlife populations and habitat within a five-county area of southwest Oregon. Discussion of a similar agreement with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians was delayed to a future meeting.
The commission meeting was live streamed and a recording is available at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/
