Help end wildlife killing contests in Massachusetts

Dear Friend,

Wildlife killing contests are occurring across the country – including here in Massachusetts. In these cruel and unsporting events, participants compete for cash and prizes for killing the heaviest, largest, or most coyotes, foxes, bobcats, squirrels, even groundhogs and other animals. Once the prizes are awarded and the celebratory dinner is over, contest participants often toss away the bodies of the animals as if they are trash.

You can take steps to end these gruesome spectacles by advocating for a municipal bylaw to ban wildlife killing contests in your city or town. HSUS' toolkit, "Wildlife Killing Contests: A guide to ending the blood sport in your community," provides detailed steps, background, expert statements, talking points, and sample letters to media and public officials to help get you started.

The session will include a short presentation from MassWildlife staff, followed by an opportunity for attendees to comment and ask questions. 

These cruel and wasteful contests are an embarrassment to our Commonwealth and have nothing to do with responsible wildlife management or fair chase hunting. Read more in HSUS' formal comments in opposition to Massachusetts' wildlife killing contests and this HSUS blog post about cruel contest occurring throughout the United States.