BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 1, 2025
A bill that will go to public hearing in Augusta on Wednesday would prohibit coyote killing contests in the state if enacted. LD1293, An Act to Prohibit Coyote-killing Contests in Maine, targets a longtime practice in the state in which private rod and gun clubs or other nonprofits will award prizes or honors or otherwise compensate hunters who kill coyotes to support popular game animals such as deer. Animal rights advocates see the control programs and contests as exploitative, cruel and unsportsmanlike.