At the December meeting of the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, held at Field Headquarters in Westborough, the board voted to approve regulations prohibiting hunting contests for certain predator and furbearing animals, prohibiting the waste of certain game animals and changing the harvest reporting requirements for fox and coyote. This vote followed over a year of intense review by MassWildlife and a public process that included public listening sessions and later a public hearing on the proposed regulations.
The issue came to light when there was a public outcry against a contest held on Cape Cod and those opposed went to their legislator to have a bill filed to ban the contests. That led to MassWildlife looking at the issue and the public process that followed. A review of other states revealed that several states had already banned similar hunting contests, including California, Arizona, Vermont, and New Mexico. New York and Oregon are considering laws on the issue as well.
MassWildlife staff undertook a thorough review and identified areas of concern. Many in the public who have no opposition to hunting change their stance when words like contest or trophy are used. Most support hunting as a tool of conservation when the game is utilized but oppose killing animals when it is not put to use. During the review, the issue of wanton waste arose. Wanton waste is killing an animal and then making no effort to use it. There was a time when a previous generation would kill on sight any predators they came upon. Coyotes are recent arrivals, but foxes, bobcats, weasels, hawks, owls and even eagles would be killed to protect wildlife.
Much has changed over time and now scientific wildlife management has shown that a balance of predator and prey species benefits both. The coyote presents a unique model as they are fully established in all of Massachusetts and their population is self-regulated. What that means is that when the coyote population peaks, they have fewer offspring and it expands when there is ample food supply. The number of coyotes killed annually by hunters would have to increase ten-fold to have any impact on numbers.
As for coyote’s relationship with whitetail deer, there is no question that deer can be taken by coyotes. It is very uncommon for a healthy deer to fall prey to coyotes however, and deer that are injured, diseased, old or fawns would be the most likely. A historical reminder might be that we had virtually no coyotes in the 1960’s and hunters killed 3,000 deer per year. Last year, with coyotes abundant throughout the state, hunters killed 14,000 deer.
Much of the opposition to the regulations was aimed at the wanton waste provision. The majority of the Board felt that no animal should be killed if it was not to be utilized. Coyote fur is a valuable resource and should be used. The exception of animals that were diseased or posed a threat to a hunter or his dogs and the exemption of those involved in agricultural activities eliminated that threat.
These regulations are not yet in effect and are still subject to administrative processing prior to promulgation. MassWildlife anticipates that the regulations will go into effect well before the 2020 fall hunting season. Below is a summary of the regulations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, promote, conduct, or participate in a contest for the take of coyote, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, weasels, mink, skunk, river otter, muskrat, beaver, fisher, raccoon, and opossum [Animals regulated under 321 CMR 3.02(3) or 3.02(5)(b)(2, 5-11)]. A predator or furbearer contest is where participants compete for prizes or other inducements in the capture or take of predatory or furbearing animals.
It shall be unlawful for any person while hunting or trapping in accordance with 321 CMR 3.02 to waste an animal. “Waste” means to intentionally or knowingly leave a wounded or dead animal in the field or the forest without making a reasonable effort to retrieve and use it. Each retrieved animal shall be retained or transferred to another until processed or used for food, the pelt, feathers, or taxidermy.
The waste regulation does not apply to:
■Wounded or dead animals that cannot be retrieved after a reasonable effort has been made.
■Certain animals listed in M.G.L. Ch. 131, Sec. 5: English sparrow, starling, crow, chipmunk, flying squirrel, red squirrel, porcupine, skunk, weasel, or woodchuck.
■Problem wildlife, such as Beaver Emergency Permitting (321 CMR 2.08) and Problem Animal Control (321 CMR 2.14).
■Defense of people or property (M.G.L. Ch. 131, Sec. 37).
■Animals “unfit for consumption or use” – animals and their parts that are damaged, destroyed, decayed, rotting, diseased, or infected.
Fox and coyote shall be checked within 48 hours of harvest, consistent with deer, bear, and turkey requirements. Fox and coyote may be checked online or in person.
This was a very difficult issue and people on both sides were passionate and made goods points. Going forward, very little will change as far as the resource is concerned and coyotes pose no threat to a balanced eco-system. Popular hunting contests like biggest buck or biggest turkey are in no way impacted by this regulation as it only relates to a specific set of furbearers.
Mike Roche has been writing about his experiences and observations of wildlife in the North Quabbin Region and beyond since 1984. He is an active member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association and serves on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, representing the Connecticut Valley District. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.