Faster horses
Well-known member
Well, looks like we are going to make headlines with our calling contest.
Our committee members have been on the phone most of the day; one with the AP (Associated Press). I spoke with a reporter from Billings Gazette.
The reason this contest was started in the first place is because of a coyote problem. The state was going to send in the state trapper and a helicopter to get them from the air. We were to be assessed a fee to pay for it. We held a town meeting and came up with a calling contest. This will be the 4th year it has been held. Somehow the US Humane Society found out and they wrote a letter to the president of our Chamber of Commerce asking that the event be cancelled. Only the President didn't get the letter. The next step the Humane Society contacted the Billings Gazette and a reporter was assigned to do a story. (I assume that is how the AP got hold of the information as well.)
According to the letter, the Humane Society is against killing contests and that there are other ways of controlling coyotes. According to them, hunting them causes coyotes to breed earlier and have bigger litters, so hunting is not a form of control. They go on to say high fencing material is proven to be effective in reducing livestock kills. My comment to the reporter was that the Humane Society was a big, intimidating organization and what they wrote is merely their opinion. We also have an opinion. We have a coyote problem that we aren't asking the government for help with, we aren't charging taxpayers for, just a little 3 day event that takes place once a year. We decided to let the town and the sportsmen help take care of the problem.
Also, if the Humane Society thought we could put up high fencing material to keep out coyotes, they know nothing about the vastness of our country nor do they know much about coyotes.
I said also that this event was well-executed, well thought out and was a contest of skill, not a killing contest. No varmits are allowed to be shot, no vehicles are allowed, no planes, nothing can be run over. The coyotes must be called and not everyone can do it successfully since it does require a certain amount of skill.
She asked why the Chamber was sponsoring the contest and my comment was that we are in a very remote area and the town depends largely on agriculture for survival. It was a show of support FROM the Chamber to the cattlemen and sheepmen to help with a problem that could be detrimental to their livlihood. It also creates goodwill between hunter and landowner in the fact that hunters are willing to help solve a landowner problem. I also pointed out that residents of Montana have a Coonstitutional RIGHT to hunt.
No one is forced to enter this contest. No one is forced to let coyote callers on their property. Everyone has a choice. We aren't making anyone enter that does not want to. We have a problem that we decided to solve by ourselves.
I also mentioned that we are not alone in holding these contests; that they are held in ND, SD, and Wyoming for sure and probably other states as well. That surprised her, as she said, "Oh, this isn't something that is just unique to your area?"
So folks, how did I do? I want your opinion because this is going to come out in the Billings Gazette and Lord knows where else.
Our committee members have been on the phone most of the day; one with the AP (Associated Press). I spoke with a reporter from Billings Gazette.
The reason this contest was started in the first place is because of a coyote problem. The state was going to send in the state trapper and a helicopter to get them from the air. We were to be assessed a fee to pay for it. We held a town meeting and came up with a calling contest. This will be the 4th year it has been held. Somehow the US Humane Society found out and they wrote a letter to the president of our Chamber of Commerce asking that the event be cancelled. Only the President didn't get the letter. The next step the Humane Society contacted the Billings Gazette and a reporter was assigned to do a story. (I assume that is how the AP got hold of the information as well.)
According to the letter, the Humane Society is against killing contests and that there are other ways of controlling coyotes. According to them, hunting them causes coyotes to breed earlier and have bigger litters, so hunting is not a form of control. They go on to say high fencing material is proven to be effective in reducing livestock kills. My comment to the reporter was that the Humane Society was a big, intimidating organization and what they wrote is merely their opinion. We also have an opinion. We have a coyote problem that we aren't asking the government for help with, we aren't charging taxpayers for, just a little 3 day event that takes place once a year. We decided to let the town and the sportsmen help take care of the problem.
Also, if the Humane Society thought we could put up high fencing material to keep out coyotes, they know nothing about the vastness of our country nor do they know much about coyotes.
I said also that this event was well-executed, well thought out and was a contest of skill, not a killing contest. No varmits are allowed to be shot, no vehicles are allowed, no planes, nothing can be run over. The coyotes must be called and not everyone can do it successfully since it does require a certain amount of skill.
She asked why the Chamber was sponsoring the contest and my comment was that we are in a very remote area and the town depends largely on agriculture for survival. It was a show of support FROM the Chamber to the cattlemen and sheepmen to help with a problem that could be detrimental to their livlihood. It also creates goodwill between hunter and landowner in the fact that hunters are willing to help solve a landowner problem. I also pointed out that residents of Montana have a Coonstitutional RIGHT to hunt.
No one is forced to enter this contest. No one is forced to let coyote callers on their property. Everyone has a choice. We aren't making anyone enter that does not want to. We have a problem that we decided to solve by ourselves.
I also mentioned that we are not alone in holding these contests; that they are held in ND, SD, and Wyoming for sure and probably other states as well. That surprised her, as she said, "Oh, this isn't something that is just unique to your area?"
So folks, how did I do? I want your opinion because this is going to come out in the Billings Gazette and Lord knows where else.
