(Information courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States)

WHAT THE PROBLEM IS: Wildlife protection advocates rejoiced last year when the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted, after lengthy public process, to prohibit wildlife killing contests. However, in a rare reversal of a rule proposed by one of that state’s agencies, the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council voted last week to overturn the rule. Of 832 rules proposed by Arizona’s state agencies since last July, only two (including this one) were overturned. Now, contests promoting the killing of unlimited numbers of coyotes, foxes, skunks and bobcats will once again be legal. These contests award prizes up to several thousand dollars to individuals killing the most animals. Though opposed by the vast majority of the public and even a portion of the hunting community, the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council concluded that the rule was not acceptable and sent it back to the AZ Game and Fish Department. The Council is made up of individuals appointed by the governor, including an official from the AZ Department of Administration.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: First, contact the governor and express your outrage over this reversal. Ask her to reform the Regulatory Review Council process to ensure that this body cannot again overrule reasonable and publicly supported proposals. Also, please contact the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and ask that it either resubmit the rule for a reevaluation or appeal the decision.

CONTACTS: {See sample letters below!}

February 18, 2000

The Honorable Jane Hull, Governor

State House

1700 West Washington

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

FACSIMILE: 602-542-1381

Re: Wildlife Killing Contests

Governor Hull:

As a United States citizen who is concerned about the welfare of animals and the preservation of our natural resources, I am outraged and offended that the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council voted to overturn the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s publicly-supported ban on wildlife killing contests. It seems patently ludicrous that contests promoting the wanton killing of unlimited numbers of helpless coyotes, foxes, skunks and bobcats will once again be legal. The idea of awarding prize money for the cruel murder of innocent creatures is primitive and archaic, and offensive to the American peoples’ modern sensibilities.

These contests are opposed by the vast majority of the public and even a portion of the hunting community. There seems to be no valid reason why the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council concluded that the rule was not acceptable and sent it back to the Game and Fish Department. I would hope and expect that the individuals on the Governor’s Council would represent the values and concerns of the public, who do not support the inhumane treatment of America’s wildlife, and certainly not in the name of "sport." As I’m sure you are aware, less than 3% of Americans hunt, and the number drops each year. Please reform the Council’s review process to ensure that this body cannot again overrule reasonable and publicly supported proposals.

Clearly, we must eliminate this barbaric practice, and you have the authority and tools to do so. Please set an example for the rest of the country by supporting the ban on wildlife killing contests in Arizona, and send the important message that all lives are precious and valuable, whether the creature has two legs or four.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter, and your action on behalf of animals.

Sincerely,

February 18, 2000

Donna Markelly

Game and Fish Commission

2221 West Greenway Road

Phoenix, AZ 85023

Re: Wildlife killing contest ban

Dear Ms. Markelly:

As a United States citizen who is concerned about the welfare of animals and the preservation of our natural resources, I am outraged and offended that the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council voted to overturn the Game and Fish Commission’s publicly-supported ban on wildlife killing contests. It seems patently ludicrous that contests promoting the wanton killing of unlimited numbers of helpless coyotes, foxes, skunks and bobcats will once again be legal. The idea of awarding prize money for the cruel murder of innocent creatures is primitive and archaic, and offensive to the American peoples’ modern sensibilities.

There seems to be no valid reason why the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council concluded that the rule was not acceptable and sent it back to the Department. I would have hoped and expected that the individuals on the Governor’s Council would represent the values and concerns of the public, who do not support the inhumane treatment of America’s wildlife, and certainly not in the name of "sport." As I’m sure you are aware, less than 3% of Americans hunt, and the number drops each year.

Clearly, we must eliminate this barbaric practice, and you have the position and tools to effect this change. Please resubmit the rule banning these cruel contests for a reevaluation or appeal the decision, and send the important message that all lives are precious and valuable, whether the creature has two legs or four.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter, and your action on behalf of animals.

Sincerely,