Coyote-killing contest upsets hunter

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A local business is offering a big prize for the person who can kill the most coyotes.

One hunter sees it as cruel entertainment, but Calibers Shooting Range says there's a good reason for it.

This week Calibers sent out a mass e-mail about a contest to kill the animals with the winning team getting AR-15 assault weapons.

"It upsets me a lot," said hunter Bill Wallick.

Wallick is an avid hunter who received the e-mail from Calibers. He said he understands hunting for food but not entertainment, and that's how he views the coyote hunt contest.

"The fact that we go out and kill them provides no benefit except to provide something for shooters that’s moving -- and what -- bragging rights?" Wallick said.

But Calibers says there is something they should have included in that e-mail but didn't.

"We've been approached by the farming community to help with the coyote problem," said Calibers CEO Ryan Burt.

He says farmers and ranchers asked Calibers to help because the coyotes are going after livestock.

"We're not out for blood sport, but these things have to be managed," said Calibers employee Antonio Otero.

The hunt will take place the first weekend of December. Calibers won't say where because most of the hunt will be on private ranching and farming land

They say hunters will go out in teams and return to the business with carcasses. The state says hunting coyotes is legal.

Calibers says they plan on sending out another mass e-mail Sunday with more details about the coyote hunt, including the reason behind it.