Classifying coyotes as “game” in Washington is a solution in search of a problem — and it’s coming up soon. The department is introducing this change.
This proposal is expected to come before the Wildlife Committee at next month’s WDFW Commission Meeting on April 16, with public comment on the 17th and 18th at 8 AM.
Coyotes are not a species of concern. They are thriving across Washington. There is no conservation crisis here that justifies elevating them to game status.
We already collect data. Coyote harvest information is reported through small game license reporting and trapping data. Managers do have insight into take. If improving data is truly the goal, a more practical step would be requiring harvest reporting from big game license holders, not creating an entirely new classification.
Reclassifying coyote will open the door to commissioners and anti-hunting activists currently chomping at the bit to get to work- we anticipate bag limits, shortened seasons, and weapon limitations.
We’ve seen how this can play out. In Michigan changes pressured by anti-hunting groups resulted in shortening its year-round coyote hunting season, creating a closed period from approximately April 15 to July 15. Last year California, Project Coyote moved in on a similar campaign, but the department did not support it and it didn’t move.
This proposal may be coming from the Department, but we know it won’t stay there. Advocacy groups opposed to predator hunting will use it to push for further restrictions. Certain commissioners keep bringing the topic up.
And at a time when Washington is facing budget shortfalls and staff layoffs, dedicating time and resources to redesign management of a thriving predator is hard to justify.
Mark your calendar for the upcoming WDFW
Commission meeting:
April 16 – Wildlife Committee Meeting
April 17 & 18 – Public Comment @ 8 AM
This is a very real concern. Especially with this current commission.
