Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban wildlife hunting contests in the state, targeting events where participants kill animals such as coyotes and other small game species for cash prizes and awards.

Senate Bill 3063 would make it unlawful to kill “furbearing” animals for money, prizes or other incentives in organized competitions, tournaments or derbies. If passed, Illinois would become the 11th state in the country to prohibit the practice.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Linda Holmes, a Democrat from Aurora, applies to species classified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as “furbearers:” coyotes, red foxes, raccoons, badgers and mink. The proposed legislation does not affect legal hunting, trapping or state wildlife management programs. Instead, it specifically targets organized contests that critics say encourage high-volume killing for entertainment rather than sustenance or conservation purposes. 

Holmes has framed the proposal as a measured response rather than a sweeping restriction on hunters. In committee discussions, supporters emphasized that the legislation would not shorten hunting seasons, reduce bag limits set by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources or interfere with farmers protecting livestock. Instead, they say, it draws a line between regulated wildlife management and competitive events centered on prizes and public weigh-ins.

Supporters of the bill argue that wildlife hunting contests undermine ethical standards and disrupt ecosystems. Nadia Steinzor, Carnivore Conservation Director for Project Coyote, said that advocates for these contests often allow for unlimited killing within a set time frame, with animals sometimes discarded after the competition ends. As outlined on HuntIllinois.org, unlike regulated furbearer hunting under Illinois’ official seasons and licensing framework, wildlife killing contests have no oversight or structured limits and instead promote indiscriminate killing for prizes, a distinction reinforced by the state’s published hunting regulations and species information from Hunt Illinois.

While some say it’s unethical, Illinois Sen. Terri Bryant, a Republican from Murphysboro, said she opposes the bill. 

“These contests are a legal and legitimate way to help manage wildlife populations, and banning them is unnecessary government overreach that ignores the role sportsmen play in conservation,” Bryant said. “This is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist.”

According to Steinzor, scientists and conservation groups have widely criticized the contests, saying they can interfere with wildlife management goals. Coyotes, for example, play a key role in controlling rodent populations and limiting the spread of certain diseases. Research from the University of Illinois Extension has suggested that such contests can negatively affect public perceptions of the hunting community.

Graph Provided by Division of Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Outside of organized competitions, coyote hunting in Illinois is regulated through established wildlife management policies overseen by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. A standard hunting season includes defined timeframes, licensing requirements and method restrictions designed to balance population control with ecosystem stability.

Hunters must possess a valid Illinois hunting license and follow seasonal dates set annually by the state. Regulations govern where hunting can occur, allowable equipment, and lawful methods of take. Unlike competitive events that reward volume within short time windows, routine hunting spreads harvest activity across months and across regions, reducing concentrated pressure on local populations.

State wildlife managers also rely on harvest reporting, population monitoring and habitat data to determine season lengths and regulatory adjustments. These safeguards are intended to ensure that hunting supports conservation goals rather than undermines them.

Biologists generally distinguish regulated hunting from prizebased contests because management frameworks are built around sustainability. Agencies set seasons and rules to prevent overharvesting and to maintain ecological balance, including predator and prey relationships. Research and guidance from institutions such as the University of Illinois Extension Office emphasize that structured wildlife management relies on controlled harvest levels rather than unrestricted killing.

As a result, standard hunting seasons are typically not considered a disruption to wildlife management objectives. Instead, they function as one tool out of many, in addition to habitat conservation, scientific monitoring and agricultural protections used to manage species populations responsibly.

A 2022 survey of Illinois residents found that 73% opposed wildlife killing contests, while a 2024 national study by the Animal-Human Policy Center of Colorado State University concluded that 82% of Americans support state-level bans on the practice.

Ten states — including Arizona, California, Colorado and New York — have already banned wildlife hunting contests, and similar proposals are under consideration elsewhere, like New Jersey. 

Opponents of the bill argue that furbear hunting is a long-standing tradition and can serve as a tool for population control. Some hunters maintain that organized contests are simply a structured extension of lawful hunting practices. Contests often reward the heaviest or largest number of animals killed within a short period, incentivizing participants to target as many animals as possible. 

Critics say this structure can disrupt local predator populations in concentrated areas, potentially leading to unintended ecological consequences. Some biologists have noted that removing large numbers of coyotes from a specific region can temporarily destabilize pack structures, which in some cases may increase breeding rates rather than reduce long-term populations. 

Some also question whether the contests significantly impact overall wildlife numbers, pointing to state-managed seasons and licensing requirements already in place. While exact numbers are unclear, advocacy groups say such events are held annually in parts of southern and central Illinois.

John Lenzini, a southern Illinois hunter, said he believes hunting should only be done for food purposes.

“I feel the same way about eating venison from a deer as I do harvesting vegetables like zucchini and cucumbers from my garden,” he said. “This furbearer killing for prize money or sport is not ethical hunting by any standard I know.”

Steinzor said the issue is about ethics and ecological balance.

“We are hoping Illinois does the right thing and becomes the 11th state to prohibit this practice,” she said, adding that the purpose of the bill is “ensuring ethical hunting and trapping.” 

Project Coyote, a national wildlife advocacy organization, has been pushing for bans on wildlife hunting contests across the country. The group argues that the events do not align with modern conservation science and damage public trust in wildlife stewardship.

As SB 3063 moves through the Illinois General Assembly, lawmakers will weigh arguments from both sides — balancing hunting traditions with growing calls for stricter wildlife protections. SB3036 was first introduced on Jan. 28, 2026 in the 104th General Assembly. It was sponsored by Sen. Linda Holmes and filed with the Secretary of the Senate on that date. The bill was referred to committee for legislative consideration. No committee vote or advancement to a full chamber vote has been recorded yet.

As the bill awaits further committee action, both sides are mobilizing supporters to contact legislators. Public testimony and potential amendments could shape the final language of the proposal. Whether SB 3063 advances or stalls, the discussion underscores shifting public attitudes about wildlife ethics and the evolving definition of conservation in Illinois. For now, the debate highlights a broader conversation happening across Illinois and the nation about the role of hunting, conservation ethics and how wildlife should be managed in the 21st century.

Staff Reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at [email protected].

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