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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8492 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8492

 To prohibit wildlife killing contests on public lands, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2024

  Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Bush, Mr. Connolly, Ms. 
  DeGette, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Huffman, Mr. 
 Lieu, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Meng, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Porter, Ms. Stansbury, 
  Ms. Titus, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To prohibit wildlife killing contests on public lands, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prohibit Wildlife Killing Contests 
Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Wildlife killing contests are organized events in which 
        participants kill animals for cash, prizes, entertainment, or 
        other inducements. Judging categories for wildlife killing 
        contests include, but are not limited to, the number of animals 
        killed, the weight or the sex of animals killed, a tiered point 
        system by species killed, or the smallest or largest body or 
        body part size of animals killed.
            (2) Wildlife killing contests often target ecologically 
        important carnivores, including foxes, bobcats, and coyotes.
            (3) Scientific evidence does not support claims that 
        wildlife killing contests permanently reduce populations of 
        targeted species, increase populations of deer or other game 
        species, or prevent conflict between native carnivores, humans, 
        pets, and livestock.
            (4) Because participants often wastefully discard targeted 
        wildlife, wildlife killing contests do not embody the hunting 
        principles set forth by the North America Wildlife Conservation 
        Model, which includes a requirement that wildlife only be 
        killed for a legitimate purpose. As a result, numerous State 
        agencies and officials have recognized that these contests can 
        undermine public support for hunting and damage the reputation 
        of sportsmen and sportswomen who abide by traditional hunting 
        ethics.
            (5) As of March 25, 2024, Arizona, California, Colorado, 
        Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, 
        and Washington have banned wildlife killing contests that 
        target certain species.
            (6) Wildlife killing contests held on Federal lands 
        undermine Federal wildlife management practices, public trust 
        duties, and conservation ethics.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS.

    (a) Prohibitions.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), it is 
        unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, or 
        participate in a wildlife killing contest on public land.
            (2) Exceptions.--This subsection shall not apply to--
                    (A) field trials;
                    (B) wildlife killing contests that exclusively 
                target ungulates or birds of the orders Galliformes or 
                Anatidae; or
                    (C) lethal control actions by State or Federal 
                agencies that target wildlife classified as invasive by 
                the National Invasive Species Information Center.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, each head of a public land management agency 
shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this 
section.
    (c) Effect on Preemption.--This section shall not be construed to 
preempt or limit any requirement of any law or regulation of a State or 
political subdivision of a State that is more restrictive than the 
requirements of this section.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Wildlife killing contest.--The term ``wildlife killing 
        contest'' means an event in which participants kill wildlife 
        for cash, prizes, or other inducements regardless of value.
            (2) Wildlife.--The term ``wildlife'' means all animal life 
        except for fish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
            (3) Public land.--The term ``public land'' means any land--
                    (A) owned by the United States; and
                    (B) managed by the head of a public land management 
                agency.
            (4) Public land management agency.--The term ``public land 
        management agency'' means the National Park Service, the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land 
        Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, or the United States 
        Forest Service.
            (5) Field trial.--The term ``field trial'' means a trial of 
        sporting dogs under field conditions where dogs chase or pursue 
        wild animals under specific rules of nationally or regionally 
        recognized hunting dog associations.
                                 <all>
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