I 
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 sub-
sequently 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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prohibit Wildlife Kill-
ing Contests Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Wildlife killing contests are organized 
events in which participants kill animals for cash, 
prizes, entertainment, or other inducements. Judg-
ing 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 eco-
logically important carnivores, including foxes, bob-
cats, and coyotes. 
(3) Scientific evidence does not support claims 
that wildlife killing contests permanently reduce pop-
ulations of targeted species, increase populations of 
deer or other game species, or prevent conflict be-
tween native carnivores, humans, pets, and livestock. 
(4) Because participants often wastefully dis-
card 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 
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and damage the reputation of sportsmen and sports-
women 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 prac-
tices, public trust duties, and conservation ethics. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS. 
(a) PROHIBITIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (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 Fed-
eral agencies that target wildlife classified as 
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invasive by the National Invasive Species Infor-
mation 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 in-
ducements 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 
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