At Footloose Montana, we believe our public lands and wildlife deserve respect and protection—not cash prizes for carnage. As proud members of the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests, we’re sounding the alarm on a cruel practice that turns our forests, fields, and rivers into killing grounds.

What Are Wildlife Killing Contests?

Wildlife killing contests award prizes—often cash, trophies, or bragging rights—to the individuals who kill the most animals (by number or weight) within a set time. Target species can include coyotes, foxes, bobcats, beavers, and even wolves. These events:

  • Encourage indiscriminate slaughter of native species
  • Disrupt natural population balances and predator–prey relationships
  • Reward cruelty and erode our respect for wildlife

How They’re Used in Montana

In our state, wildlife killing contests have been hosted by clubs and outfitting businesses for decades. Recently, legislative changes have made things worse. HB 219—a wolf “bounty” bill sponsored by Rep. Lukas Schubert (R‑Kalispell)—now allows “persons who lawfully harvest wolves” to get taxpayer‑funded reimbursements for their killing‑contest expenses. This bill:

  • Passed the House and Senate Fish & Game Committee on 2/25/25
  • Passed the full Senate on 3/20/25
  • Gives an unfair business advantage to wolf‑killing outfits
  • Misuses public dollars to promote cruelty

Why It’s Unethical

Killing contests:

  • Target the young, old, sick, and unskilled survivors rather than healthy wildlife
  • Occur during breeding seasons, leaving orphaned litters to starve
  • Undermine conservation science and ecosystem health
They transform hunting from a regulated, respectful harvest into a blood sport—and that’s something Montana cannot tolerate.

Our Work to End Killing Contests

Footloose Montana is on the front lines:

  • Partnering with the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing Contests to push for federal and state bans
  • Educating Montanans about the ecological and ethical costs of these events
  • Mobilizing grassroots action—petitions, letter‑writing campaigns, and public testimony
  • Tracking and reporting on legislative threats like HB 219
Together, we’re building the momentum to outlaw killing contests once and for all.

Watch & Learn

See the cruelty for yourself in this short documentary:

Learn More & Take Action

Download the National Coalition’s fact sheet to understand the full scope of killing contests across the U.S.: Wildlife Killing Contests Fact Sheet

Join the Fight

We need your voice to end this cruelty in Montana. Take action today:

  • Sign our petition to ban wildlife killing contests in Montana
  • Contact your state legislators and urge them to repeal HB 219
  • Share this page and spread the word on social media
Take Action Now

Footloose Montana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Your contribution and activism are 100% tax deductible. No goods or services were given in exchange for your support. Thank you for standing up for Montana’s wildlife.