Predator Derbies - the senseless slaughter of our wild predators

A fellow wildlife photographer from Idaho recently made me aware of a well-participated form of competition in Idaho called Predator Derbies. It's sounds exactly like what it is. It is the senseless slaughter of wild predators. A 'sportsmen' (or whatever you call it; I call em' morons) has 24 hours to kill as many carnivorous mammals as possible. They don't utilize the fur or the meat, they just kill. Using high-powered rifles that obliterate the wildlife, they gun down as many predators as possible. Each species is worth a specific number of points and the person with the most points at the end of the 24 hours wins. Worse yet, there are no tags, permits, or government oversight. As a result, masses of both vulnerable and endangered animals are slaughtered.

• Bobcats are worth 2 points


• Foxes are worth 2 points


• Coyotes are worth 2 points


• Wolves are worth 3 points


• Ties are resolved by weight

What disturbs me the most is that a national non-profit organization, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, is responsible for these killing sprees. Another thing that just makes me nauseous is that the nine times out of ten, the funds raised by these events are used to keep certain species off the endangered species list, particularly wolfs. It's disgusting.

Nikon, the camera manufacturer, is a known sponsor for these derbies. What we can do to stop this is contact Nikon and demand an explanation...

If you have contacts for regional Nikon representatives please let them know. You can call, and file a complaint here: 631-547-4200 this is the corporate office.

The Sponsorship committee that makes decisions like this is found here:

Sponsorship Committee1300 Walt Whitman RoadMelville, NY 11747-3064

For those who enjoy irony, here's Nikon's environmental policy:“Nikon endeavors to consider the environment in every policy and action, operating in ways that best protect the Earth's resources and safeguard the beauty of our planet.”

We are not going to change Idaho overnight and we need the help of other orginizations. Here are some good options:

PLEASE contact the Natural Resources Defense Council let them know about this event and urge them to take action on this and other injustices against predators in the west. nrdcinfo@nrdc.org

We can also go straight to the source... to the people who organize these damn things...

Contacting the following contacts may be more akin to talking to a brick wall, they are the problem. But they need to hear until they understand the public will not tolerate this.The organizers of the event can be contacted here:

Nate Helm (208-899-3122) or nate@sfwidaho.org

Sean Cluff (208-697-3167) or scluff@sfwidaho.org

Butch Otter Governor of Idaho [link]

Idaho Fish and Game: [link]

Salazar Secretary of the Interior [link]

TO READ MORE!

HELP MAKE THIS STOP!!!!!!