Ga. DNR Unveils Coyote Challenge

By Charles Robertson, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Georgia DNR is looking to cull the coyote population across the state.

DNR has just launched their new coyote challenge program, said Corporal Craig Fulghum of DNR law enforcement division.

“We have just unveiled the Georgia Coyote Challenge, and it goes from March through August, and this is a new program that we’re trying, to at least put out awareness out there, you know to the type of damage coyotes are doing to our native wildlife population.”

The challenge will give local hunters the chance to receive a lifetime hunting license in the State of Georgia, said Fulgum.

“So as an added incentive to get hunters to go out there and harvest some of theses coyotes, between March and August a hunter in the State of Georgia can go and harvest up to 5 coyotes per month by shooting them or by trapping methods, up to 5 entries per month, a chance to win up to a lifetime license in the State of Georgia.”

Non-Georgia hunters may participate in the challenge as well.

“It is also available to non-residents, they will not be able to get a lifetime license, but they’ll be able to get a $500 voucher towards the purchase of any licenses in the future”

There will be a drawing held at the end of each month during the course of the challenge. Fulghum said the program will directly benefit the local area where coyotes have increasingly become a threat to the local population.

“I’m getting complaints, usually weekly in our Hart, Franklin, and Stephens County areas, on coyote versus livestock and coyote versus domestic dogs and house cats. Just last week I had a call from an individual in Bowersville that had a coyote attack her two small dogs, so you’re seeing these type of conflicts occur, especially in rural parts of Georgia.”

For more information on the coyote challenge or to obtain a hunting license, you can visit georgiawildlife.com.