Prohibits harassing or taking of certain wildlife at competitive event; establishes penalties.
A5065 would make it unlawful in New Jersey to harass or take certain listed wildlife at a “competitive event,” and it would also prohibit organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting, or participating in such an event when the participants are harassing or taking those animals. The bill defines competitive events broadly to include contests, derbies, tournaments, and similar organized activities where participants are encouraged to take wildlife in exchange for a prize or other reward. The covered animals include bobcats, coyotes, crows, foxes, mink, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, weasels, and woodchucks, as well as their dead bodies or parts.
The bill supplements Title 23 of the Revised Statutes by creating a new wildlife offense tied specifically to competitive hunting-style events. Violations would be disorderly persons offenses and would carry, in addition to criminal penalties under Title 2C, a five-year suspension of any Division of Fish and Wildlife license or permit and a five-year loss of all privileges to take or possess wildlife. The bill also requires injured covered wildlife to be taken to a licensed rehabilitator or veterinarian, authorizes humane euthanasia only after rehabilitation efforts fail, and allows the Division of Fish and Wildlife to forfeit the remains of animals killed or euthanized under the bill. Enforcement authority is given to municipal police, State Police, and certain DEP law enforcement officers.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a wildlife-protection and anti-cruelty bill rather than a regulatory expansion of hunting rights. Its structure suggests support from animal welfare and conservation advocates, while likely drawing concern from hunters or organizers of predator-control contests and similar events who may view it as restricting traditional wildlife-taking activities. No formal vote record or hearing transcript is available here to show a broader legislative split.
The main point of contention is the bill’s treatment of competitive events that involve taking wildlife. Supporters would likely emphasize preventing cruelty, harassment, and unnecessary killing of animals for prizes, while opponents may argue that the bill sweeps in legitimate hunting-related contests or predator management activities. Another possible issue is the breadth of the definition of “competitive event” and the list of covered wildlife, which could be seen as targeting common coyote, crow, or varmint contests. The bill does preserve an exception for field trials or field days authorized under existing licensing law, which may be intended to address some concerns from regulated sporting activities.