The Fish and Wildlife Board will consider whether coyote hunting tournaments, like one taking place this weekend, should be regulated.
The board will take up the issue next week.
If the board decides to investigate the issue, the state would probably hold a series of public hearings to gather input.
Then the board would decide whether new rules are needed.
The organized hunts in which prizes are awarded for the smallest and largest animals have generated philosophical and ethical debates from both supporters and opponents.
Organizers say they believe they are protecting the deer population by killing coyotes while opponents call the tournaments a senseless slaughter.’