Coyote Derbies

There’s a growing divide in Montana.

And while it’s not yet political, it’s going to be, and it mimics the split our country faces.

Coyote derbies pit urban sentiments against rural traditions.

A winter staple in small towns across much of the state, -- Dillon, Melstone, Winnett, and Big Sandy all held derbies this winter -- coyote killing contests have stirred opposition in Montana’s more urban areas.

Called a “stain on our hunting tradition of sportsmanship and fair chase” in a recent letter to the editor, the derbies are deemed necessary by event organizers.

The issue pits those who view th...