SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Animal rights activists have come out in support of a bill in the Oregon Legislature that would ban killing wildlife as part of a contest.

The Humane Society of the United States cited several such contests, including the Harney County Coyote Classic, in eastern Oregon. Five contests cited by the group involved killing coyotes, with the teams killing the most winning prizes. Rules of one contest stipulated that coyotes run over by a vehicle won't be counted.

Robert Wielgus, a retired professor and director of the Large Carnivore Conservation Lab at Washington State University, said such contests don't result in less livestock depredation or in increased deer population.

The Senate bill, sponsored by seven Democratic lawmakers, would make such contests illegal.