A New Mexico gun shop owner sponsoring a prairie dog hunting contest says he is getting calls from animal rights groups urging him to cancel the competition.
But Gunhawk Firearms owner Mark Chavez said Tuesday the contest will go on as planned.
Chavez told the Associated Press that hunters have been shooting prairie dogs for years and the contest is aimed at helping ranchers deal with the squirrel-like creatures.
Under the competition rules, a hunter who pays a $25 entry fee and shoots the "most tails" wins a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 rifle. The shop is giving participants T-shirts with images of the animal and the words, "You're killing me smalls."
The contest has drawn fire for animal rights groups who want the creatures relocated instead of hunted.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.