Maybe they're just 'testing the waters"? As AWS said, "heading toward a season".
Here in Mass. the anti's complained about coyote contests. Probably only a couple contests in the state. Mass Fish and Game decided contests were not "ethical" and passed a law that contests are now illegal, not just for coyotes, but coons, skunks, and a bunch of other animals that no has a contest for. On top of that you must now do something, like save the pelt, of any coyotes you shoot