A coyote prowls the Saskatchewan prairie between Kerrobert and Kindersley. (Submitted by Vera Csada)

Saskatchewan's recently announced $20 bounty on coyotes won't work very well and taxpayers' money could be better spent, a conservation group says.

Coyotes prey on sheep and cattle, and in recent years the problem has been getting worse, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud, who announced the bounty on Tuesday.

A trial version of the program will run until March 31, 2010. After that, the province will look at extending the bounty.

'Research has proven repeatedly that coyote bounties simply weed out the weak and less wary individuals.'— Nature Saskatchewan

Groups representing cattle and sheep farmers said they were pleased with the announcement.

However, Nature Saskatchewan says the bounty is not the right way to help livestock producers deal with depredation.

The focus should be on eliminating problem animals, not a province-wide bounty, according to organization president Lorne Scott.

Many farmers and ranchers view the coyote as an ally that helps control gopher populations, the group says, so it doesn't make sense to launch a program to kill gophers and another program to eliminate animals that prey on gophers.

The bounty could also backfire by eliminating easy-to-catch coyotes and leaving stronger, wilier survivors to increase their litters, Nature Saskatchewan says.

"Research has proven repeatedly that coyote bounties simply weed out the weak and less wary individuals," the group said in a news release.

People who want to claim the bounty must provide proof of a kill — the animal's paws — the government says.

Existing bounties continue

In some places a coyote hunter will be able to claim a second bounty from the local rural municipality.

The RM of Lipton, east of Regina, is one place that has offered a coyote bounty for several years.

Only a resident of the RM can claim the bounty and the hunter must provide the coyote jaw as proof of the kill.

"A few ratepayers have asked me if we are continuing or not and I'm sure it will be discussed," Corey Senft, the RM's reeve told CBC News on Friday. "The rest of the council have to get in on the discussion.

"As it is today we'll continue with the plan that we have and the bounty that's in place and go ahead with that."