When I was a teen farm boy hunting for food, I never met anyone that killed animals for fun. But I am sure that such people exist, and most are city dwellers that have no appreciation of nature. They consider the planet to be their playground and wildlife to be their playthings. If as they say, predators are excessive in numbers or causing problems, the ranchers or the park rangers would take care of the problem, either with their own guns, or by hiring a bounty hunter. Killing for fun or "sporting event" is disgusting empire decadence, much the same as feeding Christians to the lions.
But the judge is right. Unless Parks and Wildlife declares the animals endangered, he has no right to intervene.