A group of Charlotte-area hunters have created their own method to solve our region’s growing coyote problem – a statewide coyote hunting tournament.
Over the past couple years, coyote sightings have been increasing around South Charlotte neighborhoods, with reports of pets being snatched, and many parents fearing for their children’s safety.
The town of Tega Cay near Rock Hill has even hired a professional company to come in and set traps to try to deal with their coyote problem, although so far, they’ve only been able to catch 4 coyotes.
Local sportsman and owner of 704Outdoors.tv thinks he has the best solution to the problem – a statewide coyote tournament. Last month he successfully organized the 4th annual Carolina Coyote Classic tournament, which resulted in 51 coyotes being killed.
The tournament took place from February 10th-11th and was held at the Albemarle American Legion. It was open to all 100 counties around North Carolina and saw an especially big response from Cabarrus, Union, and Mecklenburg Counties.
They even had a full truck show at the event:
According to the Carolina Coyote Classic’s website, “This year’s tournament was a HUGE success…We were pleasantly surprised when we registered 134 Hunters! That’s 23 more hunters then last year…There were teams that brought in 2 or 3 coyotes, a couple that brought in 5 coyotes and even one team brought in 15 coyotes! How many did the winner bring in to weigh in’s? One coyote! That’s right, Team Bullseye brought in one 41.50lb Male that won the Heaviest Coyote and the Grand Prize.”
The Grand Prize winner of the Carolina Coyote Classic took home;
- 1st Place Trophy
- $335 Cash
- Mossberg Patriot Predator 6.5 Creedmor Rifle with Konus 3-10×44 Illuminated Reticle Scope from Hal’s Gun & Pawn
- FoxPro Fusion Electronic Predator Call
- Bobs Custom Calls Handmade Rabbit in Distress Call
- Tree Jack Lite
- Southernized Gear Decal
- Carolina Coyote Classic Event T-Shirts
What do you think about our local Coyote tournament?
Do you think there is something else that should be done about the growing Coyote population?