Every record was broken during 2021 Carolina Coyote Classic
Predator hunters competing in the 8th Annual Carolina Coyote Classic this past weekend killed 272 coyotes. That’s a record number of kills during this event. And that’s not the only record that was broken this year.
“We broke every meaningful record in this year’s event. We had the most teams registered, the most hunters participating, the most money paid out. It was a record breaking year for this event,” said John MacPherson of 704 Outdoors and the chief organizer of the event.
This was also the first year the Classic paid a bounty for each coyote. Every coyote that was brought to the weigh in was awarded a bounty of $20. In past events, teams killing 10 coyotes and finishing in 10th place or so did not take home any prize money. But this year, a bag of 10 coyotes earned $200. That’s an incentive unlike any other in predator hunting events.
Of the 272 coyotes killed during the event, 236 were weighed in. Those not weighing in ‘yotes were mostly from teams a great distance from the weigh-in at the Stanly Fairgrounds, and opted not to make the drive knowing they weren’t in the running for the win. These teams were not eligible for the bounty, which raised the stakes for the 236 dogs that were weighed.
First place team killed 27 coyotes
Team Thermal Optics Plus took home the top prize. They killed 27 coyotes and took home $2000 cash along with a C3 Belt Buckle trophy.
Lynches River Mafia finished in second place. They killed 24 coyotes, winning a C3 Belt Buckle and $1200 cash.
With 21 coyotes, Team Wraith finished third and earned the third place C3 Belt Buckle along with $800 cash.
- 4th Place with 17 Coyotes – STRATA
- 5th Place with 15 Coyotes – Stanly, Davis, Leonard
- 6th Place with 13 Coyotes – MFK
- 7th Place with 10 Coyotes – West Virginia Boys
- 8th Place with 10 Coyotes – CCC
- 9th Place with 9 Coyotes – JL Metalworks
- 10th Place with 7 Coyotes – Lemon Meringue Gang
- 11th with 7 Coyotes – Murder Inc
- 12th with 7 Coyotes – Middle Georgia
- 13th with 6 Coyotes – Smokum PPC
- 14th with 6 Coyotes – HHS
- 15th with 4 Coyotes – NC III
- 16th with 4 Coyotes – Night Reaper Precision
- 17th with 2 Coyotes – Carolina Coyotes Coalition
(Tie breakers were based on time of 1st kill video)
The Big Dog award in the Derby went to Team Carolina Coyotes Coalition. They won a guided saltwater bow fishing trip with Fatal Flight Bowfishing.
The Little Dog award in the Derby went to Team Stanly, Davis, Leonard. They won an AR-15 lower receiver from All Seasons Outdoors.
Fat Dog Class was a big part of Carolina Coyote Classic
The Carolina Coyote Classic also had a Fat Dog category. This was a separate class from the Derby, and teams were only allowed to enter one class. The Fat Dog class had 56 teams sign up. Eighteen of those teams officially weighed in coyotes.
Team Denton won first place in the Fat Dog category. They won a trophy, Ruger Precision Predator Edition 6.5 Creedmoor rifle from Hal’s Gun & Pawn, a WiseEye SmartCam, a FoxPro X2S electronic predator caller, $300 cash, a BigFrig tumbler and numerous other prizes.
Carolina Reapers took second place in the Fat Dog contest. They won a trophy, a FoxPro X24 electronic predator caller, a WiseEye SmartCam, $200 cash, a BigFrig tumbler and various other prizes.
Third place in the Fat Dog class went to Huntersville Predator Control. They won a trophy, a Porta Climb Cadillac climber tree stand, a gift certificate from McDonald’s General Store and various other prizes.
The rest of the field:
- 4th Pee Dee Predator Tactics
- 5th Busted Dollar
- 6th Cut’em Down
- 7th Doggy Style
- 8th Big Dog Deviney
- 9th Craven, Simmons, Roark
- 10th Church
- 11th Mayhem
- 12th Double C Outdoors
- 13th Fat Catz
- 14th Chris & TJ
- 15th Shepherd
- 16th Carolina Yote Smokers
- 17th Bumgarner
- 18th Triplett
Big Dog Deviney won the Little Dog contest, taking home a Rossi .17HMR from All Seasons Outdoors.
Big Female side pot
The tournament also featured a Big Female Side Pot, which was open to all participants. Team STRATA won the side pot with a 41.1-pound female. This ‘yote set another record. It is the largest female coyote ever entered in the Carolina Coyote Classic. STRATA earned $410 cash for the big female.
The Coyote Bounty Pot was sponsored by DNA Firearm Systems. The pot totaled $4720, which put the value of each coyote weighed in at $20.
More than $14,730 in cash and prizes were awarded at the end of the tournament. With some very nasty weather taking place before and during the even, MacPherson said he couldn’t be more proud of his team and all the competitors who participated to make this a record-breaking event.
“We’re already putting plans together for the 2022 Carolina Coyote Classic. We’ll look at the moon phase and talk about it some before decided what’s best for the hunters. Then we’ll set the dates so everyone can put it on their calendars,” he said.
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