402 coyotes killed during 2026 Carolina Coyote Classic

$30,000 in cash and prizes awarded

A total of 402 coyotes were killed during the 13th Annual Carolina Coyote Classic, held Feb. 20 – 22 out of Stanly County, NC.

Hunters from 101 teams won tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes at this year’s event, said John MacPherson, founder of the Classic.

“Over $30,000 in cash and prizes were awarded at this year’s tournament!” he said. “This year’s theme was Vegas Nights, which added more ways to win in additional categories, utilizing gaming terminology played in Las Vegas casinos. The Coyote Bounty was $2500 thanks to Thermal Optics Plus and Nocturnal Optics.”

The Coyote Bounty paid every hunter that brought coyotes to the weigh in, giving everyone plenty of incentive to participate, whether they finished in 1st place or 101st.

“Every team that brought coyotes to the tournament were paid $10 per coyote,” MacPherson said.

Categories within the tournament included the Coyote Derby (team with most coyote kills), and the Fat Dog Contest (heaviest coyote), two mainstays that have been a part of the Classic since the first one was held. And this year, the Vegas Nights-themed categories included:

• Four of a Kind (combined weight of four same-sex coyotes in the Fat Dog Class)
• Joker (smallest coyote of the event)
• Queen of Spades (Big Female Side Pot)
• Devil Dog Side Pot sponsored by DNA Firearm Systems (drawing held between teams that brought in a black coyote)
• Ugly Mug Award sponsored by Nightshade Optics (mangiest, nastiest coyote)
• Puppy Paws (combined weight of 10 coyotes in the Fat Dog Class)
• Lucky 7s (combined weight of seven coyotes in the Fat Dog Class)

  

  

  

  

  

  

Winners

Coyote Derby

• 1st Place: Team Battle Dogs: Alex Poole, Kyle Crickenberger and Josh Roop weighed in a total of 30 coyotes. They won $1800 cash and 1st place custom Carolina Coyote Classic Belt Buckles.
• 2nd Place: Team Red Lights: Jay Cox, Ryan Borum and Nathaniel Brookbank killed 23 coyotes and won $1080 cash and 2nd place custom Carolina Coyote Classic Belt Buckles.
• 3rd Place: Team NRV Night Crew: Justin Surratt, Aaron Vest and Elijah Matherly killed 16 coyotes, winning $720 cash and 3rd place custom Carolina Coyote Classic Belt Buckles.

Fat Dog Contest

1st Place: State Line Cowboys: Chuck Rorie, Robbie Ratliff and Anthony Youngers brought in a 45.96-pound male coyote. They won $1115 cash and the following prizes:

• 1st place custom Carolina Coyote Classic Belt Buckles
• Ruger American 6.5 Creedmoor Predator Package with Vortex Optics, provided by Hal’s Gun and Pawn Shop
• FREQ Ultrasonic Game Call
• Charles Hubert Gents Watch with C3 colors, thanks to MacPherson’s Diamonds & Designs
• Banish Solo Suppressor, thanks to Silencer Central
• $250 gift certificate for Custom Cerakote, thanks to DNA Firearm Systems
• Nightshade Optics Sweatshirts
• Handy Drags thanks to Nightshade Optics
• Keys Gun Shop hat
• FREQ Ultrasonic Game Calls hat
• Pocket Drag thanks to Nocturnal Optics
• DNA Firearm hat
• Reed Mine Processing beanie
• Huntworth Heat Boost gloves
• Leofoto Outdoors hats

2nd Place: Law Dog Tactical: Tim Dockery and Zach Hughes weighed in a 43.65-pound male coyote to wind $669 cash and the following prizes:

• 2nd place custom Carolina Coyote Classic Belt Buckles
• FoxPro Inc. Hellcat Electronic Call
• Banish Solo Suppressor, thanks to Silencer Central
• Panzer 12-gauge magazine-fed semi-auto shotgun, provided by Street’s Gun & Pawn
• Leofoto Outdoors Carbon Fiber Tripod
• $250 gift certificate for Custom Cerakote, thanks to DNA Firearm Systems
• FoxPro hats
• Keys Gun Shot hat
• Handy Drags, thanks to Nightshade Optics
• Nightshade Optics t-shirts
• DNA Firearm Systems hat
• Pocket Drags, thanks to Nocturnal Optics
• Reed Mine Processing beanie
• Huntworth Heat Boost globes
• Nightshade Optics hat
• Leofoto Outdoors hats

3rd Place: County Line Reapers: JB Riley, Kyle Aidala and Brandon Griffin’s 43.2-pound male coyote earned them $446 cash and the following prizes:

• 3rd place custom Carolina Coyote Classic Belt Buckles
• Sniper Hog Lights 30LRX flashlight package
• Banish Solo Suppressor, thanks to Silencer Central
• Hatfield 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun, courtesy of Key’s Gun Shop
• FoxPro hand calls
• FoxPro hats
• Kopfjager Tripod, thanks to Nocturnal Optics
• Leofoto Outdoors Ball Head, thanks to Nocturnal Optics
• Handy Drags, thanks to Nocturnal Optics
• Huntworth Heat Boost gloves
• Leofoto Outdoors hats

Puppy Paws (combined weight of 10 coyotes in the Fat Dog Class)

1st Place: Reaped: Carl Cole, Miles Barringer, Jonathan Chermak and Justin Smith’s 10 coyotes weighed a combined 374.52 pounds. The team won the following prizes:

• Custom engraved tumblers, thanks to Black Widow Brand Works
• Black Widow Deer Lures Scrape Duo and 10% off gift certificate
• Nightshade Optics t-shirts
• FREQ Ultrasonic Game Call
• Leofoto Outdoors hats

Lucky 7s (combined weight of 7 coyotes in the Fat Dog Class)

1st Place: Team Creepin: Bud Ratliff, Anthony Taylor, Dustin Horne and Brian Allen weighed seven coyotes for a total of 259.55 pounds. They won these prizes:

• Custom engraved tumbler, thanks to Black Widow Brand Works
• Fatboy Tripods Elevate carbon fiber tripod
• Fatboy Invert60 ball head
• Quarter Minute Arms rifle barrel 22 Creedmoor
• Black Widow Deer Lures Scrape Duo and 10% off gift certificate
• Custom engraved ammo can, thanks to Zeus Laser Engraving
• Leofoto Outdoors hats

Four of a Kind (combined weight of four same-sex coyotes in the Fat Dog Class)

1st Place: HHS Boys: Jamie Hinson, Luke Hinson, Nathan Myrick and Noah Blake weighed four coyotes that totaled 151.44 pounds, and won the following prizes:

• Custom engraved tumblers, thanks to Black Widow Brand Works
• Leofoto Outdoors carbon fiber tripod
• Quarter Minute Arms rifle barrel 22 ARC
• Black Widow Deer Lures Scrape Duo and 10% off gift certificate
• Custom engraved ammo can, thanks to Zeus Laser Engraving
• Leofoto Outdoors hats

Joker (smallest coyote of the tournament)

1st Place: Pasture Poodles: Justin Clay and Rickie Wright’s 21.38-pound coyote won them a Rossi FDE 22LR rifle, thanks to All Seasons Outdoors & Pawn

Queen of Spades (Big Female Side Pot)

1st Place: Reaped: Carl Cole, Miles Barringer, Jonathan Chermak and Justin Smith weighed a 38.24-pound female to win $5000 cash, the biggest payout for the Big Female Coyote in the history of the Carolina Coyote Classic.

Devil Dog Side Pot, Sponsored by DNA Firearm Systems (black coyote drawing)

Winner: Jeremy Blackmon with Team Smokum Outdoors drew the winning card and won a DNA Firearm Systems ALPHA Lightweight Receiver Set

Ugly Mug Award sponsored by Nightshade Optics (nastiest coyote)

Winner: NRV Night Crew: Justin Surratt, Aaron Vest and Elijah Matherly’s coyote won them:

• $150 Cash
• Nightshade Optics prize pack

MacPherson expressed gratitude to all the hunters that participated, as well as the sponsors and vendors that contributed door prizes and raffles:

• Thermal Optics Plus
• McDonald General Store
• Zeus Laser Engraving
• Southern Outdoors
• Gold Digger Wild Game Attractant
• DNA Firearm Systems
• HHS Boys
• Quarter Minute Arms
• FREQ Ultrasonic Game Calls
• Leofoto Outdoors
• Black Widow Deer Lures
• Huntworth Gear
• Around Back Taxidermy
• RIX Optics
• Pulsar Optics
• Nocpix