Neither the all-female team or their male counterparts came home with bragging rights from last weekend’s VFW Post Coyote Tournament in south Henry County.
Sarah Bourland, spouse of tournament organizer Colby Bourland, along with Colby’s sister, Katie Koshko and Colby’s brother Colton’s partner, Maggy Ruth, challenged themselves to win this year’s tournament, or at least to beat their partners’ totals.
“Only five teams killed any coyotes,”Colby said. “It wasn’t a good year.”
The tournament drew 21 teams, who each paid $100 to enter. First place went to Micheal Ashley and Conner Bock of Rockville, who brought in 15 coyotes and also took first prize for largest coyote, 40.3 pounds. A total of 26 coyotes were brought into Sunday’s 3 p.m. check-in. The tournament usually results in 50 to 100 animals taken, Colby said.
The warm weather may have affected the success of the hunters, as warm temperatures are not good for coyote hunting, according to Travis Gillis, who organizes the Bates County Elks Lodge Coyote Hunt in Butler, held in February.
The 7th annual Coyote Tournament is a fundraiser for the VFW Post in Montrose. This year, the tournament raised $1,000 for the post, Colby said, which supports youth programs and services for veterans, and paid out $1,100 in prizes.
Coyote hunts provide sport hunting and predator control, according to Drew Davis, the Henry County agent for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Coyotes, which are omnivorous, eat small deer and livestock. Populations are thriving throughout North America.
