7th ANNUAL COYOTE CLASSIC A SUCCESS

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7th ANNUAL COYOTE CLASSIC A SUCCESS

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn-EKm3iUW0[/video]

News Release . . . For Immediate Release . . . Jan. 14, 2009

7th ANNUAL COYOTE CLASSIC A SUCCESS


Coyotehunter.net would like to thank everyone who participated in the Classic this year. Held at The Quality Inn in Dickinson, North Dakota January 8-10, 2009, this tournament offered over $16,000 in cash and prizes. I would have to say that this was by far the toughest Classic to date. None of these guys would have been out hunting that day had it not been for the tournament. Wind, snow and ice. The day before the tournament it rained 4” and then dropped down to the single digits Thursday night. They shut down the interstate for a while Friday morning and several trucks hit the ditch on the way out and even more yet got stuck going to and from stands. Other teams had to deal with trucks breaking down in the field and had to call the day short to get back in town to buy parts. Lots of snow with the guys on snow shoes being able to get out away from the truck easier. A very tough two days of hunting.

Only 29 coyotes brought in the first day, and with the exception of Todd & Tory Heid and Joe & John Bertolotto who each brought in 4 coyotes, most teams spent the day looking at miles and miles of deep snow and coyotes pacing back and forth on a ridge in the distance. Coyotes where trying to come in but they had trouble making it through the snow. What we typically heard was that the coyotes would make it a couple hundred yards and give up. Busting through up to their shoulders in the deep snow and finding that the crust would not support their weight. Saturday the wind might have settled down some but still a very windy day. Travel in the deep snow was slow and loud. 26 coyotes checked in on Saturday and a grand total of 55 coyotes where checked in over the 2 day hunt.


Coyotehunter.net offered prize money and plaques to the teams that brought in the most coyotes in this two-day tournament. Cash prizes were awarded both Friday and Saturday for the largest and smallest coyotes brought in by the 49 two-man teams. Something new we did this year at the Saturday check-ins was subject the apparent winning team to a Polygraph test. The test was performed by Michael Stensrud of Bismarck-Mandan Security, Inc. with 28 years of experience of providing tests for Lawyers, insurance companies, and even a couple of Fishing tournaments, we feel now that we have the most comprehensive rules of any tournaments out there. Making it virtually impossible to win the “Classic” by cheating. Each member from the winning team had to sit down for a hour one-on-one with the examiner. This is something we foresee ourselves doing in the future and believe it will help eliminate any rumors about cheating at this event.

After the awards ceremony Saturday we passed out over $2000 in door prizes with everyone on Saturday night going home with something. Thanks to everyone who stuck around for the Awards presentation.


The largest coyote shot on Friday weighed in at 31.98 lbs, and was taken by Jason Schneider and Chad Woehl. The smallest dog for day one weighed 18.95 lbs, and was taken by Joe and John Bertolotto. The largest coyote taken Saturday was brought in by Todd and Tory Heid, and it weighed in at 36.00 lbs. Jeff Rheborg and Dawayne VanDenHoek took the prize on Saturday, for the smallest dog, weighing in at 19.66 lbs. These teams took home $360.00 a piece for the big dog/little dog contest totaling $1440.00.

Over 440 coyotes where seen during this two day event with 55 coyotes checked-in. All that white snow really made them stand out. Take a look at past years results and the number of coyotes spotted. A lot of these teams hunt this tournament every year, and hunt relatively the same area year after year. In past years we have not had a lot of snow and of course making the coyotes harder to see. You can kind of get a feel for the kind of numbers that are out there and how many coyotes you are not seeing when there is no snow on the ground. The sheer number of coyotes spotted in such terrible hunting weather was surprising to me. The top five teams split cash purses totaling $10,257.00. First place this year went to Todd and Tory Heid who brought in a total of 8 coyotes. They bought themselves in the Calcutta, so their cash payout was $3956.00. They were also each awarded with D.P.M.S. Panther SST Bull barrel .223 rifles, Desert Shadow Camo, and Coyote-head Trophies. Second place went to Joe and John Bertolotto bringing in 4 coyotes Friday but not able to pick up a coyote on Saturday (3:30 pm check-in) with winnings of $1,466 and plaques. Their team was bought in the Calcutta by Clint Bachmeier for $170 and paid back $1318.00. Wayne Buchholz and Justin Bogstad checked in a total of 4 coyotes (5:16 pm check-in) giving them Third Place. They were awarded Plaques and $1173.00 plus they bought themselves in the Calcutta, which paid out an additional $880.00. Randy Roede and Daryl Sollin with 3 coyotes (5:07 pm check-in) took Fourth Place, they went home with $880.00 and Plaques. Fifth place winners with 3 dogs (5:13pm check-in) Mike Sonsalla and Scott Bradac were awarded $586.00, and plaques.

Coyotehunter.net would like to thank Amy Braun and Terri Thiel of the Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau for all their hard work. A special thanks to the following: Brad Troftgruben, Levi Mcnally, Chris Lyons and my wife Jody Olson for all the hard work they did running the tournament. I would also like to thank the Quality Inn of Dickinson, ND. Thanks to all the contributors and sponsors: D.P.M.S Panther Rifles, Zepp’s Predator Calls, FoxPro, Burnham Brothers, Verminator Calls, Berger Bullets, Sierra Bullets, Predator Extreme

We would like to thank all of you for your help and support, setting up booths, giving seminars, advertising and donating doors prizes. And special thanks again this year to all the hunters who continue to support this annual event. Keep posted, some changes are coming up and next years tournament will be available for entry on line in the next couple of weeks. We hope to see you all again next year.
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