Coyote hunters were awarded $48,120 in Pennsylvania’s biggest coyote, the Mosquito Creek Sportsmen’s Association coyote hunt, which ran Friday, February 15, through Sunday, February 17.
Clay Webster, of Erie, took the top prize of $9,624 for the heaviest coyote weighed in during the organized hunt, a 48.5-pound male.
Dayton Ward, of Clearfield, captured $5,774.40 for the second heaviest coyote, a 46.75-pound male.
The third largest coyote was a 46.65-pound male killed by Matthew Shimmel, of Clearfield. His prize was $3,849.60.
Jeremy Bisbee, of Erie, weighed in the largest female, a 43.6-pounder that brought a prize of $9.624.
All the winning coyotes were typical of adult coyotes in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, adult male coyotes in Pennsylvania weigh 45-55 pounds. They are much larger than their western counterparts because of their genetical mixing with wolves and dogs as they expanded their range to the east.
Each of the 225 coyotes weighed in during the hunt garnered $86 for the successful hunters.
The Mosquito Creek hunt was just one of several held this weekend. The others were organized by the Laurel Highlands Coon and Squirrel Hunters Club, Mount Pleasant; Sinnemahoning Sportsman's Association, Sinnemahoning, 14th annual; and St. Marys Sportsmen's Association, St. Marys, 15th annual.
While coyotes may be hunted anytime in Pennsylvania and small groups of hunters often do a small-money pool contest among themselves, the big stakes and big numbers come into play when the sportsmen's groups launch their annual contests.
Many smaller organized hunts have also been held this year, including Little Valley Sportsmen, Saxton; Endless Mountain Coon Hunters, Springville, 13th annual; United Sportsmen Camp 271, Huntington Mills, 16th annual; District 9A Pennsylvania Trappers Association, Tunkhannock; Jerome Sportsmen, Jerome, 10th annual; Lake Edinboro Sportsmen's League, Cambridge Springs, first hunt; Orbisonia Rockhill Sportsman's Association, Orbisonia; Three Springs Fire Company, Three Springs; Ellsworth Sportsmen's Club hunt, Scenery Hill, 5th annual; Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Laporte, 12th annual; Pocono Mountain Outfitters, Tannersville, fifth annual; Scott Township Hose Company No. 1, Scott Township, first year; and Cresson Community Sportsman's Association, Cresson, 13th annual; Pennsylvania State Hunters Organization, Newport, 14th annual; and Port Clinton Fish & Game Association, Port Clinton, 16th annual.
Other upcoming hunts include those organized by the Colver Sportsmen’s Club, Ebensburg, February 22-24; Liberty Township Sportsmen’s Association, Blanchard, March 1-3; and Corydon Volunteer Fire Department, Corydon, 20th annual, March 3-4.
More about coyotes in Pennsylvania:
- Coyotes in Pennsylvania: Latest information and research
- 11 things you don’t know about coyotes in Pennsylvania
- Did the Pennsylvania Game Commission stock coyotes into the state?