Six years ago, Colby Bourland and Matt Koch were trying to come up with fundraisers for the VFW post in Montrose. Their idea: a Coyote Tournament, which they would charge teams $100 to enter. The entry fees would be split 50-50 between the VFW post and prizes for first, second and third place and biggest coyote.
“Coyote hunts were common,” Colby said, “and it seemed like something the public would support.”
They did, and this year marks the 7th annual tournament, on March 4 and 5. Most of the hunters are male, but last year, there was one all-female team of hunters, who are returning to try again.
“They were kind of skunked last year,” Colby said. “They say this is going be their year.”
The team members are Colby’s spouse, Sarah Bourland, a para-educator at Appleton City schools; Colby’s sister, Katie Koshko, a nurse at Elliott Memorial Hospital; and Maggy Roth, a former Butler police officer, the partner of Colby’s brother.
“We have two goals.” Maggy said. “Our first goal is to win. Our second goal is to beat the other team.”
The other team is their partners, Colby, his brother Colton and Katie’s spouse, Tyler.
While the women are the only all female-team, farm wives are sometimes drafted to fill out a team, Colby said, which can have up to three people. The tournament averages 20 teams a year, he said, and has raised thousands of dollars for the VFW post, which supports youth programs and services for veterans.
The hunters bring in 50 to 100 coyotes, which sounds like a lot, but is a tiny percent of the estimated 3 to 5 million coyote in the United States. A species of canine native to North America, coyote are omnivorous, and eat anything they can find, including rabbits, rodents, insects, frogs, fruit, small deer and livestock.
Populations are thriving through the United States and Canada. Their name derives from an Aztec word, coyotl, and they traditionally lived on the plains, but have moved into a variety of habitats, including urban areas, and are now found in every state except Hawaii. The coyote is the smaller cousin of the wolf, whose niche the coyote are filling. A coyote, by the way, can run at speeds of more than 45 miles per hour, twice as fast as the roadrunner.
Alleviating depredation of livestock is one reason coyote hunting is sanctioned by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Drew Davis, the MDC agent for Henry County, said some hunters hunt coyote for sport and others for predator control. Coyotes can be hunted year-round in Missouri, he said, except during turkey season, which is the first two and half weeks in April. License requirements vary, depending on your age and where you are hunting.
“Before you go out, look at the regulations to make sure you are in compliance,” Drew said. He added that people can call him, 660-885-1621, and he will answer specific questions.
Last weekend, the Bates County Elks Lodge in Butler sponsored a Coyote Hunt, as a fundraiser for scholarships and the Elks Benevolent Fund. The success of the hunters depends on the weather, hunt organizer Travis Gillis said, which has ranged from below-freezing temperatures and strong winds with a foot of snow on the ground to the warm weather for last weekend’s tournament.
“I think hunting will be good in the early morning or late evening, but warm temperatures during the day are not good for coyote hunting,” he said last week.
Last year, a total of 38 coyotes brought in, Travis said, with the winning team taking 13 coyotes.
At last weekend’s hunt, there were 16 teams entered, with a total of 64 coyotes brought it to the Sunday evening check-in. The team captained by Clay Regers took first place, with 23 coyotes. In second place was Jake Rapp’s team with 17 coyotes, and third was Steve Jones’ team with 10 coyotes. Clay Regers also took the prize for biggest coyote, 37 pounds, 2 oz.
Hunters can hunt with center-fire rifles or rim-fire rifles, Colby said, and can use coyote calls, either mouth calls or electronic calls that can be activated remotely.
The calls mimic a rabbit or rodent in distress, he said.
“Coyotes are usually thinking about food,” Colby said. “If you’re calling them, they’ll run straight to you, and not pay attention to anything else.”
Hunters dispose of the carcasses after check-in, Colby said, but anyone who wants the tail or fur, for which the market has dropped, can come to the check-ins and take them. The Montrose VFW Coyote Tournament starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 3, with registration at the Montrose VFW Hall, 311 Missouri Ave. (SW Hwy. Hh) on the corner of SW Hwy. Hh and 4th Street, Montrose, MO 64770.
Night hunting is permitted. The Montrose tournament ends with check-in at 3 p.m sharp on Sunday, March 5, at the VFW hall.
Teams are eligible for door prizes, which include sportswear from Bear Arms in El Dorado, and a Heritage Barkeep 22LR Revolver. Colby also has Coyote Tournament hats from Rural Roots in Appleton City for the first, second and third place team members, and for other participants.
Other hunters in this year’s tournament hoping to win take home the coveted first-place caps?
“A group of junior-high kids from Appleton City called me and want to enter,” Colby said.
Tournament sponsors include Ryan Kalwei Trucking and Rhodes Exterminating. For questions, call Colby Bourland at 660-492-5206.
