AI was utilized in the writing of this article.
Jimmy Dean
February 7, 2024
The District 9 Pennsylvania Trapper’s Association annual coyote hunt at Triton Hose Company in Tunkhannock witnessed a record-breaking turnout, with area hunters bringing in 82 coyotes. This figure surpasses the previous year’s count by three. Greg Read secured the Grand Prize of $2,250 for the heaviest coyote, a male weighing 51.65 pounds from Wayne County. Other notable catches include Dennis Hedrick’s 46.2-pound coyote from Pike County and Christopher Jennings’s 44.9-pound male from Susquehanna County, captured in the final moments of the hunt.
Despite initial doubts due to a decrease in hunter participation, the event saw a surge in the final hour, much to the organizer Terry Lutz’s surprise and delight. The successful hunt was distributed across several counties, with Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming contributing to the tally.
The event also serves as an educational opportunity, allowing researchers like Lauren Maxwell, a graduate of Delaware Valley University, to collect data for ongoing studies at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. This research aims to analyze the coyotes’ diet and track diseases, contributing valuable insights into wildlife management and conservation efforts.