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HUNTINGTON MILLS — Snowy conditions limited the number of coyotes that were turned in at last weekend’s hunt held by the Huntington Mills United Sportsmen Camp 271, but it didn’t prevent a record from being set.

Of the eight coyotes turned in, the heaviest topped the scales at a whopping 50.77 pounds, taken in Wyoming County by Robert Brown of Tunkhannock. In comparison, the heaviest coyote taken in last year’s hunt in Tunkhannock - an event that attracted 760 hunters, weighed 45.50 pounds.

“We had another coyote brought in that weighed 47 pounds, so along with the 50-pound coyote we had the two heaviest ever for our hunt,” United Sportsmen club member Gene Dodge said.

This year’s hunt, which had 771 hunters take part, presented some challenging conditions in certain areas after a snowstorm hit on Friday and Saturday. To the north, the snow was light and didn’t pose a problem, but in the southern part of the area deep snow impeded mobility and made finding tracks tough.

“It’s difficult to hunt when there’s no snow because there aren’t any tracks to put the dogs on,” Dodge said. “But when it’s snowing during the hunt, any fresh tracks are being covered up.”

Jeff Cragle of Hunlock Creek had no problem finding coyote tracks during the weekend with his Penn Marydel hunting dogs. He hunted in the Harveyville area and bagged a 34.81-pound coyote on Sunday morning.

As long as the snow doesn’t fall in the early morning and cover the tracks made by coyotes the night before, Cragle said, conditions are perfect.

“Sunday was better than Saturday because the fresh snow was on the ground for a while and we could find tracks,” Cragle said. “Other than a few cold trails, we didn’t have our first chase until Sunday.”

Most of the 84 hunters registered for the hunt used dogs to track coyotes, but a few opted to try to call the canines. Chris Cominsky of West Pittston used calls that imitated a rabbit squeal to lure in coyotes while hunting in the Wanamie area but didn’t have any luck.

The snow improved visibility, he said, but windy nights made coyotes apprehensive to come in to his calls.

“I didn’t even start hunting coyotes seriously until last year when I tried a call and saw one running in. I was hooked after that,” Cominsky said. “Between this and ice fishing, it gives you something to do in the outdoors during winter.”

The hunt is used as a fundraiser for the club, which hosts numerous programs throughout the year such as hunter education programs, youth pheasant hunts, an Easter egg hunt and a sporting clays shoot. It’s also a social event, Dodge said, as many people come out for the breakfast buffet at the clubhouse on Sunday.

“It’s a social activity for the club and we a name - coyote hunt, on it,” he said. “We have more people come for the breakfast than we do club members, and the hunters really enjoy the camaraderie.”

Cragle has participated in the hunt all 14 years of its existence and also signs up for other hunts in the state, such as one being held this weekend in Tunkhannock.

“I didn’t think coyote hunts would get this big, but there are more coyotes now and they are good fundraisers,” he said. “Still, even without the events, I would hunt coyotes no matter what.”
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_coyotehunt1.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Robert Brown with his coyote that weighed 50.77 pounds, which won the United Sportsmen Camp 271 Coyote Hunt last weekend. It was the heaviest coyote ever taken in the 14 years the hunt was held.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_coyotehunt1.jpgRobert Brown with his coyote that weighed 50.77 pounds, which won the United Sportsmen Camp 271 Coyote Hunt last weekend. It was the heaviest coyote ever taken in the 14 years the hunt was held. Nick Wagner| Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_coyotehunt2.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Eight coyotes were taken at last weekend’s hunt hosted by the United Sportsmen Camp 271 in Huntington Mills, including this one taken by Nathan Minier that weighed 47.09 pounds.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_coyotehunt2.jpgEight coyotes were taken at last weekend’s hunt hosted by the United Sportsmen Camp 271 in Huntington Mills, including this one taken by Nathan Minier that weighed 47.09 pounds. Nick Wagner| Times Leader</div>
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By Tom Venesky

tvenesky@www.timesleader.com

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Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky

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Huntington Mills United Sportsmen Camp 271 coyote hunt breaks record