The 5th Annual Big Sandy American Legion Coyote Derby returns to Big Sandy January 7th -9th. The early registration deadline is December 23. $1,000 is guaranteed for each class. There is a Rock Island VRGO 12 Gauge Semi-Auto Shotgun raffle for $10 a ticket or $100 for six tickets. Only 350 tickets will be sold.
Check-in is Friday, January 7th, 5-8 pm at the Jerry Marin Memorial Hall. Rules and Calcutta will be immediately after check-in. Chili Dinner will be $5.00 plate. The cost is $40 per person up to a four-person team. Check-in Saturday, January 8, is 4-8 pm. Check-in Sunday, January 9. Check-in Sunday night at the Jerry Martin Memorial Hall by 5 pm. Pulled pork dinner. $5 a person with winners announced and door prizes will be given away
There will be fur buyers on hand Sunday night by invitation only.
Please get in touch with Stephen or Lindsay Boyce for more information at 406-386-2475 or 406-399-1753.
Coyotes have no natural predators except man in our area. Midway Ranch reported that the coyotes would enter the calving area to attack newborn calves last calving season. In Montana, there are no programs for coyote control. The only measure is for the predators to be shot in Montana year-round without a license by both resident and nonresident hunters. “A Conservation License, or a state school trust lands recreational use license, is required to shoot predators on state school trust lands. Permission must be obtained to shoot predators on private land.”
According to the FWP, “Coyotes cannot be hunted with the aid of dogs, aircraft, or mechanized vehicles. The use of artificial lights to attract, search for, or spot wildlife is prohibited.”
Every year, there is criticism of this coyote hunt by those who believe that coyotes maintain their own population and, therefore, unnecessary to kill them. However, you can visit with any farmer/rancher at least southeast Big Sandy and discover the coyotes have large numbers, and there is a concern going into the calving season.
This event allows the American Legion to support a scholarship and the local American Legion. It wouldn’t be possible without several sponsors: Stockman Bank, Montana Outfitting company, Agri-prairie, Tilleman Moto Company, Hi-line Packing, Matt’s Electric, Birch Ag, Boyce Construction, Central machine & Ag Repair, Diamond Back Excavating LLC, E-1 Towing, Frontline Ag Solutions, Havre distributors, Inc., Hi-Line Rental, Rod’s Drive-In, lodestar Lan & Home, Ma’s Loma Café, The Grocery Store, The Shanty Bar, and Torgerson’s
