10th Annual Coyote Cull Winners Drawn

We never came up with the Coyote Cull effort to be about numbers, but a record is a record… The purpose and goal of GON’s Coyote Cull effort is to bring awareness to the impacts of coyotes on fawn and turkey poult survival rates, which have plummeted since non-native, invasive coyotes became established across Georgia. That’s why we do it. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t report that this season saw a record 185 coyotes entered, a big jump over last season and a 5% increase over the previous record of 177 entries set in 2021.   

For every Coyote Cull entry received by GON before the July 15 deadline, the name of the hunter or trapper was put on the chart that appears on the opposite page. Entrants are listed alphabetically by county. The 185 entries begin with Stan Deen and his Appling County coyote entry as No. 1, and ends with Larry Walters and his Worth County entry as No. 185. We use a random number generator (Random.org), and the computer picks the four winners. In the random drawing of all entries, here are the winners:

• The winner of the Vortex Viper PST Gen II Scope is Mark Starr, of Cairo, with a Grady County coyote entered in May. This prize from Georgia-based Kenzie’s Optics retails for $999.99. The Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 is an updated favorite for every situation from close quarters to long-range shots. The glass-etched reticle offers shooters highly functional, intuitive and detailed hold points, yet remains uncluttered for optimal viewing and features 10 intensity levels with off positions between each setting. Rugged construction withstands recoil and impact, and the scope is waterproof and fogproof. Please go to kenziesoptics.com and support our Coyote Cull sponsor.

• The winner of the CASCADE XT (X-Treme),  CVA’s new “precision-oriented” member of the CASCADE family, is Laura Brown, of Carrollton, who entered a coyote from Haralson County. Several key features make it the perfect multiple purpose rifle for hunters. The heavier No. 5 taper fluted barrel adds stability and improves balance, while allowing rapid multiple shots without accuracy loss due to barrel heating. A radial muzzle brake greatly reduces recoil, making the XT very comfortable to shoot both on the range and in the field, even in heavier calibers The XT’s tactical-style bolt knob provides better leverage for faster manipulation of the bolt, especially from the prone position. The suggested retail price of this rifle is $799.99. Visit cva.com/product/cascade-xt for details.

The winner of the $500 cash from Trinity Custom Homes is Ron Rozier, of Waycross, who entered three coyotes from Ware County. It was his June entry that hit on the random number generator. Offering more than 70 customizable home designs, Trinity has helped countless Southerners complete their dream of building on their own land. A longtime GON advertiser, Trinity has sponsored Coyote Cull since day one. Call 888.818.0278 or visit TrinityCustom.com to thank them.

The winner of the $400 Gift Card At TrapShed.com is Chris Lanier, of Roopville, who entered a coyote from Carroll County. TrapShed Supply Co. is a family-run business based in north Georgia. TrapShed is committed to honoring the traditions of the trapping community by providing high-quality baits and lures, a full line of trapping supplies, and by giving each customer personalized service through their intuitive online experience and customer-first mentality.

Chris won a $400 gift card for online purchases at TrapShed.com, plus a TrapShed t-shirt and cap. Visit trapshed.com and thank them for supporting the 10th annual Coyote Cull.