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Old 02-10-2009, 08:56 AM
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Jrbhunter
Fork Horn
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 285
Default Indiana Predator Challenge 2009 (RECAP)


The 2009 Indiana Predator Challenge is now complete!

This 5th annual event has been a record breaker from day one, LITERALLY! The first day of registration, back on July 15th of 2008, generated nearly 1/3rd of the limited entries we were looking for. It took less than 2 weeks to lock in the largest field in IPC history!

On Friday February 6th a field of 62 hunters checked in for what would turn out to be the most deceivingly difficult contest in event history. As organizers prepared to deliver the rules to the crowd of eager hunters, a chatter came over the group and eyes widened. A red fox had trotted across the field just behind our trucks in broad daylight! After releasing the contestants to travel across the countryside in search of predators, a coyote would also appear in plain view of even staff back at headquarters!

Surprisingly a sluggish predator response combined with the rough terrain and warming weather would make short work of two teams, but the rest prevailed to Saturdays check-in with the lowest harvest since our first event.


Team Lucky Point checked in one of the three coyotes they called up on an afternoon stand.


The Regulators would take an early lead with a pair of coyotes they called in around 2:45am!


Although most were tired and sore from the first 24 hours of hunting, hopes were high during lunch as the point spread was minimal and could easily be overcome! Each team had stories of predators spotted along the roadway, sprinting thru a calling stand or hanging up just out of range. One group had spotted a bobcat; another had already seen 6 coyotes- you could feel the energy building to get back in the field!

The guys enjoyed a pork BBQ lunch with all the fixins and mingled for a couple hours.



Glancing over our record breaking prize packages added a little boost of energy as well!




Each hunter took home magazines, decals and T-shirts but the first 36 guys to registration on Saturday also received their choice of some great door prizes!



Finally it was time for the 5th annual IPC Rifle Contest. A shooter from each team was set aside while the rest of their team spread out to view the contest. One by one they made their way to the shooting position and took their shot at those much needed points!


Jeff Porter of Illinois settled in as our first shooter in the rifle contest, his 4 targets in 60 seconds set the bar very high!


Jason Brunner tried to defend his 2008 win with a borrowed rifle, which appeared to be dreadfully inaccurate as bullets whizzed 18” to the right of the bullseyes!


Kyle Nees of the “Ultimate Predators” would be our last shooter of the day. As we’ve come to expect from the Indiana Predator Challenge events: the whole score sheet was turned on its ear in merely 40.58 seconds.



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