NIOBRARA COUNTY - This year’s predator hunt, put on by Kyle Gruwell and Clay Moore, was deemed a huge success with 12 teams participating. We were able to harvest 89 coyotes, 12 raccoons, three red foxes, and 27 porcupines. In a 24-hour period. From 1 p.m. on Saturday the November 23 and on Sunday, November 24 at 1 p.m.

The winning teams where; First place, Justin Bruegger, Garrett Gray, and Kyle Westover, Second place Dakota Forkner, Brett Ruiz, Camron Cook, and Peyton Spires, Third place, Niobrara County High School (NCHS) students Keen Coffman and partner John Moore, and fourth place, Triston Hunter, Nathan Woodrum, and Joel Thomsen.
Another high point was NCHS student Royal Kremmers, who brought in the most porcupines and one of the heaviest porcupines weighing 21 pounds.

“This is why we structure our hunt the way we do. But teams can hunt anywhere they choose,” Gruwell said. “With that, said we had a confirmed harvest of 39 Niobrara county coyotes, a number that I was very pleased with.”

“I would like to thank Shirley and Lorie at The 3 Sisters in Manville for always supporting our hunt and letting us base it out of their establishment,” Gruwell told the Herald. “Also thank you to Danny Matney for auctioneering our Calcutta and Doug Jergenson for being the official Judge. I’d like to thank Bradley Netz for donating the Fur proceeds 50/50 back to next year’s hunt and the Niobrara county 4H shooting sports we also donated 10% of our Calcutta to the NC4H shooting sports.”