X RING CUSTOM LLC   FIREARMS SALES - SERVICE - TRAINING

X RING CUSTOM held their 7th Annual Coyote Competition on Friday, February 2, 2018 and Saturday, February 3, 2018.  On Friday, at 5:00 pm, a total of 46 teams from throughout Illinois (grand total of 92 hunters) arrived at X RING CUSTOM eager to pick up bite sticks (that had to be properly placed in the coyote’s mouth in order to be counted for the competition), door prize tickets, and a competitor drawing ticket for the X RING CUSTOM $200.00 Gift Card. Teams called in downed coyotes throughout the two-day hunt with morning and evening coyote check-ins.

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Even with trying weather conditions, a bright full moon on Friday night and howling winds on Saturday, an impressive total of 70 coyotes were called in by the competitors. There were 68 coyotes checked in, weighed, and counted on Saturday. The check-in crew carefully inspected each coyote to ensure it was a fresh kill. Food, awards, and drawings took place at the Toledo American Legion starting at 6:00pm. Many hunters received various door prizes consisting of a game call, headlamps, hats, lights, lanyards, coyote urine, gun cleaning patches, and other hunting gear from area and corporate sponsors including: FoxPro, Predator Tactics Hunting Lights, Hall’s Fur and Game Farm, and X RING CUSTOM.

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Winning the drawing for the Savage Axis II 223 with a Nikon scope, from X RING CUSTOM, was Michael Zerrusen of Teutopolis, IL.  The winner of competitor drawing for the X RING CUSTOM $200.00 was Joseph Ewing of Kell, IL.Cash prizes and custom designed coyote skull mount trophies, made by Colin Cole of Toledo, were given to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Biggest, and Smallest coyote winning teams. Cash prizes were awarded to 4th, 5th, and 6th place.

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Winning 1st place with 10 coyotes, weighing 308.14 lbs, was Mike Russell and Travis Gillett both from Salem, IL. Joseph Ewing of Kell and Bill Shelby of West Salem downed 10 coyotes weighing 302.4 lbs which earned them the 2nd place trophy (which was a 2-way tie with 10 coyotes, so the largest combined weight was the determining factor). Coming in 3rd place was Nathan Standerfer of Tower Hill and Nathan Cushman of Stewardson with 9 coyotes weighing 276.65 lbs. Dustin Herdes of Newton and Troy Porter of Louisville snagged 7 coyotes weighing 204.65 lbs earning them 4th place. 5th place went to Daniel Webster of Kinmundy and Jon Schoonover of Carterville for grabbing 6 coyotes weighing 174.75 lbs. Chris Stoneburner and Michael Cain both from Mason took 6th Place with 6 coyotes weighing in at 163.45 lbs (another tie with weight determination for place).

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Nathan Standerfer of Tower Hill and Nathan Cushman of Stewardson snatched the biggest coyote which weighed 37.4 lbs. The smallest coyote, 22.65 lbs was brought in by Joseph Ewing of Kell and Bill Shelby of West Salem.

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 After the hunt, many red-eyed hunters enjoyed the hot chili, peanut butter sandwiches, and tasty summer sausage, donated by Brian and Maria Teets - B & M Venison of Montrose, told their interesting hunting stories and made cherished hunting memories from the competition. X RING CUSTOM is looking forward to the 8th Annual Coyote Competition in 2019 with several big changes to be announced at a later date!