At the first annual Lone Star Predator Calling Classic in Lampasas, sponsored by the Hoffpauir Group and Lone Star Outdoor News, 103 teams vied for more than $26,000 in prize money. Teams hunted beginning Saturday at noon and had to be present at the noon weigh-in at the Hoffpauir Expo Grounds in Lampasas by noon Sunday.
A cold front had some teams hunting in the sleet, with some teams coming from the north arriving in ice-covered trucks for the weigh-in that featured hot gumbo from Toupsie’s Creole restaurant, a warm fire, door prizes from Lee Hoffpauir and giveaways from Hornady.
In the team competition, the heaviest stringer (coyote, bobcat, grey fox and raccoon) went to the Brush Country Boys team from Falls County, with 91.2 pounds, who won $12,720.50 for their overnight effort.
Second place also went to a Falls County team, Bonds Ranch, with 90.2 pounds, winning $4,892.50.
The Beer Belly Varmint Hunters finished third with 87.8 pounds, winning $1,957. The team also won the Big Coon category, bringing home another $1,545, and, because they used Nikon scopes, the 3-man team each won new Monarch scopes.
Team Anthrax won the Big Dog category, with a 42.8-pound coyote, winning $1,545; and Team Gregory won the Big Cat with a 27.7-pound bobcat, winning $1,545.
The Rabbit Creek Killing Crew brought in the winner in the Big Fox category at 11.2 pounds, earning $1,545 in their first try at competing in a varmint-hunting contest.
“It was a great turnout for the first-time hunt,” said event organizer Jason Maroney. “We’ll be looking to make it bigger and better next year.”
