Tyler Gardner, 14, of McBee, and his dog, “Radar,” won the Senior Division representing the Black Creek Coonhunters Association. Tyler qualified to hunt in the state championship hunt by placing second in his division as well as winning the sportsmanship award at the Darlington regional youth hunt held last fall.

Thirty-nine young coon hunters braved a cool steady rain recently to participate in the 11th annual South Carolina Youth Raccoon Hunting Championship at the Webb Wildlife Center in Hampton County.

The Feb. 25 event was was Co-sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the S.C. Coon Hunters Association. Nine regional events were held statewide to determine who would attend the state championship hunt. All participants must first qualify in a regional hunt in order to be invited to participate in the championship event.

Read more about the 2006 South Carolina Youth Raccoon Hunting Championship.