Dale LaPalme, center, accepts a donation from Kevin Kramer, right, of Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County and Kevin Sundholm, left, of Eastern Dickinson County Sportsmen’s Club. LaPalme, a regular participant in the annual hunt, is a representative of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain that supports events and activities for veterans.

FELCH — Several area wildlife organizations again partnered to coordinate the 2019 Dickinson County Predator Quest from Feb. 1 to 10.

The competition allowed both hunting and trapping of predators. It drew 55 registered participants, including seven youth hunters/trappers.

A total of 15 coyote, six fox and one bobcat were harvested. Eleven of the animals were taken by hunters and 11 by trappers.

Prize winners in the hunting division were: first place, Dan and Dennis Tappy; second place, Joe Fornetti; and third place, Don and Keith Maki.

Trapping winners were: first place, Dan and Dennis Tappy; second place, George Freeman and Greg Anderson; third place, Ken Ludtke; and fourth place, Paul Wender.

The contest offered cash prizes: $600 for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for third place, $100 for fourth. Each person paid $25 to participate.

A 50-50 drawing yielded $171 in prize money, but the winner generously gave $70 back to the organization, allowing a $241 donation to be made to the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The MOPH supports veteran efforts and activities at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain.

The event, hosted by Solbergs Bar and Supper Club in Felch, is supported by several sportsmen’s organizations, including: Eastern Dickinson County Sportsmen’s Club, United Sportsmen Inc., U.P .Trappers District 3, U.P. Whitetails of Dickinson County, U.P. Whitetails of Marquette County and Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County, as well as local business, Iron Mountain Power Sports.