Do you want to go coon hunting? Do you enjoy hearing the bark of a treed dog? How about ham and beans? Do you like them? You can enjoy all these things at the Young Outdoorsmen United Coon Extravaganza scheduled Feb. 18. The event includes a barking showdown, dog races and several groups of live coon hunting.
The activities kick off with the Barking Battle at 3 p.m. Youth will "adopt" a coon hound and will present their dog to a team of judges. Individually, the youth will release the dog into a painted 16-foot circle under a tree. A judge will time the dog inside the circle for 60 seconds while two judges count the number of barks made by the dog during the timed period. Prizes will be awarded to the top five youth.
The Drag Races begin at 4:30 p.m. Youth and their adopted dog will be assigned to a starting line where six racing teams will compete in a 50-yard dash. A judge will signal them to release their dogs towards the tree with the 16-foot circle and the hoisted coon. A judge will determine the first dog to enter the circle and proclaim it the winner. Each youth who wins a race will receive a prize.
Ham and beans will be served at 5:50 p.m. After dark, kids, along with assigned groups of guides and dogs, will head out into the woods in hopes of treeing a coon. The duration of the hunts will be approximately 90 minutes. It is recommended to bring your own flashlights and chairs.
A heated building, bonfire and restrooms will be on site to provide warmth and shelter for everyone to enjoy. The event is free to all youth and $5 for adults over age 18. It is also suggested to arrive early, as over 120 attended last year's event.
The location of the activities is 1.5 miles north of State Highway 90 and J in Southwest City (Stateline Road). Watch for signs. Please call 417-439-8595 for additional information.
Community on 02/16/2017