An event over the weekend saw hunting enthusiasts find a way to support a youth group in the area while enjoying the pastime.

The SW Sask Coyote Derby took place in Maple Creek on Saturday, where a group of 28 hunters were grouped into teams of two and participated in the hunting-based competition.

All proceeds raised from the event are said to be going back to Maple Creek's Assembly Church of God youth group.

Paul Martens is the youth pastor at the church-organized the event, and said that the funds would be put towards supplying the youth group with recreational activities.

"And we do different fundraisers for our youth group just so we can provide stuff like bouncy castles and video games, we kind of basically have a drop-in centre type of thing. We just provide a place for kids to come have fun, and it's a safe atmosphere."

Martens said that this is the third time that they have hosted the day-long competition, which was born out of his love of hunting.

Incentives in the competition side of things were spurred from possible awards, but there were also raffles that were available to enter, Martens said.

"We give away a rifle, and it's all done by a raffle, so everybody that enters in the derby gets a chance at the gun, so that's a big drawing card, and then we give away prizes for the team that got the most coyotes, and the person that shot the biggest coyotes, we have stuff like that that we do give out prizes for, but for the most part everyone gets a prize of some sort, we get a lot of stuff donated (to be given away)."

After the hunting has been completed, participants could donate any of the animals they acquired to the group, where they would be skinned and sold, with funds going back to the youth group, which has around 50 members.

Martens said that nine coyotes were brought in to the group, and said that last year the pelts for the animals ranged in price from $100 to $130.

He commented that since coyotes pose a threat to livestock producers, he had heard positive things back about the lack of the predators created by the event.