Cody Larkin and Finn Slaughter with the 109kg boar that took out heaviest at the annual Cooktown Hog Hunt.
A record 381 entrants scoured Cape York to bring in almost 10 tonnes of feral hogs in North Queensland’s biggest pig hunt, the Cooktown Hotel Hog Hunt.
The annual event brings hunters from across Queensland and even interstate, with entrants this year vying for more than $40,000 in cash and prizes including a brand new CF Moto 625 quad bike.
Of the 9087kg of feral pig eradicated over the three-day competition, the biggest boar went to Cooktown’s Cody Larkin for a fat 109kg monster, and biggest ladies’ pig went to Donna Paradise with a hefty 95.3kg hog.
Cody, who hunted with partner Athena Buckley Rougier and mates Finn Slaughter and Delainey Griggs, caught the competition-winning hog on Saturday.
“We got the big fulla in a cane paddock, he had just came out of the cane and was laid up in the raspberries,” Athena said.
Athena and Cody have been in four Cooktown Hog Hunts so far, and said they knew they were in with a chance when they eradicated the big boar.
“Most definitely, we thought we had a good chance,” she said.
The pair are avid hunters and outdoors people, and said the Cooktown Hog Hunt was a great event for those with similar interests.
“We love hunting with the dogs and watching them improve and get better every hunt, they love it,” Athena said.
“The Hog Hunt is an awesome event that brings like-minded people together to do what we all love doing.”
The Roberts kids – Lucy, Trojan, Alex, Leon and Josephine, with friends Nash and Teo Smart.
Biggest sow was won by Brendan Graham with an 87kg beast and biggest junior was also 87kg, won by Cooktown youngster Blaine Wawrzyniak.
Mick Delahunty’s 166mm tusks took out the longest tusks prize and mystery weight went to Shannen Larnach with her 44.55kg pig.
Organiser Denicka Danaher said special thanks was due to everyone who entered, as well as the hardworking officials team and Cooktown Hotel staff.
