Each year I provide a complete success report of every hunter who hunted with me so that you can call the unsuccessful ones as well as the ones who got a big one.  Names are listed in order of arrival at camp.  When you call them, please be brief to respect their privacy. Guides names in italics: Grant, Sparky, Brian, Darin, Andy, Steve.  Since all scoring systems recognize any and all scorable points, including brow tines, all scorable points are counted, so a 4x4 buck with brow tines is a 5x5.  I use the SCI system of scoring which is the most fair and equitable system.  It is basically the same as Boone and Crockett gross score, with a couple of important differences;  If scoring the buck typical, you ignore non-typical points instead of deducting them (why penalize a buck for growing extra?).  If scoring him non-typical, all are included.  With SCI there are no deductions for non-symmetry (BC penalizes a buck or bull for growing extra length on one side).  Click on the link to see the buck

Mule Deer

Troy Sams, IN (260)562-2988, Bruce Bateman, Craig Hueter, Cal. (209)527-3030  Drop camp.  Troy killed a nice 29 inch 4x5 buck and then in trying to get it down a cliff Troy fell and skidded down the slope.  Was pretty banged up, but not seriously injured.  Bruce also killed a nice buck.  Although I no longer do drop camps, these guys had booked a couple of years ago and finally drew.

Brad Ingram, CA (707)485-7880  Saw a number of bucks, but didn't find one big enough within range. Grant guide.

Brian Ingram, CA (707)485-7403 Brian hunted hard and long.  Shot at a big 28-30 inch buck, heavy and high.  Long shots. Grant guide.

Rocco Covalt, CA (925)673-0313  Killed a whopper of a non-typical buck!  36 1/2 inch spread, 10x7.  200 yard shot.  Rocco finally drew his deer tag and was rewarded for his wait. Darin guide. Other pics.   Darin  Rocco & Jonesy  Rocco's At Lodge 

Shannon Williams, CA (707)485-0109 Shot at a good 30 inch buck, 406 yards.  Tough shot. Brian guide.

Brett Ingram, CA (707)485-7783  Brett killed a huge 31 1/2 inch 5x6 timberline buck.  Great running shot!  Score 190.  Sparky guide.

Calvin Spratling, OR (541)276-0816  Cal hunted for 10 days.  Passed up some average bucks but never found the whopper he was looking for.  Sparky guide.

Bruce Spratling, MT (406)651-4343  Bruce was with Rocco when he killed the 36 1/2 inch buck.  See photo. Bruce is on the left.  Bruce also saw a 30 inch buck but didn't get a shot.

Jaron Nunnemaker, CA (530)518-8493  Killed a nice 26 inch buck in a snowstorm.  Jaron is a bull rider with the PRCA.

Craig and Dillon Holworthy, CA (559)562-1211  Dillon is only 13 years old, but had several chances at some great bucks. They saw a 28 inch and a 32 inch buck running together.  Made a stalk and Dillon had the 28 incher in his scope at about 150 yards.  Waited too long to see if the 32 would show up for Dad.  Craig passed up a 28 inch buck, didn't fork on the back tine. Brian guide.

Ron Geeslin, TX (940)644-5139  Passed up a beautiful 27" buck on the first day.  Missed a 28" buck on a running shot.

Phil Garner, CA (707)998-3024  Hunted hard but didn't find the big buck. Darin guide.

Jason Garner, CA (707)552-1169  Killed a nice buck on a super-rough mountainside.  Very scenic spot.  He made a great shot on the buck, but misjudged its size.  Nice buck but had some "ground shrinkage".  His first mule deer, so it was a trophy. They also saw a white doe, with just a couple of brown spots on her. Darin guide.

Eric Cox, TX (940)644-5628  Killed a 23 inch buck.  Shot at a 33 inch buck.  He saw 17 bucks on his hunt.  Sparky guide.

Byron Pontoni, CA (916)725-0791  "Saw 20 bucks, passed on a 25. Grant is a great guide. Learned a lot from him.  First rate camp.  Ready to do it again next year."

Dennis Pontoni, CA (707)822-4130  "Saw 20 bucks, no shooters". "Grant is an outstanding guide.  Outstanding camp, Maury.  I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it."

Ernie Zierenberg, VA (804)794-1961  Shot at a "very large buck" in a snowstorm.  It turned just as he shot.  Grant guide.

Fayette Thackston, VA (804)556-4646  Passed up several nice 25 inch bucks.  "Not big enough for this trip".  Grant guide.

Milton Parma, VA (804)740-3491  Didn't find the buck he wanted.  Came within seconds of shooting a good 27 inch buck.   Grant guide.

Jim Roe, AZ (623)465-0032 Killed a heavy 7x5 buck with a long shot.  24 inch spread, but a great trophy. "Sparky was the man!".

Jeff Watt, ME (816)537-9363  Killed a heavy-horned 5x5.  26 inches.  Mature buck.  Shot at a huge buck, 33 inches or so.   Sparky guide.

Bobby Crosby, MS (601)856-5796  Saw 14 bucks, biggest was 26 inches.  Brian guide.

Sid Crosby, AL (251)246-5868     Saw several bucks, largest was a 26 inch forkhorn.  Brian guide.

John McCullom, OR (541)572-5816 Passed up several bucks including 27", 25", and others.  Shot at a bedded 27 inch buck, steep downhill shot and shot over the top of him.

Lloyd Defer, MS (662)473-3028  Didn't find the buck he wanted.  Jumped 5 bucks while riding a horse including a 30 incher, but couldn't get a shot.  Grant guide.

Michael Defer, MS (662)472-4654  Mike killed a good 25 inch buck.  "A great hunt!  Brian is a great guide."

Bubba Defer, MS (662)473-2995  Killed a really heavy-horned 25 inch buck in an incredibly scenic place.  "I saw a lot of small four-point bucks that will be good ones next year." Brian guide

Terry Alger, CA (925)422-6194  Terry killed a great buck, 29 1/4 inch spread, 5x5.  A heavy-horned typical with gnarly eyeguards and bases.  It was shot the morning of Oct 6 at the "Freeway" up behind camp.

Al Parker, WY (307)733-5094  Al hunted hard and saw several bucks, including a 30" plus 3 point, but didn't find the big one he was after.  Al owns the Anvil Motel in Jackson, a great place to stay when you come to Wyoming!  Call the Anvil at (307)733-3668.

Ben Magnusson, WA (425)396-9885  Saw several bucks, but didn't get the big one.   Sparky guide.

Ron Giese, CA (530)662-5175   Saw a few bucks but nothing worth shooting.  Grant guide

Dick Hanel, NY (516)333-5622  Saw a lot of deer.  Spotted a huge 28 inch buck but couldn’t get to it.  Brian guide.

Rob Skudder, NY (516)935-4022  Made a stalk on a big 28 incher.  Came close, but no luck. Brian guide.

Stephen Heilman, MI (517)543-1031  Killed a heavy high 6x5 buck.  24 inch spread.  Really scenic remote place.  Steve made a fantastic downhill running shot on it, long shot.   Darin guide.

Bob Cordes, AZ (602)524-0266 Shot at a 26 inch buck, long shot.  Passed up some really nice bucks looking for the whopper.  Sparky guide.

Mike Moulton, AZ (602)625-4224  Shot at a nice 28"buck, running shot. Passed up some good bucks holding out for "Lucky", a 33 inch buck that several hunters shot at.  Sparky guide.

Jeff Omand, CA (916)428-3511  Killed a heavy 5x4 buck at 300 yards.  Shot at a tall heavy-horned buck. Grant guide.

Elk hunters

Ken Brown, CA (209)295-8605  Ken killed a big 5 point bull.  Brian and I (Jonesy) made a drive for him and the bull cooperated, going right on the trail that we placed Ken near (I love it when they do that!)..  Ken hit it 5 times in the boiler room before it went down for good.  Guides Grant & Darin and hunter Jerry Hendershot were eating lunch, watching the drive, and had a ring-side seat from 400 yards.  They had gone in there to pack out Jerry's 5 point bull.  We took good pictures of both bulls being packed out.  Ken saw about 8 bulls.

Ted Church, WY (307)532-5848  Saw a bunch of elk.  Killed a 5 point bull, 300 yard shot.  He shot the smaller of two bulls, by mistake. pic  Grant guide.

Paul Bayne, WY (307)883-4574  Paul only hunted one day, poor health.  Didn't get an elk.

Mike Grassley II, MO (816)632-5011  Killed a big 5x5 bull that was coming toward us.  Sparky and Mike went up the mountain to intercept the bull while Mike Sr. and I had a ring-side seat and watched it all.  It sure is fun to watch that happen.  Mike saw about 15 bulls on his hunt.

Mike Grassley Sr., MO (816)628-5746  He missed four shots at a huge herd bull on opening morning, then missed three other bulls that week.  Tough luck.  Elk are easy to miss and aren't that easy to hit! He saw more than a dozen bulls.  Sparky guide.

Louie Tollini, CA (707)468-1380  and Les Garzini, CA (707)544-1859  Louie bought my donated hunt, but they drew an adjacent area, so they stayed at my camp, used by horses and truck and trailer and hunted on their own.  Louie missed a nice 5 point bull, and Les killed that bull the next day.

Glenn Hendershot, PA (717)294-3906  Didn't find a bull but worked hard at it.  Darin guide.

Gerald Hendershot, PA (717)294-3576  Jerry killed a 5 point bull at 30 yards.  Sounds easy?  Well, he and Darin followed the elk for several miles on foot in steep and rugged terrain, before the opportunity. 

Shawn Hall, WY (307)685-0653  Killed a six point bull the last hour of the last day of the season.  400 yard shot, put him right down!  We saw several good bulls that day, worked hard at getting them, then the opportunity came while heading back to camp, when we least expected it.  He also passed up a 5x6 and saw a huge herd bull that we didn't get.  Missed a 5x5, long shots.  Brian guide.

Jim McCandless, MI (989)687-5841  Killed a 5 point bull at 15 yards.  How did he ever get that close??  A good guide, Darin, and a little luck, of course. Darin guide.

Richard DeMeester, MI (734)464-2949 Had some chances at bulls, but didn't get one.  Saw a lot of elk.  Grant guide.

Bill Young, KS (785)988-4245  Hunted hard but didn't find the bull he wanted.  Missed a bull at 200 yards.  Missed long shots at a big bull.  Sparky guide.

Russ Pickett, KS (785)834-5103  Russ was real fun to have at camp.  Had a good time but didn't get an elk.