Success Report 2006

Jackson Hole Outfitters  email

For bookings contact Camp Manager Grant Gertsch at 307-654-7008 

In keeping with my policy of providing a complete reference list of all hunters who hunt with me each year, listed below is every hunter, along with a brief report on his/her success or lack thereof. This will enable you to get a feel for how the hunt went and you can call unsuccessful hunters as well as the ones that scored.   If you call please be brief to respect their privacy.  Names listed are in order of arrival at camp to show that one week is no better than another.  Hunter success depends more on weather and the hunter's physical conditioning than anything else.  We do much better when weather is clear and cool and when the hunter is in good shape and not old and fat with bad knees.  (pretty blunt, but true)  Beginning in 2002 I included pictures as links in this Report rather than having a separate page for pictures.

Deer hunt 2006;

In spite of a lot of lousy wet, snowy, foggy weather, we saw several GREAT bucks!  And five or six of them were certified whoppers!!  In fact, Sparky and his hunter, Bob, saw a buck that got Sparky excited, which takes some doing.  Well over 30" on the mainframe, big deep forks.  Would have scored 215 or so typical.  We killed some pretty good bucks, but nothing as good as what we saw.  Seems the whoppers bear a charmed life.  We missed a couple of them, and some were easy shots, too.  And those whoppers are there for you to shoot in '07.  Anyway, read the reports and call the guys to see if they indeed did see the quality bucks we say they did.

Drop Camps:  I will no longer do drop camps.  They are just too much hassle and take too many resources (horses and men and equipment) to take the guys in and out, which interferes with our guided hunts needing the horses and men.  And then you have the very real possibility of a bunch of other guys packing in there on their own (ask the Blantons) even though it is a remote location 3 hours from the trailhead, or the weather does a real number on you with deep snow (ask the Blantons), even though it is mid-September, and the weather runs the deer off the top of the mountain so you hardly see a thing.  That is the big disadvantage of a drop camp.  If the hunting is lousy for whatever reason you can't easily go to another location.

Jack Morris,  CA 925-250-2132 and John Fegundes, CA 925-229-3211  Killed a couple of nice bucks.

Larry Blanton, IN 765-457-9658, Barry Blanton, IN 765-457-9658, Robert Burge, IN 765-452-7834  Didn't see many bucks, saw lots of snow, fog, and other hunters (in the same place we have put the Silva party for years and Silvas have done well, killing some 30 inch bucks).  Just bad weather.  A couple of the local guys that came in on the Blantons said they saw 17 bucks in that basin in their pre-scouting and a couple were 30 inchers.

Guided Deer hunts:

First Hunt Sept 14-20;  The first 2 1/2 days lots of snow and rain and fog.  Lousy weather.

Roy Bain MD 443-604-3500 and son Roy MD 443-604-3502.  Their hunt severely hampered by weather.  Saw some average bucks but didn't find the ones they were after.

Craig Knecht  WY 307-883-8004  guide Jonesy  The first day we made a super effort to climb to a rocky promontory surrounded by a nice basin where we had pre-scouted two 30 inch bucks.  We just got there and a huge snowstorm/blizzard came in.  We toughed it out for a half hour, then were forced to climb down and get into the timber and build a fire.  After several hours of rain/snow, we gave up and sloshed down off the steep mountain. On Craig's second day of hunting we spotted a huge 32+ inch whopper buck, typical.  Tremendous trophy.  We made a very harrowing climb up to him in steep shale and cliffs, very dangerous and had to backtrack once to get off a cliff.  We topped the ridge and there, where the buck had been, were three bucks feeding.  One was a heavy 26 incher, one was small, and the other was broadside, big typical.  That must be him.  Craig couldn't get a good shooting position so ended up shooting him left handed at 252 yards.  When we finally got to the buck there was serious ground shrinkage.  Although he was a really nice 25 inch trophy buck, he wasn't the whopper.  The last thing Craig said to me before starting the climb was "Don't let me shoot the wrong buck."  I utterly failed in that regard.  Sorry Craig.  Our mind was so set that the buck was right there that we didn't consider that another similar buck, except for spread, might be in the same location.  That's called cognitive dissonance; because of pre-conceived ideas your mind refuses to believe what your eyes see.  pic  pic  pic

Todd Davenport  WA 425-238-7472  Todd came for the first hunt, then came back for the last hunt.  On the first hunt he had kind of a tough hunt, lots of snow and rain and fog, but the last day got a 120 yard shot at a huge non-typical buck "the Monster of the Mountain".  Missed for some reason (buck fever?).  Todd called me a couple of days later and made arrangements to come back the last hunt because "I am not a quitter". see the happy-ending report below in the fourth hunt. guide Tom

Bob Silva CA and son Bob 415-897-4125.  Passed some 25-27 inch bucks looking for the big ones.  No luck.

Second Hunt Sept 20-26:  The first 2 1/2 days lots of snow and rain and fog.  Weather was a problem.

Steve Danli CA 415-897-6784  Saw several bucks in spite of lousy weather.  Missed a long shot at a heavy 25 inch buck, only missed by an inch.  guide Sparky  Quote from Steve;  "Great trip!  Day 5 Sparky got the wrong horse in the dark and didn't know it until daylight.  Couldn't figure out why the horse didn't know the trail.  There were some words exchanged between horse and rider that morning."

Ron King CA 707-769-1604  Saw some nice bucks but didn't find the buck he was after. guide Sparky

Travis Houston, UT 801-361-7437  Saw some good bucks, a couple of trophies.  Travis missed a big 30 inch buck at 420 yards, steep downhill angle.  Shot over it.  guide Brian  When shooting downhill, remember the gravity pull on the bullet determines where it hits.  If the horizontal distance is 300 yards, then hold for that rather than the linear distance which is 420 yards.  A good rule of thumb is to put hair in the scope on the first shot.

Dave Houston, UT 801-361-2985  Dave had a bad back with several recent surgeries so he was unsure as to whether he could ride a horse.  He could and did and killed a nice 28 inch buck on the second day. pic  guide Brian

Kaleb Houston, UT 801-361-0529  In spite of lousy weather he saw a number of bucks, saw 12 on the last day.  Missed a 26 inch trophy buck.

Third Hunt Sep 26 to Oct 2:

Tony Ciocca,  ID 208-536-2295  Killed a really nice 26 inch heavy-horned buck.  pic pic  guide Tom

Randall Rector, ID 208-324-5425  Saw several bucks.  Killed a nice 25" 4x4 at 420 yards. pic pic guide Brian

Charles Rayside FL 561-346-3344  Charles called me a couple of days before and arranged a one day hunt.  Although we hunted hard we only saw some small bucks.  We hunted in exactly the same location that Brent killed a big 28 incher later in the hunt.  Just hunters' luck.  guide Jonesy

Robert Cordes, AZ 602-524-0266  Saw a huge whopper buck at a mile away, well over 30 inches, that would have scored about 215 typical.  Whopper buck but they couldn't find it when they got over there.  They hunted him for a couple more days and never saw him again.  Saw some other nice bucks.  guide Sparky

Fourth Hunt Oct 2-8:

Brent Gronley, CA 925-862-0927   Missed a good buck at 250 yards.  Killed a really nice trophy buck at 100 yards.  28 inch spread, 5x5, deep forks, dark horns, in the prime of life, about 5 years old.  guide Sparky & Jonesy

Phil Garner, CA 707-998-3024 and Jason Garner,  CA 707-326-4465.  Saw more than 40 bucks on their hunt, including a couple of real good ones. Phil passed up a 30 inch buck at 150 yards, wanting his son to shoot it.  By the time Jason got there and spotted the buck it was at 500 yards and he missed.  We thumped Phil's head for passing that buck.  He's just too much of a gentleman.  guide Grant

Arnie Motta, CA 805-928-1986 and Josh Motta, CA 805-928-1986  They saw several heavy-horned 26 inch bucks.  Also saw a huge 34 inch buck with cheater points.  Josh killed a nice 4x4 buck at 125 yards.  On the 4th day Arnie killed an old heavy-horned 27 inch buck within 100 yards of the top of a huge mountain they climbed, 40 yard shot while it was feeding.  They had a major project getting the quartered deer down off there, but Josh is young and big and strong, so he was the main pack mule.  They saw some other really really good bucks.  guide Brian

Bob Mills, CA 209-481-6415  Missed a nice buck at 250 yards.  Missed a 28 inch trophy buck at 100 yards.  Afterwards we checked Bob's rifle and it was off 12 inches at 100 yards.  He doesn't know when it might have been knocked off, but those kind of things happen on a horse hunt in rough country.  guide Sparky & Jonesy

Burt Stanga,  IA 515-576-8578  Killed a nice high-racked 25 inch 5x5 buck at 390 yards.  Great shot!  Also shot at a moving buck at 430 yards, big trophy buck with deep forks.  Saw some other good bucks including a heavy 29".  pic  guide Tom

Todd Davenport  WA 425-238-7472 Todd returned for this hunt after hunting the first hunt.  Todd hit a great trophy buck, 28" deep forks, at 430 yards.  We watched it for a mile and it was limping on the right front, but obviously not bad hurt.  Tracked it for 2 miles and found less than 1/4 cup of blood.  Superficial wound.  On the 4th dayTodd killed an old 25 inch 5x6 buck with double brow tines and heavy antlers, with one shot at 392 yards.  An old buck going downhill, probably 8 years old.  Great buck! pic  guide Tom

ELK HUNTS

First Hunt Oct 14-20 (arrival and leaving dates)  Of our 25 elk hunters, 21 of them either killed a bull, shot at a bull, or passed up a bull they could have killed.  We had some lousy weather during the hunts, lots of rain and mud.  Made getting around very difficult, especially for some hunters who were overweight.  The horses had a hard time pulling them up the steep muddy trails, so our mobility was quite limited.

Dennis Shaw, WI 608-843-2261 and Dewey Shaw, WI 608-643-8765  Dennis hunted deer with us last year and this year brought his son, Dewey, with him for an elk hunt.  On the first day Dennis killed a really nice 6x6 bull with a great 160 yard shot on the run (the bull was running, not Denny) and while packing it in, late in the afternoon, Dewey shot at an elk and missed and then killed a nice 5x4 bull.  pic  pic pic

Roy Bass, FL 352-377-8270  Saw a big bull at 250 yards.  Roy moved to the side to get a rest and the bull disappeared.  Shot at a 4x4 and shot at a 2x2.  Didn't kill an elk.  guide Grant

Eddie Foster, FL 352-373-3583  Eddie hit a 4x4 and they were tracking the blood trail, heard a shot up ahead.  Another hunter killed the bull.  guide Grant

Steven Davis, FL 813-689-4075  Killed a really big 6x6.  Shot 7 times at it and finally killed it.  Saw several other elk including some bulls.  guide Tom

Paul Bayne, WY 307-883-4574  I jinxed Paul.  The night before the hunt I asked him how many years he had hunted with me. "12".  How many elk have you killed? "6"  How many shots have you fired?  "6"  You've never missed?  "No, never."  One of the guys at the campfire said, "You shouldn't have said anything, now he is jinxed."  Well, opening morning Paul missed a four point bull at 330 yards and later in the day missed a bull at 457 yards.  In his defense, the first shot was uphill and Paul didn't have a rest, very difficult shot.  The second bull was walking and Paul shot right behind it, didn't lead it enough for a long shot.

Will and Haven Dubrul, CA 650-218-6989  Saw several elk and got shots at them, but no luck.  guide Sparky

Dan Walkup, FL 352-690-3009  Saw several bulls but

John Heikkinen, MN 218-722-5604  John has this elk hunting all figured out.  He shoots the first bull he sees, then enjoys camp for the rest of the week.  Killed a 4x3 bull on opening morning.  3 shots, 3 fatal hits.  Good shooting, John!  guide Brian

Bob Traylor, NC 704-843-9060  Saw a number of elk.  Passed up a bull opening day, then later wished he had that shot back.  guide Brian

Second elk hunt Oct 20-26

George Hubbs, CA 209-772-1800    Missed one bull at 400 yards. George had several chances at bulls, drew down on them but couldn't get his gun to hold steady enough for a shot.  One of them was a monster 6x6 with white ivory tips.  guide Tom

Alvin Hubbs, 209-772-1800  Shot at a couple of bulls including a huge 6x6 and saw some others.  Finally killed a 6x5.  guide Tom

Bobby Johnston, CA 209-754-3680  Hunted hard but didn't get a shot at a bull.  guide Grant

Robert Sexton, CA 209-772-1258  Only hunted one day and his back went out on him.  We saw a lot of fresh tracks, a couple of cow elk, and a nice bull moose at point blank range.  Back hurting so badly he had to leave.  guide Jonesy

Randy Johnston, CA 209-772-1238  Didn't find the bull he was after.  guide Grant

Gerald Keller, FL 727-734-3467  Almost got a shot at a 5x5 but stepped into the timber just a bit too soon. 

Dan Poling, FL 727-734-4350  Killed a spike after almost getting a shot at a 5x5.  guide Sparky

Don Barrett, FL 352-386-3537  Killed a 5x6 in the bottom of a deep canyon.  We put some rough miles on us and the horses that day, then waited in the bottom of a canyon until late.  The bull walked out, right on cue, and Don dumped him at 375 yards.  He died right on a game trail, but then slid off it into a deep ravine.  Tough job quartering it and then a long ride out in the dark.  My son, Trenton, and I went in the next day and got the bull.  guide Jonesy

Third elk hunt Oct 26-Nov 1

John Sunderbruch, IA 563-340-0080  Saw a number of elk including some bulls. No luck.  guide Grant

Jerry Dominguez, CA 510-639-8877  Killed a four point bull at 210 yards.  His first elk!  guide Grant

Michael Lahti, OR 503-816-4888  Shot at some bulls but missed.  guide Tom

Matthew Rask, OR 503-816-4888  Killed a 5x5 deep in a bottomless canyon.  Risked life and limb to get him out of there. guide Sparky

Mitch Rask, OR 503-699-7211  Missed a bull at 100 yards.  Bull fever is much worse than buck fever.  guide Sparky

Chris Rask, OR 503-699-7215  Got some shots at bulls but missed.  guide Tom