FINAL REPORT
7th Annual
Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot
May 12, 13 & 14, 2016
Hosted by:
The Wyoming Wildlife Foundation
and
The Greater Hulett Community Center
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The seventh annual Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot
was held in Hulett, Wyoming, May 12, 13 & 14, 2016.
The Planning Committee included individuals from
Hulett and other Wyoming communities, who shared an
interest in hosting this event. Planning meetings were
held once a month, July, 2015 through April, 2016.
These individuals were a key component in the planning
and organization of the Shoot and each was assigned to
a sub-committee covering various aspects of the planning. The dedication, cooperation, enthusiasm and attention to detail exhibited by every member of the
Committee was evident in the success of this event.
The Greater Hulett Community Center and the Wyoming
Wildlife Foundation want to express our sincere thanks
and congratulations to all on a job well done.
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2016 SPECIAL GUESTS
Governor Matt Mead
Former Governor Dave Freudenthal
Former Governor Mike Sullivan
General James T. Conway
General John Sattler
Mark Branch, UW Wrestling Coach
Dell Kirby, Cabelas Spring Thunder
Brian Scott, K2 Radio
Scott Talbott, Director WG&F
YOUTH UNTERS
Kimberlee Cary
Connor Croell
Wesley Wegman
Luke Croell
Dax Fisher
Traven Bies
Christian Colson
Wray Ann Penning
Tracen Mills
Lane Uhrig
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2016 Sponsors
World Slam
John Deere/RDO Equipment
Royal Slam
Cabela’s
Forest Products Distributors
MPI Warehouse
Grand Slam
Dave Schmidt Insurance
Solutions Insurance
First Interstate Bank, Laramie
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
White’s Canyon Motors
Powder River Energy Corporation
Powder River Energy Foundation
National Wild Turkey Federation, Casper Chapter
Pete Lien & Sons
Jordan’s Fine Dining
Farm Credit Services of America
Bucks Electric
Golf Club at Devils Tower
Neiman Enterprises
Neiman Timber
Platte Valley Bank
Teton West
Croell Redi-mix
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FRIEND OF THE SHOOT
Summit National Bank
Kathi Driskill
Brandon Bailey Fine Art
Pepsi Co. of Gillette
Russell & Sherry Stinson
Out West Embroidery
Bar D Sign
Rocky Mountain Discount Sports
Ponderosa Café and Bar
Kansas Governor’s Turkey Hunt
Samson and Deb Bears
Rocky Mountain Sound & Light
The Red Rock Café, Sharon Penning
The Hitchin Post, Cindee Vitto
Mike and Pam Schmid
Farm Bureau Insurance, Suzette Livingston
Golf Club at Devils Tower, ReNette Penning
Cindy B’s, Aladdin
Maverick Engelhart-Maverick Design
Deer Creek Taxidermy
John and Patricia Berndt
Butch Knapp
Tom and Donna Wolf
Hulett Hardware
Tom and Connie Lindmier
Bill Dickinson
Diane Harrop
Mossberg
Big R Ranch and Home
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Friend of the Shoot continued
Murphy Love
Michael Day
Arctic Glacier
Table Mountain Vineyards
Wyoming Forever West
Crook County Promotion Board
Casey Dickinson
J Scull Construction
GHCC Volunteers
Hulett Senior Citizens
Wyoming Forever West
Lee and Jennifer Jay
Ryan Lance
Craig and Carmen Showalter
Wyoming Sportsman Group
Neiman Red Angus Beef
Durham Ranch
Smoking Gun Indoor Range and Training Center
Crook County Saloon
Todd Helton
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Muddy Outdoors
Savage Arms
Pheasants on Kara Creek, Floyd Canfield
Scheels
Rick and Vickie Quissenberry
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2016 Financial Report
Revenue
Sponsorships, Auction,
Calcutta, Raffles
$175,144.61
Total Revenue
$175,144.61
Expenses
Printing & Marketing
Travel & Lodging
Office Supplies/Postage
Food/Catering
License Fees
Gifts
Venue Costs
Awards & Auction
Misc. Expenses
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
5,104.66
6,114.77
627.40
11,206.75
4,364.00
12,756.50
22,939.57
21,933.52
1,364.46
$ 86,411.63
Total Expenses
Revenue over expenses
$ 88,732.98
Split of Net Profit:
50% to Greater Hulett
Community Center
50% to WW-TF
$ 44,366.49
$ 44,366.49
** Please note that we still have $14,000 in outstanding
income that will be applied to 2017.
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Seventy-six hunters (which included 10 youth hunters)
were in the field on May 13th and 14th to harvest a
record THIRTY-SIX BIRDS! Weather was much better than 2015 though we did still see snow early Friday
morning. Scoring was done through the use of the National Turkey Federation scoring formula.
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Hunter
James LaBarre
Guide
Don Morgan
Land
Sourdough Ranch
Hunter
Duane Olsen
Guide
Eric Thomas
Land
Thomas Ranch
Hunter
Scott Yeoman
Guide
Nick Smith
Land
Roberts Ranch
Each hunter received a gun, the guide and landowner
received Montana belt buckles.
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A survey was sent out to participants immediately
following the Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot.
Forty-four responses were received.
Survey Results
Q1: I am a local resident of the Hulett Area.
Yes: 25%
No: 75%
Q2: Please indicate the activities you
participated in:
Hunter: 43.18%
Landowner: 20.45%
Guide: 34.09%
Special Guest: 4.55%
Sponsor: 18.18%
Q3: Which Activities did you participate in?:
Yes
No
Thursday Social
93.02%
6.98%
Friday Dinner/Auction
97.67%
2.33%
Saturday Banquet
53.66%
46.34%
Turkey Shoot
70.00%
30.00%
Annie Oakley
12.50%
87.50%
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Q4: Which statement best describes your opionion
of the activities provided?:
Very Satisfied
78.57%
Somewhat satisfied
21.43%
Somewhat dissatisfied
00.00%
Very Dissatisfied
00.00%
Q5: When I consider the impact that the OWITS
has on the Hulett community, I am:
Very Satisfied
88.37%
Somewhat satisfied
6.98%
Somewhat dissatisfied
2.33%
Very Dissatisfied
2.33%
Q6: Shooters, if you participated in the hunt,
please select a statement that best describes your
opinion on quality the following:
VS
SS
SD
D
Guide
80.95%
14.29%
4.76%
0.0%
Hunt
78.26%
13.04%
4.35%
4.35%
Land
78.26%
8.70%
13.04%
0.00%
Q7: Do I look forward to invited back next year?:
Yes: 97.50% No: 2.50%
Q8: Quality of the Meals:
Very Satisfied
76.19%
Somewhat satisfied
21.43%
Somewhat dissatisfied
2.38%
Very Dissatisfied
0.00%
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Q9: Did you attend the auction?
Yes: 83.33% No: 16.67%
Q10: If so, did you bid on any of the items?:
Yes: 42.50% No: 57.50%
COMMENTS
Tell us in your own words what you liked or disliked about the auction:
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Difficult to hear what was going on...lots of background noise.
I thought it went well. Not sure what it needs to add
Greater interest.
Would like to see some hunting or fishing trips sold.
It was good
Liked
It was great!
It was nice that is was shorter this year.
Great selection -- but no room in my bags!
Plenty of silent auction items to bid on for those who
didn't bid in the live auction
It was great the way it was
Need more variety of items. Many of the same things
each year. Hard to hear. Very noisy in the tent.
High quality and good assortment
Love the auction and raises a lot of money. But
sheesh. The items go for a lot of $!
Great time!
Brian is a big boy, he can be heard very easily, volume of pa doesn't have to be so loud.
Auction was ok.
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I loved the experience, the only regret I have is not
being able to afford the items that were being auctioned off. All in all I had a great time and hope one
day I will be able to come back again.
Auctioneer talent was amazing. Great Job. But as an
organizer of other events, I feel that there was a low
level of bidding.
Did not attend had to hunt next morning
I look for items that I would display in our house.
Don't see much of that.
Was pretty hard to hear this year. Too much background chatter from the crowd.
Run very well, but to loud
Thought the auction went great so I have nothing
negative to say.
I thought it was handled very professionally in a fun
atmosphere.
High quality items up for auction
The auction went well. I like it.
Loud and crowded.
Like the number of items but could have been a few
better quality items.
It was about right size and quality of items
Tell us in your own words the three aspects you
liked MOST about attending this event:
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Felt like a "country" get together...wholesome more
or less. Folks are friendly. Never a quiet moment.
Meeting new people. Turkey Hunting. Seeing Old
Friends
Meeting new people. Bidding on silent auction items.
Hunting in a new area.
Good food, good community event, good blending of
everyone
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Making new friends. The scenery. People working together.
The hunting and meeting new people.
All of it
The People FROM the community of Hulett The people that Make this event happen, the Wyoming Community Foundation
The auction, the food, the weather Thursday night
Meeting people, fun the youth hunters have and the
benefit to the community.
Wonderful people Great organization Good hunting
Meeting new people. Time spent with my son. The
treatment my son and I received from all who put the
event on.
The hospitality, the food and the activities
The friendships you build and renew each year
Meeting new people and seeing new places Annie
Oakley Seeing an increased number of kids participating
The two retired Generals, the quality of the people
attending, the use of local people
Very nice people. Very helpful. Backdrop and area
doesn't get any better. This is an amazing thing and I
love Wyoming!
involves members of the community and visitors benefits the GHCC -meeting people and visiting with
friends
Meeting new people, talking to birds, seeing old acquaintances.
The atmosphere, the amazing people I met and being
able to hunt with the governor.
The hunting opportunity with quality guides. Meeting
the friendly people!
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Networking. Old Friends. Great new friends.
Neiman family is a wonderful sponsor and host of the
community.
friends, food, and meeting new friends
A chance to meet some really good people. Enjoyed
the turkey hunt and the opportunity to see some
country I had not seen.
Thursday Night Dinner Was Good. Grab and Go. It
was sure appreciated to give guides the $50 gift card.
Thanks. The drawing
Hunting, dinners, socializing
The people I was paired with as a guide were great! I
thought that this was very well organized!
Very pleasant atmosphere. Everyone got along well
and worked together to provide the best hunting experience possible
The interaction with other hunters, guides and local
folks was great. Auction was fun and the way were
welcomed was terrific.
Great community Great people Great event overall
The people, The benefit and of course the hunt.
Thank you again for letting me be a part of this
event!
Supporting a good cause, getting people interested in
turkey hunting, and forming lasting relationships.
I enjoy how the community, hunters and everyone
comes together. Awesome event.
Networking, Hunting, Community Involvement
THE PEOPLE, community, food
It's a great time, more than just three things
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Tell us in your own words the three aspects you
liked LEAST about attending this event:
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Food was ok. Like to see bigger celebrities. DJ was
par.
Need more local participation. Was nice last year
having someone direct/greet hunters throughout the
event.
No hot water in my motel room.
None
Getting up so early!!
Nothing
the guide, the hunt, the weather Friday
Not much!
If folks didn't have a good time then I would say they
can't be pleased
The hot water in our Pioneer motel went out.
Too late in the season (weather hurts this I understand). Check in is way too early. A lot of birds get
killed going back to roost. Could be wrong but
seemed like a lot of locals win a lot of the give
aways.
4.30 check in, breakfast was a little rough, if I could
communicate with my friends during the auction, we
may decide to pool our money and bid up some
items.
The prices on some items but i know this is all for
raising money. Having to use my own vehicle to go
hunting. And hunting towards the end of the turkey
season.
Snow LOL
Evening events combined with EARLY hunting. Ouch.
(haha)
none come to mind
The Auction is getting old.
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It was a bit hard to socialize at some of the event, a
bit more room for the social before dinner would be
helpful. Maybe a gathering area out in front of the
tent on the street?
Snow!!! Couldn't Golf, didn't win anything
No complaints whatsoever!
NA. Had a great time!
Its a two day hunt. It needs to be a two day calcutta.
Makes NO sense at all not to do that. As the years go
on, the teams always talk about winning the belt
buckle. The pride of winning it has become a very
cool thing......the fact the hunter doesn't get a buckle
and the guide and landowner do make no sense at
all. We're all a team!!
The quality of hunting in week 5, hunters not having
appropriate transportation, hunters not having proper equipment i.e. seat pads.
Guide was a great guy and I would be more than
willing to hunt with him again. He had never hunted
turkey before. Wish I knew that ahead of time as I
would have brought some decoys.
Weather, weather, weather!!
Tell us in your own words what you would do to
make this event better in the future:
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Increase quality of hunts and maybe a few less people but charge more.
Go back to the event schedule cards that can be carried in our pockets. Didn't realize how handy they
were until we didn't have them
Bring in a 5 stand sporting clays course.
More community participation.
Very well put together, no comment.
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It's great. I can't think of anything.
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Have the hunt a week earlier.
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Keep doing what you’re doing! Thanks AGAIN.
That the guides guide on the ranch they are assigned.
The only recommendation I would make would be to
allow the parent/youth hunt together. That wasn't
made clear to me until late in the process and I
would have enjoyed hunting with my son.
Have it earlier in the season. Would like to see more
scouting done as it is already hard to kill a bird in two
days on land you know nothing about. The shells they
give to guides for hunters need to be better quality. I
hit a bird twice at 35 yards and it shook it off like it
got stung by a bee.
More items to bid on.
Exclude the teams from the Calcutta that have hunters not hunting all day on Friday.
The pocket size cheat sheets are a good thing to
have. A better selection and quantities of food to
make box lunches to enable staying in the woods.
Try to schedule the event for earlier in the spring turkey season.
Maybe figure a little different meal serving procedure
so attendees spend a little less time waiting in line.
Encourage a couple more celebrities to participate.
We were talking about getting Ted Nugent (seriously
big hunter) and maybe Peyton Manning.
more birds, I know that is not controllable, hopefully
the hunters and sponsors understand that
I know hunters that have been there several years
without much success. See if there is a way to increase their chance of success.
Nothing to change. Great event.
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As a resident of the community - I think it would be
nice for everyone to hear how the money is being
spent and talk about how it's helping improve things
at the community center.
More and bigger special guest
Better weather, everything else was great
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More celebrities, TV personalities. I know it takes
some planning, but that really gets the community
excited, to have a TV show being filmed in the back
yard! Also more media exposure from the local news
leading up to the event. It would help get people
there to the auction Friday night if they saw it on the
5:00 news on Thursday.
I think a better organized sporting clay shoot. One
with more structure.
Stated everything in question 13. Give everyone on
the winning team a buckle.
I know its virtually impossible but i would hold this
event earlier in the season. I would try to get bigger
name sponsors. My landowner expressed not participating next year and mentioned the event going
south over the last few years.
When pairing youth hunters with guides have them
come to the stage so they don't have to track each
other down.
Make a deal with Mother Nature!!
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Participating Guides
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the following
guides for volunteering their services.
Flint Smith
Trampas Meidinger
Joe Gilbert
Jeremy Ellis
Jon Beem
Rick Foster
Tony Dean
Bill Wilson
John Pierce
Logan Lindholm
Casey Dickinson
Todd Kittel
John Berndt
Tyler Abbott
Don Morgan
Eric Perez
Wayde Johnson
Randy Hogue
Paul Pierson
Caleb Moeller
Jim Joint
Jason Coder
Kenny Henrichs
Tim Farris
Nick Kafcus
Wes Bush
Joe Penning
Keith Pullins
Murphy Love
Shane Marhine
Scott MacNaughton
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Planning Committee
Tyler Abbott, Gillette, WY
Kayla Amos, Hulett, WY
JR Butler, Deer Creek Taxidermy, Hulett, WY
Bobbi Butler, GHCC, Hulett, WY
Casey Dickinson, Riverton, WY
Kathi Driskill, Hulett, WY
Kate Smith, WYCF, Event Coordinator, Laramie, WY
Dave Langley, NWTF, WY Chapter, Gillette, WY
Crystal Mayfield, WYCF, Grants Coordinator,
Laramie, WY
Jim Neiman, Neiman Enterprises, Hulett, WY
Lloyd Pruet, Buckhorn Ridge Ranch, Hulett, WY
Claude Rausch, Golf Club at Devils Tower, Hulett,
WY
Jack Scarlett, Lander, WY
Mike Schmid, SOS Well Service; Solitude Ranch &
Outfitters, LLC, LaBarge, WY
Craig Showalter, WYCF, President
Barbi Sowerwine, Hulett, WY
E.O. Sowerwine V, Hulett, WY
Mike Sullivan, Former Governor of WY, Casper, WY
Shane & Erin Unwin, Alva, WY
Tony Woodell, WW-TF, Executive Director
Bobby Yach, Gillette, WY
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THE HULETT COMMUNITY
AND
THE GREATER HULETT COMMUNITY CENTER
With a modest population and a history that dates back to
1881, Hulett has a strong tradition of welcoming newcomers with fabled Western hospitality. Built on the banks of
the Belle Fourche River and surrounded by the beautiful
red rim rocks of northeastern Wyoming’s Bear Lodge
Mountains, Hulett is a safe and peaceful western community. Named for Louis Hulett and his family, who settled
here in 1881, the town was legally incorporated in 1951.
Hulett is ideally located for recreation nestled in a red canyon with the Belle Fourche River meandering slowly
through the town. Devils Tower is probably the most famous landmark in the Bear Lodge Mountains. Devils Tower, a soaring volcanic uplift, so impressed Theodore Roosevelt that he designated it America’s first National Monument in 1906.
Here, at this joining of the Black Hills and the Great Plains,
deer, turkey, elk, bison, pronghorn antelope, pheasant,
badgers, prairie dogs, trout, bass, hawks, eagles, meadowlarks and many other animals make their home in the tall
grasses and forested hills of this region. Plants and animals common to all corners of the continent exist in the
Hulett area, where the flat expanses of the east meet the
rocky heights of the American West.
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.The
Greater Hulett Community Center (GHCC) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation to reconstruct and re-purpose the
former Hulett School into the Greater Hulett Community
Center. The residents of the Community of Hulett will play
a large part in the Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot. Local groups will provide the support needed for guides, lodging, meals and transportation. Local Landowners will provide the opportunity for hunting on private land where only
guided hunts are traditionally allowed. A portion of the
profits from the Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot will be
allocated to the GHCC.
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The WYOMING WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
a component fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation
Wyoming is home to over 600 different species of wildlife,
230,000 acres of standing water and over 20,000 miles of
streams and rivers. The state represents a truly one of a
kind resource that is shared and admired by everyone
who crosses our borders. Wyoming’s natural beauty and
a seemingly endless bounty wild game, provides the recreationalist and outdoorsman with countless opportunities
to enjoy this precious and fragile resource. The Wyoming
Wildlife Foundation measures its success not by the dollars raised, but by the “On the Ground” projects we fund
and prides itself on funding worthy wildlife and habitat improvement projects that produce an immediate impact but
preserve and perpetuate the resource for the enjoyment of
future generations. Since 2001 the Wyoming Wildlife
Foundation has generated nearly $3,000,000 for the benefit of wildlife and habitat projects in Wyoming. The accomplishments of The Foundation to date have been significant, but our goal is to work even harder to develop the
resources needed to assure that the future of Wyoming’s
great outdoors will be just as bright as our past. A detailed list of our completed projects can be seen on our
website at:
http://www.wyomingwildifefoundation.org .
Our Priorities:
The Wyoming Wildlife Foundation , a component fund of
the Wyoming Community Foundation, raises funds to support projects that are critical to sustaining and improving
natural resources only in Wyoming. The Foundation has
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four primary areas of focus: Species Conservation, Habitat
and Aquatic Improvement, Conservation Education and
Access.
The Wyoming Wildlife Foundation funds projects that benefit threatened game and non-game species in decline by
funding research, education and/or restorative projects that
improve habitat and water quality, by enhancing the land
and water to sustain and manage wildlife. The Foundation
also funds conservation and education projects intended to
promote, inspire and encourage youth to consider careers
in the great outdoors. After all, the ability to conserve and
protect the resource depends on our ability to attract our
future scientist, conservationist and outdoor law enforcement officers. The Wyoming Wildlife Foundation also
seeks funding to provide access to the land for hunters and
non-hunters alike and supports the Wyoming Game and
Fish Departments Access program and conservation easements that provide private land access for hunters and recreationalists.
The work of The Foundation depends on tax-deductible
contributions from private individuals, public foundations,
and other willing funders like you to support our projects.
The Wyoming Wildlife Foundation is not a membership organization. Unlike other conservation and wildlife organizations, we do not solicit annual memberships to support
our conservation efforts. We don’t offer incentives or trinkets to entice you to support wildlife; your gifts go directly
to supporting “on the ground” projects that benefit wildlife.
A portion of the profits from the Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot will go to the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation
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We apologize for any errors or omissions in this program. Please contact us at your convenience to correct
our records.
The Eight Annual
Old West Invitational Turkey Shoot
will be held
May 4-6, 2016.
For more information on the Old West Invitational
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