Guys,
Here are some more pictures of the hunt as promised. Well, these are pictures from the banquet. Since you guys at the hunt had to suffer me, and my speaking, I will try not to talk too much on this thread, other than personal commentary!

Here is a pic of Crapshoot taking care of the tickets sales. He did a damn good job with that and the tickets for the raffle! I just didn't get the chance to tell him before he left for NA.
BTW-Lance won the 17HMR, told me he already had one and put it back in the kitty! It was a very gracious effort....

Well done Son!


The next 3 pics are some of the prizes that were given away. We would like to thank all of those advertisers and contributers that helped us this year with a great abundance of things to give away and auction!







RanUtah really came through with our line of PM gear this year! We had a big assortment of stuff to pick from-including patches, pins, hats, decals and other stuff....




Members started gathering into the baunqet room before 12. It was really cool to see those who were able to stay and attend. Country Kitchen really made us feel welcome, and took real good care of our group.

I just want to say one a personal note that I tried to shake everyone's hand and meet them. It was tough to do with all that was going on, but we sure appreciated you being there!

Here are a few more pics of those attending. I tried to include everyone in the pictures here....





There was some high strung hunters waiting for us to get started with the door prizes. It was getting ugly in there.... -JK!!!





Looks like Karl is making some small talk...



We started the gathering and welcomed everyone there. After the opening anouncements, I turned the time over to critr to describe our organization, how PM is set up, and how the hunts were setup....



He also gave out our yearly certificates of appreciation. After he was through, we recognized him for his efforts over the last three years organizing the hunts for PM.

Critr had mentioned to the staff that this would be his last year to be able to handle this undertaking. The PM org. wishes him the best in this retirement, and gave him a Browning camo jacket with the PM logo on one side, and the title of Pro Staff on the other.

We will miss him in this hunt coordination posistion-and will be looking for others to take his place in the future! This is a year round job in itself!!!



I then had the humble opportunity to announce the winner of the Will Criag Award. Matt and Rita Craig were in attendance, and were very happy to see that Will's creation had come so far.

It is a topic that I am going to spend some time on in another thread on this forum very soon. There were many nominations made by the PM Staff that were well deserved, but in the end, Jim Champion-aka-River Runner, was the winner this year! Congradulations, Jim!!!

As I said above, I will be explaining this award, and its meaning in another thread, so please bear with me for now while I get these pictures up.

What can I say about RanUtah?
Just when you think you got him figured out, he blows your mind with some of the things he does with our merchandising and PR! He got the PM gear lookin goooddd!!!

He told me a few days before the hunt that he had a suprize. He wouldn't tell me what it was no matter how many times I asked him. I told him it had better not cost us too much money! He told me to trust him, and we left it at that.

Randy talked about the products that were coming into development, and the ones that were already here. He helped Critr oversee a lot of the details in this years hunt, along with helping me get my stuff, and all the other prizes down to the hunt.

With the team of him, Critr, Nasa, Crapshoot, Michael-(MJM), they put something special together! They took the brunt of things, organized the hunt, including all of the guys that guided this year- (We thank them also!)

It was one hell of a job that gets tougher every year as PM grows!



Well,
Here's the first suprize! A new decal that offered a cat, along with the dog decal that is already in use. It was a knockout, and we sold a bunch! But we have more to sell. With the shopping cart going up this week, you will be able to own one in 7" X 7" or 10" X 10" !



Then Randy pulled out some tokens of appreciation for those who had put the hunt together this year. They are way cool, as you can see!

Nasa-Randy still has yours and will send it to you when he gets home!

Then Randy became an auctioneer. And I mean a damn good one! He almost had me bidding on a used tire on the front of MJM's truck!

He-along with other generous members here, put up some serious dallors for those custom calls that the hobby callers donated! These things were works of art! Thank you guys!!!

Pup-I got a set of your shootin stix, they look mighty fine-I might add!







I got Critr to pose wearing his new jacket with some old Howard Hughes look alike, mangy haired, scruffy lookin drifter after he dumped a motorcycle in a ditch when they were skinnin a coyote.

Man, that thing stunk!!!



Heres another picture of that drifter with Rita and Matt Craig, and Critr. Afterwards the drifter went to sponge some change off the hunters to get some dinner....

On the serious side, we really appreciate them being there. They are doing well!




Don, the owner of Country Kitchen, excepting his 3rd appreciation award for the super service he gave to us!

Well, looky here...

This is skinning 101. It doesn't matter that the dog is hanging from a telephone pole with a school sign in front of it.

I suddenly developed a narrow point of vision, and forgot who we were with when asked "what was going on over there?"



BroncoGlen came over with the hide. It was a good skin for "an urban pole situation"



I was looking for MJM to give them a reprimand, but they were looking the other way.... I know-(personally), how he feels about hanging dead animals, and targets on man-made stuff...



Jay came down, along with Rich and Tyler. They were out showing their newest versions of footage that they have shot for upcoming stuff.

I would like to acknowledge Jay for throwing in some goodies, and one of his prized autographed books that he had with him on the spur of the moment!



Tyler-picking on Randy! I saw this picture, and thought it was priceless for a spur of the moment move by Tyler....

Honest- Randy! I tried to edit his fingers!

it wasn't workin....



Then I heard some of the best howlers showing their talents for those within earshot!

These boys know what they are doing, my friends!

Here are the 2 group pictures that I had on my camera. They could have been closer, but I wasn't taking them. If someone wants to try and blow them up, I can send you a clean copy from desktop to edit. Just let me know......





That's it boys and girls, I spent about 4 hours putting this together, and my fingers and back are worn out. If only there was someone here to give me a back rub, I could go on a little more.

I will be home for good in 7-8 days and will try to coax the wife for one...

I will let those here with a different point of view on things have their say now about hunts, lies, and videotapes!

These get-togethers are getting better every year! We would once again like to thank those who have contributed in any way shape or form-whether it be from the staff, or the members.
There were also those who had to leave early, or didn't come to the dinner like Mike from AZ. It was good to meet you, Mike!

I know I'm leaving people out here. Please forgive me for that. I thoroughly enjoy the friendships that I have made, and for the opportunity to meet with our awesome members and staff! To a job well done!

-Mike Paul

Lochi-



A big thanks to you buddy for your donation!

Thanks!

-Mike

Mike, that big bear that conducted the 101 skinning course on the telephone pole and then demonstrated his howling technique with wet, red hands is Randy Merta of Indiana, homicide detective, trapper and predator caller extraordinaire.

Good ole Randy Merta

Thanks for the shots Mike. Looks like too much fun was had. Gonna have to do something about that?

Oh!...who's the kid in the first picture doing his homework?

Excellent job Mike! Great picture and excellent function. Congrats to all!

Lochi.
ps. I recognised so many faces, if felt like the other day I was there, yet 2 years had slipped by. Well, next year maybe?

Thanks for posting all these pics Mike. Sure makes a guy wish he were able to be there. Hope things will be better for me next year and I'll be able to make the trip.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Randy Merta at the banquet and found out he was a State Trooper.

Man those boys are "corn fed", with no necks.

Randy was funny as hell too!!!!!!!!

Rich,

I knew who he was, but I wasn't gonna stop him with all that blood on his hands, plus he had the knife!!!

Randy had that thing almost skinned before I could get over there with the camera. It was a perfect hide when he was done. When the three of you cut loose on the howlers, I was looking for a gun close by....

You never know about those yotes, and where they will turn up!

-Mike

Wish we could have stayed for all of the fun after the banquet But we needed to get on the road so we could get home early enough to hunt on Monday.. Thanks to all for a good time we well be back and it was very nice meeting all of you. Elkahoilc

Mike Paul,
I just wanted to give a great big THANK YOU to you and the rest of the PM Pro Staff for the countless hours, hard work, and dedication that you extraordinary individuals put into the web site and the PM hunt. I had a wonderful time in Globe, and enjoyed meeting you, Robert, Randy, Michael, and all the colorful charactors that share their thoughts and views on this board. Keep up the outstanding work, and I hope to get to come back next year.
Thanks Again,

Trophyhunter, I remembered the name of that ranch in Osage Co. It is the Drummond Ranch. I am thinking of going out hunting this Sat. up north if you are interested. E-mail me dean253@hotmail.com Also ditto what Trophyhunter says about all the work the guys have done We really appreciate it. Later, Dean-o