Most importantly, first off, we want to thank all the new clients who hunted with us here in 2007. You made up 38% of our catch. The rest of you long time repeat clients, thank you very much. Two thousand seven was a fair to good year. Even though the spring bear season was blessed with some very nice trophies, we just never broke into the super hogs we love to get. A little over half of the bears had between 19''-20 ¾’’ skulls. This spring, not one over the great No. 21'' skull was taken. Yep, huge tracks, and 3 hogs were videoed after their bears were down. Two of those were easily 21'' +. Guess that's hunting! Fall was much the same, with 13 measuring between 19 ½” and 20 5/8”, but nothing over 21’’. We did take 3 pure blonds that were honest 6 ½ footers.

Our bird hunting was good this year. We had a lot more ducks than last year. Seventy-five percent of our guys this year were from Italy, which was fun. Our ranch elk season was good. We harvested 57 bulls between 400'' and 476,'' plus 87 Bulls between 340'' and 395.'' We also had 38 management bulls that scored between 260'' and 350.''

I am claiming bragging rights because my boys (King, age 4, Tyrell, age 6, and Flint, age 7), and my daughter Jessica, age 11, did all the cull harvesting this fall. They shot 500+ rounds from their 270, with 282 shots between 75 Yards and 250 yards - not too bad! The Food Bank was very impressed with 187 cull cows and 42 old bulls. I am most proud of my middle boy, Tyrell, because he shot 54 cows, 11 cull bulls, 9 old deer, 11 coyotes, and 14 coons, all in the head, one shot each. He is, I believe, slated for the Olympics, I think. I captured a bunch of his kills on tape.

Our ranch deer season was great. We hunted a new ranch this year. Those deer are great at hiding! There were many good bucks we saw only once or twice in a week. This made for some very surprised clients. The quality of the deer was great: 11 deer were between 200'' and 244,” 19 deer were 180'' to 190,” 43 were between 170'' and 180,'' and 39 deer measured between 155” and 169.”

Open range deer season was my worst year ever, though my records show back in 1988 it was like this year, with lots of night travel. Anyhow, we had 68 clients between Sack and Manitoba, and 88% had at least one mature buck opportunity. We took 49 deer, and 5 were over 170.” Many clients saw good bucks the first day of their hunts (Hey, you can't shoot one the first day, right?), and never saw a shooter again. In their defense, normally that is not the case, as many clients no doubt learned when they got home. This was no banner year for us or Canada. There were a few monsters but overall the season was slow. That's what makes them a true trophy: HARD TO GET. To be truthful, when a client or his outfitter cries because they only got 5 deer over 170,” (normally 8 to 10), and 32 nice bucks in the 140'' to 160” range, maybe, just maybe it shows that we are spoiled.... No, we are spoiled.

Have you really given yourself time to think about the neat Equal Monthly Payment Plan Deal I have put together? No more big money up front. Stop paying in full for services not yet performed. Skip a little fun here and there and pretty soon YOU are going on a first class hunting adventure here at Bear Valley Outfitters. What outfitter has ever offered you these terms? Most are Looking for a deposit so they can pay their bills. Here at Bear Valley, we do not feel like your money belongs to us until the hunt is over. Wives, friends, family members, here is your chance to do a big deal with a little money each month, for the surprise gift of a lifetime for your loved one. Thanks for your interest and please enjoy life! Make sure you plan many good days ahead with family and friends in the great outdoors.