The Story Of The New #1 Safari Club Whitetail Buck For The Northwest.

Hunter: Mr. Gary Jameison, Honesdale Pennsylvania

Guide: G.W.(Gene) Lopushinsky

In the spring of 1998, I received a call from a hunter, named Gary Jameison.

From Honesdale Pa., about a possible whitetail hunt in Alberta. We talked for

about an hour about how we would hunt and where. It was a hunt that neither

of us had planned or will ever forget.

A few days after our conversation, Mr. Gary Jameison called back to book the hunt,

for the fall season. He had been on half a dozen hunts in Alberta and had not yet

seen a good buck on any of the hunts. He was still very upset with all the Outfitters

he had booked with, and was still hoping for a chance, at a good Whitetail Buck! As

we talked about setting the dates for his hunt, I asked if he would book his hunt

for two weeks, and asked him to "TRUST ME". And, I would personally guide him .....

and if he did not see a good buck on the hunt, he would not have to pay me. What

did I say?? Never had I ever offered this type of deal, to any other hunter before

in all of my guiding years. For some reason I wanted this hunter, who I did not

know from Adam or Eve, that some us in the business were for real, and that I was

a man of my words. He agreed and we now had a deal and now the ball was in my

court to prove it.

Gary was very calm and had only the hopes to see a Good Buck on his hunt.

I told him at least a dozen times on the way to camp, he was going to get his buck and

have a great hunt!! Whether He believed me or not, I was not worried about it what so

ever. Just as I had finished saying this, a real good buck crossed the road in front

of us. I stopped the truck and said to Gary, "Well,............ you saw your buck now !!.....

we can head back to the airport if you want" with a chuckle.

He was now very excited, and said he hoped also that he would also like to harvest a

good buck. I told him, in all the years of guiding, very few of my hunters never went

home without one, and started heading Down The Road Again.

When we finally entered the lodge, everyone was already their, and were wondering

what took us so long. We told everyone, that we had some last minute shopping to

do, as I winked at Gary. They all laughed, and continued with what they were doing.

Bags were being unloaded, gun cases popping open, and the stories of previous hunts

started to be told by all. It was a good atmosphere, all were in high spirits and

were also, consuming some too. As the clock struck 10 bells, and dinner finished,

all were heading for bed. Some a little slower then others, but by 11 o'clock, the snoring

was loud and clear, throughout the lodge.

It only seemed that I had just laid down to sleep, and the alarm clock was

screaming in my face. It was just after 5 a.m. and the lodge was coming alive.

Everyone was hustling for the bathroom, the kitchen, and getting ready for

breakfast. This would be the daily ritual for the next two weeks.

Even the stories were getting better and bigger.

Everyone was seeing deer everyday, but all were holding out for A Real Good Buck.

It seemed like no one wanted to be the first to shoot,... and to me, it did not matter.

Why shoot a deer, if you did want it, or if it was not what you were hoping for.

I have more respect to any hunter that hunts, then kills. And my hunter Gary,was that

type of hunter. He would either go home with a good buck, or not at all.

Throughout the hunt, Gary and I saw several good shooters, and I told him that we

would do better, so lets keep looking. He was starting to think that I was trying

to get him a buck, that did not exist. I kept telling Gary, we have better bucks

out here, and you deserve a real keeper.

Gary and I throughout the hunt, had great discussions about life, women, hunts,

and even music. I think I wore out all my country music tapes with him, especially

Patty Love Lace, who at that time was "Red Hot"! How did I know this, Gary finally

asked if I had any other music to play. Never thought that would happened.

On the last day of the hunt,.............. sitting at the breakfast table, Gary was

starting to wonder if he should havepulled the trigger on a couple of those bucks

........... I told him not to shoot.I just looked at him, and said, lets go hunting,

and today will be the day!!. He grabbed his gear, like every other day, and we

were off again.

We and now Gary was

talking about how much fun he had and also wanting to come back next year,

if possible. I told Gary, he was welcomed anytime, and that he was truly a hunter

that had paid the price, more ways then one.

We all decided to hit the road, and check out a few more fields, before the sun

would set into the western horizon.

As we were pulling out of the field, Gary started to question himself, and I said,

"Well, let's go over to where the buck was standing, and take a look to see

if there was any sign of blood or where the buck went".

Gary had shot the Buck, and I wanted him to be the first to pick up His Biuck.

When he got back to the truck, I started to laugh at him. He was not sure why,

But I said to him, let me show you where the blood came from. I told him to bring

his gun, just incase a coyote was still feeding on the rabbit, and to shoot the coyote.

He did not really want to, but I convinced him to do so. When we got to the spot

where I had stopped and seen where the buck was down, and told Gary to go a head

of me, and I would video him shooting the coyote, if he was still feeding on the

supposed rabbit. He gave me a weird look, and said alright, I will do as you say.

I leaned against a tree to get a steady rest for the camera, and Gary proceeded.

I told Gary to walk very slowlyand quietly, and he did. As he got to about ten yards

of the buck laying in about 2 foot of snow, he turned back at me, and shook his

head. He yelled out at me and said, "Geno....Is that my Buck?"And I said, "If it is

not, then it's mine.... if you do not want it!"

He walked over to the Buck and picked up the deer by the antlers and started to

call my name, several more times. I did not know how really Big the Buck was, until

Gary turned the deer towards me. When I saw it, I started to yell out, "Gary I think

you have a monster!" And he did. With the camera still running, there were two

hunters jumping up and down like if they were on fire. Gary asked how big the

Buckmight score, and I told him at least "230 Points". He then collapse to his

knees and was motionless and tongue tied for words. But I was jumping up and

down and Thanking the good Lord for giving this wonderful hunter named

Gary Jamieson, a World Class Whitetail Buck that very few will ever see in a

lifetime of hunting. As I went over to congratulate Gary, big hugs and some,

were being passed out!!

When we finally dragged the buck out of the woods to the truck and had cleaned

the game animal for the Butcher Shop, we found two bullet holes in the Bucks

chest area. Not only did Gary make a spectacular shot, he had placed two bullets

into the deer at over 600 yards with his 300 Winchester Mag. Now if that is not

a great ending to a hunt on the very last hour, last day of the hunt, and season,

this was another Great Hunt with another Great Person Out Hunting.

So, if you think that a hunt can not end on the last day of a hunt with a bang, then

you have never hunted as hard and with class, like Mr. Gary Jameison did. And

on top, never once complained or told his guide, he was just a real good story teller.

Thank-you Gary,

I will Never Forget You or

"THE HUNT"

As Long as I Walk The Earth.