Ultimate Hunt 2021- Cancel Letter

For the past 32 years, this time of the year is usually very busy for me contacting guides, landowners, hunters, and celebrities for the annual Big Country Celebrity Quail Hunt held each February. As with many other things in life, this year is different because of the Covid 19 pandemic. Last night, the Quail Hunt Steering Committee unanimously agreed it is appropriate for us to cancel this year’s event. There simply is no way we can hold the hunt in its usual form and comply with Governor Abbott’s present restrictions. Our primary focus at DRI is “What’s best for the Folks?” By that metric, we all agree that what is best for their safety and well-being (and that of the hunters, guides, landowners, and celebrities as well) is to cancel this year’s event. This has not been considered lightly, since this event is the single largest fundraiser of the year for DRI. The timing could hardly be worse, since the pandemic has also hit DRI hard financially in many ways, but I still believe the safety of our Folks and the participants is paramount.

I think everyone who has enjoyed this event over the last 3 decades will agree it is not as much about the hunting as it is the camaraderie of the event and renewing old friendships and making new ones. Several additional events to effect that are currently being considered when the pandemic finally ends. More on that later. For the time being, any one who has already sponsored the Hunt in any form or fashion can have their monies refunded to them, leave the sponsorship in place for a replacement event, or otherwise simply donate the money to DRI if desired.

Personally, I would like to say that it has been a distinct privilege and pleasure to serve as the Founder of this event for 32 years. I have made a huge number of dear friends though this event, and have met some of the most interesting celebrity personalities. I likely would have never met them in any other way. And, especially, it has been very rewarding to watch DRI grow from a fledgling organization with 4 Folks to where they are now. So, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and everyone of you who has helped in so many various ways over the past 32 years. It has been a distinct pleasure to have served DRI in this capacity. And, we have no plans of modifying the DRI Dove Hunt in September in any way, so the fun will still go on.