The Oral History of the Hunt

For 40 years, the "Hunt" has been a beloved tradition across El Dorado and Butler County. Originally founded as the Kansas Governor's One Shot Turkey Hunt—and known today as the Kansas One Shot Turkey Hunt—it all began with a modest gathering in Ramon and Betty Criss' garage and a closing banquet for 300 friends at El Dorado High School. Today, the event has grown to host over 100 guests on opening night and nearly 400 attendees at the final celebration.

 

To honor this rich history, our Board of Directors—guided by Mike Hayden—set out to preserve the memorable experiences that make this tradition so special. We have already recorded over 30 stories from hunters, guides, and landowners, and we look forward to sharing even more wonderful tales from the past four decades.