Published: November 09, 2008 10:16 pm         

Former NFL players and other shooters compete in national quail hunt in Enid

Executive secretary Judy Zaloudek had an unusual assignment in preparation for the 42nd Grand National Quail Hunt.

Order bigger hunting jackets.

“With some of the NFL guys we have coming in, Judy had to order some (size) 54’s,’’ said hunt president Chip Nelson.

Former Oklahoma State and NFL veteran Reuben Gant will join several former professional players in the annual hunt, which will be held this week in northwest Oklahoma.

Dave Studdard, formerly of the Denver Broncos, and Jason Childs, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, join Gant among the 21 “bobbies’’ at this year’s event.

Former NFL players Dave Butz and Ralph Tamm, both past shooters, also will compete this week.

Gant (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) was a standout tight end at OSU and a No. 1 draft choice by the Buffalo Bills in 1974. Gant played seven seasons in Buffalo before retiring.

Gant, a graduate of Tulsa Washington, now works in community development in Tulsa.

Studdard (6-4, 260) played 10 years in the NFL and Childs (6-4, 292) played for five seasons. The quail hunt’s hefty roster also includes Butz (6-7, 291) and Tamm (6-4, 280).

The other new shooters are:

• John Allgood Jr., owner of Heard Farms.

• Pete Brownell, president of Brownells.

• Michael Carter, counsel for Stephens Production Co.

• Ken Chlouber, president of Leadville Trail 100, Inc.

• Winston Kenworthy, president of Kenworthy Tank Rental.

• Tom Kerestesi, president of Cragin & Pike.

• Bruce Lawrence, chief operating officer of Integris Health.

• John Pickens, president of Pickens Energy Corp.

• Stephens Prescott, president of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

• Tom Scarlett, vice president of Green Bit & Tool, Inc.

• Dan Sommer, vice president of American Arrow Corp.

• David Trebing, general manager of Daimler.

• Bill Turner, senior partner at Shade Tree Productions.

• David Gilmore, sales manager for John Deere.

• Don Kennedy, retired president of Bass, Nixon & Kennedy.

• Paul Gulbas, president of El Paso Eye Surgeons.

• Edgar Cruz, guitar player.

• Brig. Gen Byron Benson, vice commander at Scott Air Force Base.

Nelson said Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis will make an appearance Thursday night at Groendyke Lodge.

Among the celebrities scheduled to compete in the hunt are musicians David Hooten and T.J. Clay and actors Les Dudek and Byron Berline.

Registration and new shooter orientation is Tuesday afternoon at Best Western Inn. New shooters will be initiated into the club Tuesday night at Groendyke Lodge.

The qualifying round of the hunt is Wednesday on hunting ranches all across northwest Oklahoma.

On Thursday, the hunters move to Grand National Gun Club north of Enid. New shooters, past shooters, past presidents and celebrities will compete on the skeet and trap ranges.

The public is welcome to watch the celebrities shoot at 1 p.m.

A stag dinner will be held for club members Thursday night at Groendyke Lodge.

The final round of the hunt is Friday. An awards reception will be held at 7 p.m. at Cherokee Strip Conference Center.