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Jim Laughery started Eastslope Outfitters on the Bighorn River in 1985.
Originally from Moses Lake, Washington, Jim took the eruption of Mount St. Helens as a sign
that it was time to escape the ash and move to greener pastures.
He headed down the eastslope of the Rockies and landed in Montana, where he guided
on the Bighorn River for several years, working for area fly shops.
It didn't take long to realize he had found his life's work, so in 1985 he started his own small
fishing company, named Eastslope Outfitters, with the unofficial slogan
"not the biggest, just the best."
Jim, nicknamed "Stretch" because of his height, was confident that
what he couldn't offer in size of operation,
he could make up in extra effort and personal service.


Nine years later, Jim had built his fishing business into a reputable company and was expanding
into hunting when he met Joyce. She was a cowgirl, originally from a cattle ranch
in the Sandhills of Nebraska. They shared a love of the outdoors and a kindred spirit for hard work.
They were married in January 2000.

In the years since, Jim has built his hunting business to include big game,
waterfowl and upland birds. He is currently making in-roads into varmint-hunting, as well.

Jim and Joyce expanded into the lodging business in Ft. Smith with a full-service
guest house for anglers called Old Hookers Guest House.
A year later, they added a hunting camp, known as the Whitetail Camp,
in the Yellowstone River valley north of Custer, Montana.
In their off-season, they live with their family of Black Labs in Billings,
where the business is headquartered.



Our Dogs

Our family of labs in the alpine meadows above Ft. Smith and Bighorn Canyon, May 2009

Chloe

Chloe, age 8, is a full-blood British Lab from national field-champion stock.
Chloe is a quiet flusher and a silent swimmer, known for her cross-river retrieves.
An elegant dog, her personality is quiet, steady, regal and intent.

Gracie


Gracie, age 6, is also a full-blood British Lab. She is Chloe's half-sister,
sharing genetics through their sire Conneywarren Jason (see British Labradors.com).
Gracie is quick, smart, athletic and blessed with incredible fire.
She brings the same intensity to play as to work, with ever-changing facial
expressions that earned her the nickname Gracie Allen, after the comedianne of the same name.

Mezzie

Mezzie, age 13, is an American Lab and enjoys retirement at home.
Responsive and obedient, she excelled at powering through cattails and brush.

Red

Red just turned 2 in June but already has a hunting season behind her.
An early bloomer, she hit the ground last fall at just 15 months
with the same fire and focus as her mother Gracie.
At just over 50 pounds, she's the smallest of our labs,
specializing (so far) in hunting pheasant and upland birds.

Cicada

Cada, Red's sister, also turned 2 in June and will be joining the team this fall.
Like her father Duke, an accomplished American Lab hunter,
Cada has a calm, gentle disposition with a soft touch.
Her strengths thus far include marking and tracking birds in flight;
we expect her to excel at waterfowl.

Aboo - In Memory

Aboo (the Wonder Dog), left our family in November 2006 at age 13.
She was half American Lab and half British Lab.
In those first years of Eastslope Outfitter hunting, she was our only hunting dog,
and she routinely mesmerized clients with her flushing/retrieving skill and endurance.
Year after year, she performed as many as 60 days a season in brutal conditions.
Boo will be remembered with much love and admiration by family and clients.