About Us
Your
Host and Outfitter
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, now managing a livestock
and rodeo in Billings, Montana.
She did not fish or hunt, but 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
Chloe
Chloe, age 5, 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 4, 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 10, is an American Lab and enjoys retirement at home.
Responsive and obedient, she excelled at powering through cattails and brush.
The New Girls
 
Cicada (left) and Red are the newest members of our family, born June 9, 2007.
Both were water retrieving at 8 weeks, giving us high hopes for their future in the field.
They are expected to actively join the ESO team in the Fall 2008.
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.
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