Owner of QRS Outdoor Specialties LLC. Quentin, (better known as "Q") was born and raised in Texas until his family moved to Cortez, Colorado to work the oil and gas industry in 1991. With a huge love for hunting, Q grew up with the dream of making a career out of the hunting and outdoor industries; in 2002, he did that very thing.
Like many, dreams and aspirations of one day being able to hunt for a living plagued the everyday thoughts of Owner Quentin Smith. Growing up in Texas and Colorado and hunting with his family and close friends, Quentin developed a true love for the outdoors where he actively watched and learned about wildlife behaviors and patterns. Throughout high school his passion for the outdoors continued to grow along with his love for working with people; soon he found himself dreaming up ways to create opportunities for people such as himself to enjoy the outdoors.
Quentin's love and passion for agriculture was as strong as his love for the outdoors; his involvement with FFA and his collegiate career provided him many opportunities within both industries. After attending Northeastern Junior College, he transferred to Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Business and minors in Agronomy and Animal Science in 2001.
During the 2002 International Sportsman's Expo in Denver, Quentin saw the potential for a genuine opportunity in the Hunting industry. This opportunity centered around the idea of creating opportunities for people to hunt a variety of game including hogs, rams, yaks and buffalo. From 2002 - 2008, Quentin created what he called Little Texas, located in Limon, Colorado (right in many hunters' backyards.) Although he only sold four hunts his first year, after marketing at just one sportsman's exposition, QRS Outdoor Specialties booked 250 hunts for the following year, a tradition he continued through 2008.
In 2004, QRS Outdoors made the leap into the big game hunting industry when Quentin secured a hunting lease on the Rocky Mountain Ranch, located in Walden Colorado. Today QRS Outdoors continues to lease that same 17,000 acre ranch, striving to produce the highest quality western big game adventure for its clients who are seeking Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Shiras Moose and Black Bear.
In 2009, QRS expanded its operation, acquiring a 220,000 acre ranch located in Central Wyoming. Known as the Split Rock Ranch, and lovingly nicknamed the "American Serengeti," because of the plethora of wildlife residing there, this property added trophy Antelope, trophy Mule Deer, trophy Elk, Whitetail and Mountain Lions to QRS's hunt offerings.
By 2016, QRS had expanded its offerings yet again, adding 7,500 acres of private hunting land on the Flying J Ranch (located in Meeker, Colorado), and 19,000 acres on the Mahongany Ridge (located in the piceance Creek Basin). These properties showcase additional hunting opportunities for Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear and Mountain Lion. These acquisitions upped QRS's lease-holdings to 43,500 private land acres in Northern Colorado and 220,000 acres in Central Wyoming; providing Western Big Game Adventures to more than 160 hunters each year.
QRS Outdoor Specialties is owned and operated by Quentin Smith. Everyone on the QRS team strives to provide a friendly, family-oriented environment where you come as a client and leave as a friend!
ABOUT QUENTIN SMITH
ABOUT THE QRS TEAM
WYOMING
NEIL STEVENSON
When it come to having a true passion for the outdoors and a love for hunting, you won't meet anyone more devoted than Neil Stevenson of Evanston Wyoming. While his full time occupation includes managing the city of Evanston, you can bet that big Mulie and Whitetail bucks drive him like no other in the fall. Neil started guiding for QRS in 2010, soon becoming a favorite Split Rock Ranch guide; his knowledge of the area and his ability to harvest trophy class animals is second to none.
CRAIG STINEHOUR
Caig joined the QRS team in 2015 as our camp cook on the Split Rock Ranch. When he's not cooking for QRS, Craig keeps himself busy by refereeing Professional Hockey games and serving as a cameraman and chef for Outback Outdoors. An avid outdoors-man, Craig enjoys hunting and fishing and loves to spot and stalk monster elk as well as spend time in all of nature's beauty. We promise you won't go hungry while Craig's in the kitchen; his culinary delicacies as known far and wide as some of the best dishes the west has to offer.
ABOUT THE QRS TEAM
COLORADO
SHAWN, MISTY & DANNON BOLTON
If there's a will, there's always a way - and on any given day Shawn will find that way. A successful entrepreneur, Rio Blanco County Commissioner, and Chair of Colorado's Public Lands Commission, Shawn is also an accomplished hunter and outdoors-man who is highly motivated to secure success whether that means tracking an elusive elk or engineering creative ways to pack out a downed trophy. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone as dedicated, committed to big game hunting, or personable as Shawn Bolton. His wife Misty is always helpful, particularly behind the scenes, while his daughter Dannon has become a sought-after guide, particularly among our female clients. A seasoned huntress, Dannon is currently a full-time student at Colorado Mesa University where she is pursuing a degree in Business Finance. In between juggling her scholastic endeavors and employment at the Bank of the San Juans, you'll find Dannon guiding and scouting for QRS.
NITA SMITH-RALEY & DAVE RALEY
Nita Smith-Raley, Q's Mother, is often our clients' most consistent point of contact at QRS Outdoors. Serving as the QRS Office Manager, Nita fields calls from clients, provides packing lists, driving and flying information, and answers a wide variety of client questions. She's also in charge of QRS bookkeeping and invoicing. Chances are, you'll find yourself working closely with Nita both during and after your hunt. Her husband Dave, has over 50 years of hunting experience in Northwestern Colorado; when he's not working for the Colorado Department of Transportation you're sure to find Dave in a QRS hunting camp sharing his expertise and helping guide hunters to find their trophies of a lifetime.
JIMMY SMITH & KELLEE MITCHELL
Quentin's father, Jimmy, and his Wife, Kellee, live in Greeley, Colorado. Jimmy Instilled a love for hunting in Q at a young age, and carries that same passion and love with him today. Jimmy can be found guiding for QRS on the Rocky Mountain as well as Split Rock Ranches every fall, and has a wealth of experience hunting a variety of species. While he would preferably be guiding full-time for QRS, Jimmy's full-time job includes working for Bison as a Project Cordinator
A South Dakota Native, Kellee is a seasoned cowgirl and ranch-hand who has found a home working for the Colorado Livestock Association in member services. In her free time, Kellee enjoys pursuing her true passion and talent which involves creating incredible 2D and 3D western and hunting themed artwork - some of which you can find displayed at the QRS Booth.
BART TRAYNOR
No one knows guide and outfitting like Bart Traynor. A successful entrepreneur, business owner, and outfitter for many years, Bart knows the ins and outs of the hunting industry like none other. Aside from his wealth of outdoor, hunting and guiding experience, and dedication to client success, Bart is also a closet comedian who's always telling jokes and playing pranks. A camp favorite, Bart's stories and shenanigans will keep you laughing, while his expertise guarantees you a professional and first-class hunting experience.
CRAIG BUTTON
A former member of the U.S. Army and current cameraman for Outback Outdoors, Craig Button brings a variety of hunting and outdoor experience to QRS Outdoors. Originally from New York, Craig currently resides in Loveland, Colorado and works with QRS Outdoors on a part-time basis during the fall guiding elk and mule deer hunts. When he's not guiding, filming, editing hunting footage, or representing Yeti through the Yeti Pro Program, Craig can be found raising his two small children, training his bird dog, or exploring the great outdoors.
KIRK YELLOT
The lone true Southerner on the QRS team, Kurt hails from Louisiana where he owns a chain of successful restaurants and is closing out a career with the railroad. When Kirk's in camp, everyone gets excited because they know that delectable gumbo, fried shrimp and other southern delicacies await! Aside from his culinary skills, Kirk's elk hunting skills are second to none, as he has consistently helped QRS clients achieve success since 2015.
Carl & Kelly Moomey
The newest members of the team but certainly not the least! Kelly and Carl have been a great addition to our squad. While continuing a full time ocupation at the Colo Wyo Mine, Carl joins us on his days off to help guide and create a true Western Adventure for its guest. Kelly brings years of experince helping in the kitchen at the Flying J Lodge helping prepare some of the finest western home cooked meals there is to be offered! Her one of a kind Bisquits and Gravy are to die for and will leave you craving more!
Teagan Smith
If its success you are looking for then Teagan is the one you want in the blind with you! Accompaning his Dad on many of the hunts, he can be found spotting those trophy bucks or big ole bulls that will make any client happy! You can bet he will be right beside his dad gutting and skinning or glassing up those trophy animals!!
