The ‘Squallet’ Was Conceived In Wyoming; Its Makers Love Coming Back For Elk Hunts

A few years ago, Karley and Craig Summitt were on an elk hunt in Wyoming with some close friends from the Cowboy State, and it was jokingly suggested that they try to make a business out of fashioning wallets from squirrel pelts.

Now the Squallet has become the flagship product of their home-based Scraggly Bush Fur Products.

The Raccsack, a backpack made from a raccoon pelt, is another favorite, and the company has grown by leaps and bounds, Karley told Cowboy State Daily.

The Summitts and their children live in Omaha, Nebraska, and love coming back to Wyoming whenever they can.

Of course, they’re outfitted with Squallets, Raccsacks and even a Possum Pack or two. And a hunt is always a good opportunity to pick up a few prospects for new animal container products.

During their last visit, they went on an elk hunt with their good Wyoming friend Chris McBarnes. And on the last day, Karley got a Wyoming elk, which she hopes will be the first of many.

But before they even headed up into the Bighorn Mountains, they had to drop off a shipment of Squallets to keep up with the orders from eager customers.

“It was the weekend, so the Buffalo Post Office was closed, so Chris left the shipment with a buddy so he could get it to the post office as soon as it opened,” Karley said. “We needed to make sure we were all caught up on our orders before we could go hunting.”

Lasting Friendship

Craig Summitt and McBarnes have been best friends since they met while at college in Indiana and discovered that they shared a love of the outdoors.

McBarnes went on to be president of the Wyoming WYldlife Fund, and has invited the Summitts to Wyoming as often as possible.

A few years ago, the Summitts were in Wyoming for an elk hunt and Karley had a cow elk tag.

While at the home of another friend, former Wyoming Attorney General Pat Crank, the talk turned to the Squallet that the Summitts had made as a gag gift for a family member.

Also, the Possum Pack, or a fanny pack made out of an opossum pelt.

Crank and McBarnes told the Summitts they should take a shot a commercializing their furry creations.

Craig serves in the Air Force, and the couple was stationed in San Angelo, Texas, at the time.

Karley didn’t get an elk that year, but when they got home, she and Craig started sewing Squallets, Possum Packs and other products in their living room.

Thanks in part to the support and word-of-mouth they got from their Wyoming friends, the company began to grow. They later relocated to Omaha, which was ideal for the family because Karley grew up there and her parents still live there.

They’re still working out of their living room, churning out products as quickly as they can as demand skyrockets.

The latest and greatest creations are Koozies, or insulated cupholders, made from animal pelts. They’re deigned to fit perfectly over the wildly popular Stanley cups, Karley said.

Friday The 13th Turns Into A Lucky Day

Karley said she was “totally stoked” to draw an archery bull elk tag for a hunt area in the Bighorn Mountains this year. It’s not an easy tag to get. It took her five years to draw it.

McBarnes was equally excited to take his friends up into the mountains for several days of hunting.

But the weather was hot for the first five days. The elk weren’t moving around, and the bulls weren’t bugling.

That all changed in the wee hours of Sept. 13, McBarnes said.

“A cold front moved in, and at about 2 a.m. the bugles started. There was so much bugling, we couldn’t sleep,” he said.

Bull elk during the rut, or mating season, will challenge each other with bugling sounds that can be heard across great distances.

One bull was cutting loose right above their camp. McBarnes recognized the opportunity.

The hunters hunkered quietly inside their tents, having coffee and waiting for dawn to come.

As the sun came up, they crept out. They set Karley up in a spot where they figured she’d have good shot with her crossbow – if they could convince the bull to come in.

McBarnes and Craig set up a cow elk decoy and McBarnes opened up with his elk call.

They had the bull’s attention and could see tree branches as he thrashed them with his antlers.

Finally, everything came together and the huge bull “ambled in” to about 60 yards from Karley, giving her a great broadside shot.

She let the crossbow bolt fly, and after running just a short distance, the bull fell over dead.

McBarnes said it was wonderful to see his friend finally get the Wyoming elk she’d wanted for so long.

Wyoming Keeps Calling Them Back

Karley said that she’s “on cloud nine” over getting her bull, and how well her and her husband’s company is doing.

“Everything has come full circle,” she said. “During that Wyoming elk hunt a few years ago, I didn’t get an elk, and the company was just an idea we had. Now, I got my elk, and the company has taken off.”

Squallets and Raccsaks are turning enough profits to help the Summitts keep enjoying their love for Wyoming.

“We plan to come back to Wyoming as often as we can,” Karley said. “The company is making enough money to pay for an elk hunt out here every year.”

And now that they've bagged some Wyoming elk, and keeping up the spirit of the original Squallet, don't be surprised if a duffel bag or hammock hits the drawing board.

Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedailay.com

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.