Hunting Guides

Wes Atkinson
Owner: Atkinson Expeditions & Outdoor Expeditions

Wes grew up in Craig, Colorado where he spent most of his days delinquent from any social activities because of his addictions to hunting and fishing. The days he spent with his dad and brother, growing up along the Yampa River and in the hills around Craig, are some of the best memories of his life. It is from those fun days that he has created Atkinson Expeditions and a desire to share the outdoors with others. Wes and his wife, Rachelle, enjoy being a team and creating personal, successful experiences for the clients of Atkinson Expeditions. Wes has owned and operated Atkinson Expeditions for six years and has recently with the help of Quentin, Rob and Jerome started Outdoor Expeditions to fulfill on their insatiable desire to hunt trophy mule deer. Wes’s “Are you kidding me? I really get to do this?” moments happen more and more frequently as his business expands and he enjoys new opportunities such as prostaffing for Sportsman’s News and traveling to destinations such as Argentina, Africa, and Alaska.

Quentin Smith
General Manager, Outdoor Expeditions

Quentin, born and raised in Texas, moved to Colorado in 1991 where he brought his love and passion for the outdoors with him. His early childhood hunting experience with family only elevated his enthusiasm to take on the Colorado wilderness where he spent every waking moment outside of school scouring the hills and studying every aspect of wildlife behavior. His aspiration for hunting only grew throughout his childhood and before long it found him guiding hunts in Colorado. In 1996 after moving to eastern Colorado, Quentin found his passion for trophy class mule deer, whitetail and antelope. He quickly started guiding in eastern Colorado and in 2000 started QRS Outdoor Specialties, LLC, which offered a unique Colorado experience, a one stop destination for all the exotic game a hunter could ask. Today Quentin owns and operates QRS Outdoors which has expanded its operation to include elk in Colorado and whitetail in Kansas. He has joined Hunting Lease Magazine as a Pro-staff member and has joined Outdoor Expeditions with the hopes of building a leading industry operation. Quentin is the leading team member in Outdoor Expeditions and is responsible for existing client relationships as well as future contacts.

Rob Amidon
Operations Manager. Outdoor Expeditions

Rob was the very first of our team members to join Atkinson Expeditions and has a longstanding, reliable reputation with our team, landowners, and clients alike. Rob enjoys hunting Atkinson Expeditions’ ranches in northern Colorado, which are within twenty minutes of his home and allow him to spend family time with wife Jenn, and daughters Grace and a new addition in July, Sarah! Rob is a veteran hunter of both the plains of Eastern Colorado and the foothills of north central Colorado. Growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado, both places were easily accessible to Rob as a young hunter and his experience is invaluable to the AE team. Currently Rob is responsible for management of our northern Colorado mule deer and elk operation. Rob also handles many of our clients’ accounts – and with the new project of Outdoor Expeditions it may be Rob on the other end of the phone with you as you search for your next premium hunting destination!

Jerome Vinet
Field Manager, Outdoor Expeditions

Jerome grew up in Littleton, Colorado, and from the time he was big enough to hold up a fishing pole or B.B. gun, he has been addicted to the outdoors. Spending his early years in the central mountains of Colorado, learning everything he could about hunting and fishing from his Dad. When he moved to Gunnison Colorado for college, that passion only erupted further into a full blown obsession; however he did mange to graduate. From that obsession exploded the desire to share those experiences with the clients that he now calls friends. While working with his best friends, Jerome has guided hunts on everything from moose, elk and deer in North Park; to antelope, deer and turkeys all over the eastern plains, not to mention mule deer and elk in the hills around Gunnison. Now, as one of two managers of Outdoor Expeditions in Eastern Colorado, he looks forward to the abundance of new experiences. Jerome is responsible for logistics and property management in Eastern Colorado. It will be his truck that will be seen bouncing through the ranches on scouting trips before the season ever starts.

Scott Engstrom
Guide, Kansas Division

Scott was born and raised in Fort Scott, Kansas and as a kid enjoyed coon hunting the very ranches on which Atkinson Expeditions operates today. Scott also grew up hunting deer and turkey with his dad in this southeast Kansas country. It is these same hills that Scott now shares with his own two boys, Taylor and Braden. With permission from his wife Heather, he can often be found sneaking Taylor and Braden into a food plot to chase turkeys after school! With an insatiable passion for understanding animal behavior and movement, Scott prepares thoroughly for each round of hunters - checking cameras, filling feeders, monitoring food plots, and hanging deer stands. Scott combines an innate sense for customer service with his drive for every one of his hunters to succeed. Almost to the point where Wes has to tell him at the end of the day that it’s time to go home! Scott is the guide who will welcome you to our world-class operation in Southeast Kansas.