Many years ago the El Cortez would sponsor a Mule deer contest. Those residents who had a deer tag, mostly for the Ely area, would normally go up to Ely to hunt Mule deer.
The idea was not only to shot a record buck with an enormous rack, but bring that rack back to the El Cortez and enter it in the contest one signed up BEFORE they went on the hunt.
You would then take the meat over to Brothers market who would dress out the deer for steaks, roasts, ground meat and sausage. The ashtrays were located in the contest area. I am sorry I did not take a few even though I smoked back then. It was just assumed they would always (the ashtrays) be there. As the town grew, the El Cortez did away with the deer contest. Many of us who hunted missed the contest and always made suggestions to bring it back. Unfortunately the suggestions fell on deaf ears.
I never won the contest but it wasn't for a lack of trying. A couple of my friends won over the years and had their names engraved on the trophy that was located in the area.
It was a fun contest and I was sorry to see it discontinued. The last year it was run the winner shot his buck on Mount Charleston. Go figure!