FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Gatto Joseph C. Jr.   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CALLON PETROLEUM CO [CPE] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior VP / CFO / Treasurer (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 NORTH CANAL STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2015 (Street) NATCHEZ, MS 39120 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 12/31/2015   M   135,546 A (1) 221,028 D   Common Stock 12/31/2015   D   135,546 D $ 8.34 85,482 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

2013 Phantom Units - Performance Based (2)

(1)

12/31/2015

M

67,773

12/31/2015

12/31/2015

Common Stock

67,773

(1)

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Gatto Joseph C. Jr. 200 NORTH CANAL STREET NATCHEZ, MS 39120			Senior VP / CFO / Treasurer

Signatures

Clay V. Bland as Attorney-in-fact		01/05/2016
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The terms of this Phantom Unit award specify payment in cash rather than in stock, and includes a provision providing for a variable percentage payout (ranging from 0% to 200%) based on a performance criteria related to the Total Shareholder Return of the Company compared to a group of peer companies. On the vesting date, the reporting person's Phantom Shares held vested at the 200% level. The amount payable was based on the economic value of one share of Callon Petroleum Company common stock, calculated using the closing price on the vesting date.
(2)	This Phantom Share award is subject to vesting on December 31, 2015 and is payable in cash rather than stock. In addition, the award is subject to a variable percentage payout based on a performance criteria related to the total Shareholder Return of the Company compared to a group of peer companies. Therefore, this award can range from 0% to 200% of its original value at the vesting date.

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