WOMEN’SOUTDOORSNEWS January 2014
opportunity to sight in rifles.
Everyone enjoyed a delicious
welcome barbecue in the huge tent
that would serve as the meeting
place for dinners, the Saturday night
auction and special events
throughout the weekend. At the
dinner we had the chance to meet
one another and learn more about
our hunting partners. We also met
our guides and discussed the game
plan for the next day, although no
one imagined what a day Friday
would turn out to be.
The following day, at 5:30 a.m., the
power went out and a quick look
outside showed almost whiteout
conditions. Authorities shut down
Interstates and closed schools as we
trudged to the main house for a
breakfast by candlelight. Braving the
horrible road conditions, the guides
(all men) made their ways to the
ranch, most thinking we would
spend a day inside near a fire,
sipping hot tea and telling stories.
Instead, they found our hunting packs
scattered around the floor and
women bundling themselves in their
warmest camo. We came to hunt!
Danielle Sanville, of Smith &
Wesson, shot the first buck, at 49.5
yards. At the end of the weekend her
shot earned her the Super Stalker
Award, a beautiful bronze antelope
bust trophy. Despite blizzard
conditions, more women returned
with their pronghorns tagged
throughout the day, sharing their
stories and smiles.
The contagiousness of the day’s
excitement carried through to the
auction. First Lady Carol Mead,
Representative Cynthia Lummis, and
other prominent Wyoming citizens
had been scheduled to attend,
but weather and political duties kept
2/3rds of the guests away. Those
who could make it joined us as we
participated in raffles, and enjoyed a
silent and live auction with donations
from generous sponsors.
The mission resonated with many of
the new hunters, like Wyoming
resident Lynn Green, a combat
veteran whose experience at the hunt
is one she will never forget. After
taking her first shot on an animal, she
now looks forward to sharing hunting
Photo courtesy of Julie Golob
with her young son. The WYWF
recognized her and 7 other women
as first-time hunters. They each
received the Diana Award.
California vegetarian Kristy Scott will
no doubt remember this hunt, too.
Kristy served as an example of the
women whom the WYWF hopes to
reach. A mom who wanted to learn a
way to provide healthy, organic food
for her children, Kristy received the
Boone & Crockett-sponsored
Roosevelt Award. The Roosevelt
Award celebrates an adventurous
spirit, determination, self-reliance and
the need to give back more than
that taken.
Brilliant blue replaced snow-filled
skies on day 2 of the hunt, as the
remaining hunters, with the help of
their experienced guides, spotted,
stalked and low-crawled to fill their
tags. Thirty-two of the 34 women
earned another set of beads
representing their successes. Those
who took multiple shots on their
game received pearls. For the 28
hunters who took their pronghorn
with a single shot, they received gold
and also Annie Oakley awards.
The women participated in other
activities while there. They had the
chance get artistic with paints, bust
clays with shotguns and learn how to
process meat from their pronghorns.
One of the hunters and professional
taxidermist Charlotte Wilsey-Catlin
of The Wildlife Gallery gave an
impromptu demonstration on how to
cape and I offered a Field to
Fork cooking demonstration, making
Venison Pho.
After a final breakfast, Sunday
morning we all packed up our guns
and gear, and made our ways home.
It was hard to believe it was over, but
to all, the hunt represented incredible
success. The avid hunters
shared their knowledge and passion
for hunting. For others, the WYWF
planted a seed to make hunting
forever a part of their lives. No doubt
though, the first Wyoming Women’s
Antelope Hunt represented a
celebration of women coming
together, mentoring and creating
relationships that will last lifetimes.
To read more about the hunt, check
out these articles and visit
WyomingWomensAntelopeHunt.org.
• Women Tough Out Snow and
Cold for Antelope Hunt
• Women’s Outdoor News After
Action Report
• Women’s Antelope Hunt Success
Despite Snow
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