Wyoming Women s Foundation 1472 N. 5 th Street Ste. 201 Laramie, WY

Transcription

1 Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt Senate File 60 Information Sheet What are we trying to do? We are pursuing a combination of legislation and WGFD regulation enabling the Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt to purchase hunting licenses annually, ensuring the continuation and sustainability of the event. What is the Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt? The Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt, the first of its kind in the nation, was founded in 2013 by the Wyoming Women s Foundation as an opportunity for mentoring and developing camaraderie between women. Hunting, a long-standing Wyoming tradition, is a skill that honors our state s cultural roots. Teaching women to hunt can help them feed their families nutritious food and fulfills WYWF s mission of investing in economic self-sufficiency of women. Thanks to individuals, corporations and organizations, the event develops new hunters by offering scholarships and hunter education to women who otherwise may not have this opportunity. Women are paired with conservation-minded guides and experienced hunting partners for maximum learning opportunities. Among these scholarship recipients in past years have been single mothers, veterans and wounded warriors, and women with disabilities. The event takes place at the Ranch at Ucross in Clearmont, Wyoming and accesses 3-5 hunting areas annually. Hunters have the opportunity to harvest a big-game animal, but are also exposed to additional activities such as fly fishing, trap and skeet shooting, meat processing workshops, and cooking with wild game classes. We work closely with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department to facilitate hunter education, and to ensure a safe and legal hunt for all participants. Since its inception, the hunt boasts the following highlights: 150 total participants over 4 years; 52 scholarship recipients; Engaged 47 first-time big game hunters in mentoring experiences; Recruited 47 out-of-state women to hunt Wyoming Antelope; Connects with landowners and employs 20 professional guides annually through a licensed outfitter; Connected 4 youth hunters and their families to ethical hunting experiences; Raised over $280,000 for the mission of the Wyoming Women s Foundation What benefits does the Antelope Hunt provide? The Antelope Hunt supports many of the efforts Wyoming is already facilitating in terms of recruitment and retention of hunters. In short, the Hunt: Engages a growing demographic of hunters (women); Recruits new Wyoming hunters from out-of-state (whose license sales generate several times as much revenue as a Wyoming resident license); Mentors youth hunters to help grow the tradition of hunting; Encourages retention of Wyoming hunters (55% of respondents in a poll to first-time hunters state they have already hunted or are planning to hunt this year after their experience at the WWAH) Facilitates hunter education, safety and ethical practices; Compliments existing Wyoming Game & Fish programming at no cost to the department What impact will this have on hunters and animal populations? We work closely with Wyoming Game & Fish to ensure we are supporting positive conservation efforts across Wyoming. Regional Wildlife Supervisor, Craig Smith, for the region where the hunt is located, provided us this information: 40 to 80 licenses will not impact Antelope populations or other hunter access, especially if distributed over multiple areas; Approx. 5,000 licenses are offered in the areas we typically have access to, while our event is only requesting the ability to purchase UP TO 1.6% (or up to 80) of the total available licenses What s next? House and Senate members of the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources committee will meet separately and host public hearings about the bill. We hope to have testimonies of hunters, sponsors and staff at these hearings, and to encourage the committee to recommend the bill. Wyoming Women s Foundation 1472 N. 5 th Street Ste. 201 Laramie, WY

2 Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt 2017 INFO KIT Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt October 12-15, 2017 ABOUT THE HUNT The Wyoming Women s Foundation (WYWF) created the hunt to promote camaraderie and mentorship through hunting while raising awareness of and funds for the Foundation. WYWF s mission is to improve the economic self-sufficiency of women in the state. Female hunters of all experience levels participate in the hunt, with emphasis on safe and responsible hunting. HISTORY Leading the way as the first event of its kind for women, the inaugural Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt took place in Hunters from across Wyoming and the nation have participated. Prominent women, including Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kite, Ms. Wheelchair USA 2013, Ashlee Lundvall, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jillian Balow and Julie Golob, captain of Smith & Wesson s highly successful shooting team have shared in the hunt experience. IMPACT $280,000 raised since 2013, for grantmaking and special projects which improve the economic self-sufficiency of women and the future of girls 52 scholarships awarded to hunters since 2013, including first time hunters, military veterans and single mothers 100+ organizations and individuals have sponsored the hunt since 2013 Partner with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to offer hunter safety training and provide firearms sight-in and training 150 hunters have experienced empowering mentor or mentee opportunities Partner with Boone & Crockett Club, a nonprofit organization providing education on hunting as a conservation tool, to teach, promote and reward ethical hunting practices 47 first-time hunters have learned to provide meals for themselves and their families

3 HISTORY OF THE HUNT Retired Justice Marilyn Kite was hunting antelope with her sister-in-law, Karey Stebner, outside of Rawlins, Wyoming. They got to talking and came up with the idea of an all-women s antelope hunt. Justice Kite shared her idea with friends Lynne Boomgaarden and Donna Wichers. The women approached the Wyoming Women s Foundation to organize and host the event. WYWF formed a committee and got started. Wyoming was the first state to recognize women s right to vote. And now we re leading the way by hosting the Wyoming Women s Antelope hunt, said Justice Kite. The event is ideal whether you re a first-time hunter or a seasoned pro. Our emphasis will be on safe and responsible hunting. SCHOLARSHIPS Through the support of sponsors, the Wyoming Women s Foundation offers scholarships to pay participation expenses for women interested in joining the hunt. Last year, the hunt offered scholarships to 14 women, including first time hunters, military veterans, and single mothers. EMPHASIS ON SAFETY & ETHICS The hunt partners with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to offer hunter safety training and provide the firearms sight-in and training. The hunt also has partnered with Boone & Crockett Club, a nonprofit organization that promotes and rewards ethical hunting practices and wildlife conservation efforts. AWARDS Working with the prestigious Boone and Crockett Club, the Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt has structured its awards to adhere to the core principles of conservation and hunting ethics. The hunt presents the awards on Saturday night. HUNTING IS ONE WAY WOMEN CAN BRING NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE MEAT HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES, WHILE EXPERIENCING MORE INDEPENDENCE AND SELF- SUFFICIENCY. - Shelley Simonton WYWF Board Member

4 WHY HOST A HUNT? ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AMONG WOMEN AND GIRLS The Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt raises funds and awareness for the Wyoming Women s Foundation which promotes economic self-sufficiency among women and girls. Wyoming s gender wage gap is the third largest in the nation with women earning 68 cents for every dollar earned by men. Since its inception in 1999, the Women s Foundation has granted nearly $800,000 to 138 nonprofit organizations. In 2015 and 2016 WYWF funded two studies to evaluate self-sufficiency in Wyoming which will guide grantmaking and policy to improve the economic status of women and families in the state. MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING AMONG WOMEN The hunt provides an opportunity for women to mentor or be mentored while enjoying the thrill of the hunt with others. It gives women of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to network and develop new relationships. WOMEN MAKE UP 13.2 PERCENT OF HUNTERS IN WYOMING, ACCORDING TO THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT. WESTERN TRADITIONS The Foundation celebrates hunting as part of Wyoming s heritage - a tradition that is passed on from one generation to the next. By hosting a women s-only hunting event, we have the opportunity to encourage the growth of more women hunters while preserving our Wyoming hunting heritage, wildlife and open spaces for future generations.

5 WYOMING WOMEN S FOUNDATION since 1999, wywf has granted nearly $832,000 to 138 organizations impacting the economic self-sufficiency of women and girls. Wyoming s history tells a story of strong women in an Equality State. The character of Wyoming was formed by a combination of unquenchable spirit with a rich and varied cultural heritage. This spirit is apparent in the group of thoughtful women who launched the Wyoming Women s Foundation in order to provide grants to organizations serving women and girls, respond to requests that close gaps in programming and create transformative change in many lives. A priority fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation, the Wyoming Women s Foundation makes grants that help women achieve economic self-sufficiency and provide opportunities for girls for the greatest impact in our communities. The statewide fund is dedicated to funding for women and girls, and donations are leveraged through its endowment. Grantmaking is focused on lasting systems-change for women and girls. Using a model proven successful by other women s funds, the Wyoming Women s Foundation improves access to education, jobs and asset growth for women and girls, in turn reducing teen pregnancy, increasing the number of women and girls who complete their education, supporting positive early job experiences and strengthening sustainable economic self-sufficiency. As WYWF increases grants, these achievements will continue to grow. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR WYOMING? wyoming s gender wage gap is the third largest in the nation with women earning 69 cents for every dollar earned by men. the gender wage gap is a family and community issue; 40% of all households with children in the u.s. include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income for the family. 58% of single mothers living in wyoming are below the self-sufficiency standard, meaning they are not able to meet basic needs without public or private assistance. CONTACT US TODAY WYOMING WOMEN S ANTELOPE HUNT wyomingwomensantelopehunt.org Host of the Wyoming Women s Antelope Hunt Office: info@wywf.org

6 Antelope Hunt Sponsors TITLE SPONSOR $50,000 BP America PLATINUM SPONSORS - $25,000 UraniumOne The Warren Ranch Smith & Wesson Merlin Ranch BRONZE SPONSORS - $10,000 Apache Montana Watch Company Mark & Jennie Gordon HUNTER SPONSORS - $5,000 Anonymous Marilyn Kite Anadarko Mickey Babcock Jim Nelson Sinclair Oil Company Liz Brimmer & George Barlow Lost Creek Ranch EKO Flood USA Sandy Brug Outlaw Inn Cloud Peak Energy Cabela s Raymond Plank Cyclone Drilling Ruth Ann Petroff Lynn & Foster Friess Remington Arlene Hanson Snake River Roasting Co Susan Hladky Wells Fargo The Private Bank Hornady Groathouse Construction FRIENDS OF THE HUNT Up to $4,999 Sue Sutton Mossy Oak Matt Moran Judie & Ted Blair/Blair Hotels Linda Murchison T Cross T Ranch Lynne Boomgaarden/Crowley Mountain Khakis Uranerz Fleck PLLP Gov. Matt Mead Vortex Optics Bar 6 Bar Bill Wichers Donna Wichers Boone & Crockett Club Lollie Benz Plank Wyoming Whiskey Kathryn & Chris Boswell The Nature Conservancy Gay Woodhouse Judy & Glenn Catchpole Wyoming Pork Producers Ruger First Northern Bank Council Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Crazy Woman Water Wyoming Game & Fish Wyoming Wildlife Federation Energy Fuels Department Wyoming Business Report First Interstate Bank Rendezvous Tent & Service Wyoming Stockgrowers Stoval Beverage Stio Rusty s Taxidermy Cynthia Chace Gray Rocky Mountain Power Sportsman s Warehouse Joey s Fly Fishing Foundation The Sports Lure Cynthia Lummis Arne Jorgensen & Teresa de Groh Clarene Law Brandi Monger & Billie Addleman Mag-pul Sheridan Media L & H Industrial Modern Electric RLG International Big Horn Beverage Maven Coca-Cola