Women Hunt®

by Renée Thornton Chair, WSF Women Hunt®

Practising patience in the field.

WOMEN HUNT® AT THE SHEEP SHOW®

It’s been an exciting number of months for Women Hunt®! The committee is thrilled with the results of the Class of 2022’s participation in the New Hunter Course, developed and delivered by the FTW Ranch in Texas. We’re energized by the impact the course has had on the 12 women selected by the committee from the United States and Canada. They benefited from the expert instructors at the ranch with exponential skills development and growth in their self-confidence through the skills they learned shooting, hunting, butchering, and preparing wild game. The introduction to and discussion of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation during the course has ensured that the participants left with a base understanding of the seven sisters of the model and know where to go to learn more. The community Women Hunt® has provided them means that they are forever connected to the program, the Wild Sheep Foundation and each other. Next fall when we report on all the ways these 12 women are giving back in their communities, positively changing the lives of hundreds more women, children and men, the full relevance, impact and virality of Women Hunt® will be realized yet again with this newest class of Women in Hunting™. Watch for feature stories in upcoming editions highlighting the virality (or ripple effect) the alumni of the New Hunter Course are creating and the life-changing impacts their actions are having.

Women Hunt® is thrilled and honored to announce a new addition to our program. In keeping with our culture of excellence in training and education, Joshua Schwencke, owner and executive chef of Gastronomy Outdoors, has accepted to be the Executive Chef in Residence of Women Hunt®. Chef Joshua provides expert instruction in many culinary disciplines and has a particular love of all aspects of preparing wild game.

He is notable in the importance he places in honoring wild game in the field and the kitchen, ethics which align with Women Hunt®. As we move forward on responding to what the Women Hunt® community has asked for in our online content, Chef Joshua will provide a welcome culinary presence, filled with good humor and excellent instruction. Welcome Chef Joshua!

The Women Hunt® committee is excited to be positioned to deliver new outreach at the 2023 Sheep Show®. The upcoming show marks the first time we will have a booth in the expo hall adjacent to the other WSF association displays. Alumni from the Classes of 2022 and 2021 will volunteer in the booth and are looking forward to talking with Hands-on learning skinning a deer.

YETI Coolers to bring home the wild game. many of you about Women Hunt® , the New Hunter Course and sharing stories and ideas, like hunters love to do! We’re looking forward to hosting daily special events in our booth in partnership with Full Curl Montana Spirits, African Tradition Wines and Gastronomy Outdoors, so be sure to come and visit us!

This year marks the fifth year we’ve hosted a seminar—it’s incredible how time flies! Each year we’ve had a great turnout of both women and men and fantastic participation from our community, who’ve helped the committee define the direction of Women Hunt®. Join us on Saturday, January 14, from 10:30 a.m. until noon as we host a panel discussion with four of our community’s most interesting figures. 13-year old Cami Cunningham of Texas achieved her Four North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS) this year as the youngest female ever to do so, and Brooklyn Widdifield of Alberta successfully harvested her first Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep as a 12-year-old. Jana Waller of Skull Bound Chronicles and Kristy Titus of Pursue the Wild will join Cami and Brooklyn to tell stories about hunting, discuss the impact and roles of mentors, explore why these young women aren’t waiting to hunt what many consider to be a pinnacle species to pursue (and why you shouldn’t wait either!), and so much more.

We are excited to announce that the Wild Sheep Foundation in partnership with Women Hunt® will be bringing to the Sheep Show® the first-ever delivery of a culinary experience. The Culinary Corner will launch in 2023 in the expo hall and will feature a wealth of sessions to appeal to us all. Over the course of the expo, Chef Joshua of Gastronomy Outdoors will host a combination of short and long sessions where you can expect to learn about nutrition and wild game preparation and observe cooking demonstrations. Look forward to learning specifics such as de-boning, preparing stock and knife skills, and delve into preparing delicious recipes and dishes. Daily schedules will be released on the Sheep Show® app and on social media, so plan your time at the show to come and learn from one of the best.

We look forward to seeing you at the Sheep Show®! Have a happy holiday season!

Women Hunt® gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsors and donors who made the 2022 New Hunter Course possible: SITKA, YETI, Weatherby, Kenetrek Boots, Boyt Harness Company, Leupold, FTW Ranch, Alaska Hunting Adventures, Alaska Wilderness Enterprises, Bear Track Outfitters, Hidden Creek Outfitters, Linda Demmer, Mike Mechenbier, Tim Fallon, Kevin Hurley, Gray and Renée Thornton, David Nelson, Julie Chapman, Jim Craig, Connor Schantz, Mark Springer. WS

Renée Thornton, Chair

Linda Demmer Rachel Ahtila Sara Domek Julie Chapman Dr. Peregrine L. Wolff, DVM

Meet the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt® Committee

Bios and photos at:

www.wildsheepfoundation.org/about/ women-hunt-committee

Connect with us:

https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/womenhunt womenhunt@wildsheepfoundation.org @womenhunt @women_hunt @womenhunt