In October 2023, 12 women from throughout North America graduated from the Women Hunt Program. After receiving expert-level instruction on everything from firearms to conservation at the FTW Ranch in Texas, they became the third class of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s (WSF) quickly advancing program.

At the 2024 Sheep Show® in Reno, ladies from all three classes attended to help give back to hunting, conservation, and WSF.

“A big part of our program is on giving back, and an important way to do that is with time and energy. I was so proud to have women from the initial 2021 class through our latest class in October 2023 come and give of themselves to help WSF accomplish its mission in Reno,” said Women Hunt Chair Renée Thornton.
 
Women served at the Women Hunt booth on the expo floor and helped with Executive Chef Joshua Schwencke's wild game food presentations and in various other capacities throughout the week.
 
Brandi Love of Alberta was part of the inaugural 2021 class and now serves on the Women Hunt Committee.

 
"As a committee member, I see our mission's direct fruits. These women come with enthusiasm, energy, joy, and understanding of this program and how it will change their lives. They are open to taking it all in and saying yes to new things, pushing them outside their comfort zones and challenging them in different ways to a new level of confidence," Love said. 
 
Three women dressed in hunting camo holding rifles and glassing with binoculars.

"They are now ambassadors of Women Hunt and WSF. They are now just as responsible for moving the conversation forward on hunting and conservation. The way they all embrace this mission and add their personal brand to it is heartwarming and makes me proud, and I know we are on the right path collectively."
 
Kat Hunter of Texas is a 2022 graduate, and this was her second year serving at the Sheep Show.
 
"What Renée and everyone involved in the program do is amazing. They teach us and challenge us in a very positive way to get involved and show us that by serving, we can help conservation and other women and be part of something extraordinary. Serving at the Sheep Show has been a real highlight for me," Hunter said.
 
Grayson Highfield of Wyoming is from the most recent class of 2023 and said Women Hunt was a "wildcard" for her and a proponent of change.
 
"This program has undeniably altered me, and I have come out of it with a refreshed understanding of and reverence for the wildlife that I have the privilege to pursue for sustenance," she said.

Highfield echoed Hunter's sentiments about the inspirational power of the program. "I stood at the corner of a crossroads before I walked into Sheep Show 2024. There were choices to be made that could have led me in either direction. I'm so grateful I chose to walk straight into this experience because I came out of it feeling passionate and inspired again for the first time in a while. It was an honor to promote a program and foundation that has so inherently changed the trajectory of my life, and it only heightened my desire to be as immersed as possible in the hunting and conservation fields.”
 
The program's impact on a personal level was highlighted at Full Curl Cinema through Beyond Bonds: A Women Hunt Story, a documentary featuring Renée Thornton, Rebecca Peters (class of 2021), Brandi Love, and their families.

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Produced and directed by Filter Studios Inc., the story detailed a black bear hunt that featured a high level of vulnerability and, most importantly, the strong bonds created through women hunting together.

Two women dressed in camouflage wearing packs and carrying rifles as part of WSF Women Hunt Program.

Peters said the inspiration for the project came from a profound desire to give back to the community, especially the Women Hunt® program and WSF. 
 
"It was designed to inspire both women and men to explore hunting and conservation. The motivation behind the project is deeply rooted in the desire to create positive ripples within the hunting and conservation communities as well as outside our circle and into the communities where we live. Encouraging a diverse audience to partake in the beauty of nature while actively contributing to its preservation."

Peters said the story shared themes of empowerment, environmental stewardship, friendships, the highs, and lows, and all the emotions in between, as well as conquering fear. 
 
"It's a vehicle for change and turning personal passion into a collective force for good. The call to be of Service, the encouragement to embrace the unknown, and the celebration of unity from the documentary leaves a memorable mark on viewers' hearts. It stands as encouragement, inviting all to initiate a journey beyond the screen, a journey into friendship, empowerment, conservation, and hunting," Peters said.
 
At the screening, Thornton said Beyond Bonds showed how hunter-conservationists can help each other when hunting and in life and create powerful memories that last a lifetime.
 
"All of us who are a part of Women Hunt feel this is a family, and it's exciting to see it grow year after year.”

Contributing Author: Chester Moore is an award-winning wildlife journalist and lifelong hunter from Texas. He operates the Higher Calling Wildlife® blog and podcast and contributes to many outdoors publications.

Tags: Women Hunt