Women Hunt Committee

Born and raised in rural Alberta to a large farming family, Renée Thornton is the Founder & Chair of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s (WSF) Women Hunt^® program and committee, and the Women in Hunting^® initiative.
 
Although not raised with a hunting background, in 2016 Renée embarked on a personal journey to become a hunter. As a result of her experiences as a solo, adult-onset hunter, Renée is passionate about engaging with and inspiring more women to enter the hunting and conservation space. She is particularly dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and the wild places they inhabit, and ensuring others understand the critical role hunters and hunting play in conservation. 
 
Renée believes in giving back of her time, talent, and treasure, and being of service is a core value. In addition to creating and leading Women Hunt^®, she is active in volunteering and speaking at various WSF and Chapter & Affiliate events. Renée leads the charge for Women Hunt^® in engaging with state and national legislators in the advocacy of the rights and heritage of hunters; she has built a presence and relationship with established and upcoming wildlife professionals through a partnership with The Wildlife Society; she collaborates with industry leaders and influencers; and she values her relationships with the extraordinary women and men of the hunting, shooting and conservation landscapes. She holds multiple life memberships within the Wild Sheep Foundation, is a Life Member of SCI, a Patriot Life Member of the NRA, and supports many other partner organizations. Most recently she joined the prestigious Marco Polo Society of the Wild Sheep Foundation, through which her endowment will help to ensure the future of wild sheep, her favorite wildlife species.
 
In addition to hunting Renée enjoys fly fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping, and adventure travel. The fall of 2024 will see her achieve the notable distinction of visiting all seven continents when she finally lands on The Dark Continent to hunt in and experience Namibia. As a hunter she has taken black bear, feral hog, whitetail, mule deer, Axis deer, pronghorn, Miquihuanensis mountain whitetail, aoudad, upland and migratory birds, and she is a passionate supporter of predator management. She aspires to hunt wild sheep and join the ranks of accomplished mountain hunters.
 
An avid reader, accomplished writer, business leader and mentor, Renée recently retired from a 30-year career as a professional manager for the Canadian Federal Government. She resides in Manhattan, Montana.

Brandi grew up on the edge of one of the most pristine Canadian Waterfowl areas, the Delta Marsh, just outside of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, on a mixed purebred Charolais Cattle/Grain Farm operation. While raised in a hunting family and even contemplating a career in conservation at a young age, her passion for horses and Agriculture eventually won out. Brandi received her Bachelor of Applied Science in Agribusiness Management and a Diploma in Ag Business Marketing and Sales from Olds College, which resulted in a permanent move to Alberta.

Brandi is currently the Manager of Agriculture Credit for TD Bank in Central Alberta, aiding and assisting primary producers and Agri Businesses with their financing needs, and mitigating the risk for the bank and its shareholders. She has previously served on many boards and volunteer positions for various rodeo associations and barrel racing groups in Canada. She is still an active barrel racer with many up-and-coming young horses that she is currently training and competing on herself, as well as having a small breeding program in which she has raised most of her current prospects from.

Brandi's love for the outdoors and wildlife has always remained a key part of her being, with her always living in and near some of the most diverse wildlife areas in Canada. It wasn't until 2021, when some unexpected family events occurred, that she became serious about reconnecting with and making up for lost time with her father, and really becoming serious about reconnecting with hunting. Applying and being successfully selected for the inaugural Women Hunt New Hunter course in 2021 has led her on this new journey into the hunting community. Giving back and volunteering and serving with the Wild Sheep Foundation and the Wild Sheep Foundation of Alberta has been her primary focus thus far, and she is excited to continue this journey with the Women Hunt Committee. She has experienced the direct success of this program, believes in the vision, and wants to continue to encourage and grow this momentum.

I was raised around the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Growing up, our family didn’t own guns or go hunting, but we did go walleye fishing every spring. My first experience with hunting was when I married my husband, Steve. He is an avid hunter and conservationist. It was only natural that he introduced me to shooting and hunting. We joined a trap shooting team before our children were born. This eventually progressed to pheasant hunting. I was never a naturally good bird hunter. It wasn’t long before I told Steve I need to move onto bigger and slower animals as birds were not my forte. Oh, I still shoot sporting clays and pheasant hunt, but my true passion is hunting big game.

Steve and I started a construction company in January of 1992. After 30 years in the construction industry, we sold our business and retired. When we first started our company, we worked in 2 states with 5 employees. At retirement we were working in 9 states with 65 employees working for the company.

As an active member of my community, I have held several board positions. I started my volunteerism with National Association Women in Construction (NAWIC). I held several positions within the organization until I was President/Past President. I was also the treasurer of Ballet Des Moines for several years, as our daughters were avid dancers. I’m a WSF Chadwick Ram Society Member, Summit Life Member, and a WSF Legacy Society Member. I’m a Life Member of Safari Club International and Sables. I’ve been on the Sables Election Committee three times. I’m a life member of SCI-Iowa Chapter and I have held the treasurer/board member since 2003.

Now that I’m retired, I’ve stepped up my reading and audible listening. I enjoy spending winters in AZ hiking. Steve and I have several hunts planned the next few years and I’m sure those will be wonderful adventures to experience. I have another Elk hunt planned for this fall; this animal has been my nemesis.

‘Don’t be afraid to start where you are, to get to where you want to be’ has been Rachel’s unofficial motto since first getting a taste of hunting camp years ago. A southern British Columbian by birth, but a northerner by choice, what started as a summer childhood getaway quickly turned into the love of her life. The pursuit of wild places, riding horses and hunting started out as grand adventures that turned into a career path that she hasn’t looked back on. Obtaining her first guides license by 19 years old, she was a quick study that led her to working and guiding in British Columbia, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories, as well as abroad in New Zealand. Through school and post-secondary education at the University of Victoria, the mountains were her calling.

Her passion for life and its adventures has her teamed up with some tremendous companies, a staunch resume of conservation, and a zest for life. She’s worked her way up from the elementary roles at hunting camp, and set out to guide the premier species of Canada’s northwest. Accolades include working and guiding for ‘Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures’ and ‘The Professionals’, as well as aiding many clients to their hunts on and off the screen, an international columnist, product tester and ambassador for leading industry companies, one of the youngest women to ever serve on the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia, and integral founding member of the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance. Her life path and growth are owed largely to the opportunities that she took a chance on and the extended hunting family that has supported and encouraged her – a mission she has been actively working on in support of the next generation.

A devout hunter, avid equestrian, and hard worker, when she’s not in the mountains, you can be sure to find her somewhere on a horse, most likely ranching or off on an adventure!

"Passion" is something very evident when describing Julie! An Indiana native, Julie has had a passion for living life to the fullest and has excelled in many different endeavors. While earning her Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Missouri she found time to have a record setting career as a 4-year starter for the women's basketball program. Following her college career, she married her high school sweetheart, Brandon and together they have passed down the love and respect for hunting to their two children, John and Madison.

Chapman is a licensed Healthcare Administrator where she owns and operates a skilled nursing facility in Southern Indiana. Additionally, she and her husband own and manage several other successful businesses within the community. Julie is a high energy, enthusiastic person that doesn't back down from a challenge. She and her husband created Graveyard Outdoors to provide opportunities for children from the surrounding counties to experience the outdoors. Annual events for children include turkey hunts, dove hunts, pheasant hunts, archery events, shooting sports, fishing days, and waterfowl banding.

This intense enthusiasm for the outdoors has led to many different opportunities to serve at a grass roots level with conservation organizations. Julie led the state with record setting financial achievements while serving as the Ducks Unlimited Chairman for three consecutive years. NWTF, RMEF, NRA, Florida Tarpon Anglers Association, and Physically Challenged Bowhunters Association are just a few of the organizations.

The love of wild sheep began with the harvest of her first desert sheep. Jack O'Connor said it best when he said, "There is no half way. After his first exposure, a man is either a sheep hunter or he isn't. He either falls under the spell of sheep hunting and sheep country or he won't be caught dead on another sheep mountain." Obviously, Julie is all in and there is no "HALF WAY" when it comes to the passion and energy needed to continue the mission of the Wild Sheep Foundation.

Linda Demmer has had a lifelong passion for wildlife, its habitat, and its conservation. Linda was raised in the shadow of Fred Bear and competed in Northern Michigan field archery competitions as a young woman. Those early passions have inspired her on a quest to hunt big game in North America and Africa.

Linda is a university-trained fine artist having spent her adult life restoring historic properties including their landscapes. Restoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Usonian home and his fourth favorite design is one of her credits. Currently she is leading the efforts to restore an historic property in South Carolina’s “Low Country.” This property is an early South Carolina rice farm with a cornerstone laid in 1697. The property was a Land Grant from King Charles. Linda is managing the farm’s wildlife habitat for deer, ducks, turkey, quail, and doves. Her game management also includes cover crops for wildlife and carbon sequestration enhancement.

Linda is an active partner with the Low Country Ducks Unlimited Chapters. DU created a video that they aired nationally featuring Linda and her friends duck hunting called, “Lady Hunters of the South Carolina Low Country.” The video, available on the DU web, is 2018 Episode 12-Southern Women.

Linda’s “Big Game” experiences includes the harvest of Alaskan Brown Bear and Black Bear, Yukon Territory Mountain Caribou, Rocky Mountain Goat, California Tulle Elk, and an Oregon Roosevelt Elk. She was the first woman in Oregon hunting history to win the Governor’s Tag Raffle for the Elk. Linda has harvested deer in Michigan, South Carolina, Texas, and Mexico. Linda’s African hunts include successful safaris in Mozambique and Tanzania. She has successfully harvested: Ocellated Turkeys in Campeche, Mexico, the Eastern Turkey, The Rio Grande and is booked to hunt the Gould Turkey in Sierra Madre Mountains, Mexico, and Red Stag in Scotland.

Linda’s love for the sporting life has led her to the world of conservation policy. She has engaged both at the state and federal levels working for the sportsmen and women of North America. Linda currently serves on the boards of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, the Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Bear Trust International and National Wild Turkey Federation. She is on the founding committee for Women Hunt^® through the Wild Sheep Foundation. She also served on the Board of Directors of The Lowcountry Land Trust in South Carolina. In addition to her conservation passions, she had served on the Eli and Edith Broad Art Museum Board at Michigan State University.

Linda’s experience as an educator has equipped her with the capacity to mentor fair chase hunters. She also has the desire to work with and for the development of nontraditional hunters, women in particular.

Her love of the outdoors, being a passionate “fair chase hunter,” a dedication to preserving and enhancing habitat brings experience to Women Hunt^®.

A proud Life member of WSF, Kim has spent over 30 years working for the Foundation. At the age of 20, she began her career at WSF (then known as FNAWS) as membership coordinator. Ever since then, she has found the driving force behind her professional passion has always been WSF’s energetic and inspiring members. As Kim always says, “I work for them”.

During her WSF tenure, she has helped manage the Foundation’s membership, merchandise, raffles, awards, and auctions and has recently been promoted to VP of Operations. This new position gives Kim the opportunity to learn more about the Foundation at a higher level and foster relationships with her fellow team members.

With the generosity of WSF’s donors/exhibitors/sponsors and members, Kim’s success has been from their stellar support. WSF has been the best education in the world, Kim says, teaching her professionalism, values and the principles that guide her in her everyday decisions.

Kim has two beautiful daughters, Shelbie and Emma, and a grandson Zavier, her biggest fan. She spends her leisure time camping, fishing, and hiking the beautiful Wyoming mountains.

Julie Tripp was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. She attended the Art Institute of Seattle where she earned a degree in Visual Communications in 1991.

She worked as the lead designer for a small hunting magazine for two years before moving back to Missoula to launch Boone and Crockett Club’s first-ever quarterly magazine, Fair Chase. Her career at B&C spanned nearly 30 years where she served as their Director of Publications. Her focus was on content management, graphics, book publishing and managing their design and communications team. One of her favorite projects at B&C was leading the design of the triennial Awards Trophy Display and related publications, books, and presentations.

She loves her new role with the Wild Sheep Foundation Team. Her focus is on enhancing WSF's publications and communications as well as growing WSF’s variety of Awards Programs.

Julie enjoys spending her time away from work in Montana’s great outdoors. When the snow flies, that means hitting the slopes with Matt. Once the lakes warm up and the winter weather clears, you’ll find them wake surfing and running trails in the mountains.

Derek Blake is a fifth-generation small town Alaskan who was born into a commercial fishing and subsistence family. Derek loves hunting and fishing and had to grow up fast when the Exxon Valdez oil spill wreaked havoc on his local community.
 
He took on a full man’s duty on his father’s boat at a very young age and learned to endure when his family sold their house to keep the boat from which they earned their income . 
 
He learned hard work and determination along the way while hunting with his dad and grandpa. As a teenager he bought his first commercial fishing boat and started a one-man operation to grow over the years. Nearly a dozen boats later he owns one of the most recognizable boats in the industry, the Enchantress.
 
He packed for his first Kodiak brown bear hunt in 2005 and built his name in the hunting industry ever since. In 2007 he decided to start sheep hunting and found his true passion in the mountains. He completed his FNAWS in 2015 as one of, or possibly the youngest, to do so by his own means. He became an ambassador for SITKA Gear around this time as well, and has a great relationship with most companies in the outdoor world. He’s a Chadwick Ram Society member of the Wild Sheep Foundation, and life member of many other conservation organizations.
 
Derek was introduced to Rubye Foldager in the fall of 2016, and after only knowing each other for a couple days, they knew they were meant for each other. They built up the hunting and fishing business together. Inseparable, they spent all their time together, work, play, hunt, always together. They hunted around the world and built a home, and they achieved their dream of being snowbirds with a winter home in Arizona to thaw out after their long fishing and hunting season. In 2022 they spent over 200 days aboard the Enchantress. With their dream life achieved there was only one last step.
 
They decided to have a baby, and Rubye absolutely beamed when finding out she was pregnant. She glowed until her last moment with us on earth. Harbor was her final masterpiece. 
 
May 5, 2023 was the first day of Derek’s last guided bear hunt on Kodiak for the season. He hugged and kissed Rubye and said, “Goodbye, I’ll see you tonight.” Around 8:30 PM after satellite messaging each other all day, Derek felt a chill unlike any feeling he had ever had. Two hours later he realized that chill was Rubye leaving this earth, as he found her lifeless body. Harbor was okay and that kept him alive that night, and each day forward he had no choice but to push for her, he stared at her the whole night till the Troopers came the next day. Derek has fought hard since then as a widower, parent, and business owner. He started the RMBLF to honor his late wife, but more so to help others dealing with hard times like he has

Founder & Chair Women Hunt

Born and raised in rural Alberta to a large farming family, Renée Thornton is the Founder & Chair of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s (WSF) Women Hunt® program and committee, and the Women in Hunting® initiative.
 
Although not raised with a hunting background, in 2016 Renée embarked on a personal journey to become a hunter. As a result of her experiences as a solo, adult-onset hunter, Renée is passionate about engaging with and inspiring more women to enter the hunting and conservation space. She is particularly dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and the wild places they inhabit, and ensuring others understand the critical role hunters and hunting play in conservation. 
 
Renée believes in giving back of her time, talent, and treasure, and being of service is a core value. In addition to creating and leading Women Hunt®, she is active in volunteering and speaking at various WSF and Chapter & Affiliate events. Renée leads the charge for Women Hunt® in engaging with state and national legislators in the advocacy of the rights and heritage of hunters; she has built a presence and relationship with established and upcoming wildlife professionals through a partnership with The Wildlife Society; she collaborates with industry leaders and influencers; and she values her relationships with the extraordinary women and men of the hunting, shooting and conservation landscapes. She holds multiple life memberships within the Wild Sheep Foundation, is a Life Member of SCI, a Patriot Life Member of the NRA, and supports many other partner organizations. Most recently she joined the prestigious Marco Polo Society of the Wild Sheep Foundation, through which her endowment will help to ensure the future of wild sheep, her favorite wildlife species.
 
In addition to hunting Renée enjoys fly fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping, and adventure travel. The fall of 2024 will see her achieve the notable distinction of visiting all seven continents when she finally lands on The Dark Continent to hunt in and experience Namibia. As a hunter she has taken black bear, feral hog, whitetail, mule deer, Axis deer, pronghorn, Miquihuanensis mountain whitetail, aoudad, upland and migratory birds, and she is a passionate supporter of predator management. She aspires to hunt wild sheep and join the ranks of accomplished mountain hunters.
 
An avid reader, accomplished writer, business leader and mentor, Renée recently retired from a 30-year career as a professional manager for the Canadian Federal Government. She resides in Manhattan, Montana.

Julie McQueen is the President and CEO of CarbonTV, the leading online video network dedicated to outdoor, adventure, and rural lifestyle content. With over 15 years of experience in the outdoor industry, Julie has been instrumental in transforming CarbonTV into a premier destination for enthusiasts seeking high-quality, free programming that celebrates the outdoor lifestyle. 
 
Before taking the helm at CarbonTV, Julie was a producer and host of several acclaimed outdoor television series, where she shared her passion for hunting, fishing, and conservation with a global audience. An advocate for environmental stewardship, she actively participates in initiatives focused on wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. 
 
Under her leadership, CarbonTV has expanded its programming and audience reach, fostering a community that values sustainability and a deep connection with nature. Julie is also committed to empowering women in the outdoor industry, serving as a mentor and role model for aspiring female hunters and conservationists.

Jana Waller Bair is the Host and Executive Producer of Skull Bound TV and Skull Bound Chronicles, a hunting and conservation series that is currently in its 15th season. Skull Bound TV won the coveted Outdoor Sportsman Award for Best in Conservation in 2019 on The Sportsman Channel where the show aired for nine years before moving to CarbonTV. Jana has been a lifelong hunter and ardent conservationist, belonging to numerous conservation organizations for which she’s personally raised over $110,000 with her donated hunts and beaded skull artwork.

Jana was awarded the coveted Communicator of The Year Award in 2015 by the National Wild Turkey Federation. She also received an Alumni Award in 2016 from her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, for promoting women in the outdoors with the use of her Public Relations degree. Jana and her show have received multiple CarbonTV Fan Favorite Awards for Best Host, Best Show, Best Show Open, Best in Big Game and Best in Cinematography.

She was appointed as a Wildlife Commissioner in Montana by Governor Greg Gianforte in 2021 and after serving her term moved to Utah where she resides with her husband, conservation auctioneer John Bair. Jana isa proud lifetime member of the Wild Sheep Foundation, Safari Club International, the Wild Turkey Federation, the Mule Deer Foundation, as well as an annual member of the NRA, Pope & Young, Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife, Howl, and American Bear Foundation.