All Women Antelope Hunt Held at Ucross

The weekend was sunny and warm for the 12th Annual Wyoming Women’s Foundation Women’s Antelope Hunt, held Oct. 10-13, 2024, at the Ranch at Ucross. This year, 46 hunters participated in the hunt. One of the hunters who was successful was Jennifer Leinonen from Casper. She is an experienced hunter, who is on the Wyoming Women’s Foundation Board, and this is her third year with the hunt, and her company is one of the sponsors.

She acted as a mentor at the event.

Gigi Mondavi of Denver is a new hunter, and she talked about how she came to participate in the hunt.

She said she has never hunted before the “Student was not successful this year, but definitely going to do be it again, it was a wonderful experience.” her mentor added that she did some great stalks.

Jerry Longobardi from Meeteetse was the guide, and he guided his hunters on the Padlock Ranch, where he used to cowboy. He has guided for other big game in the past, including guiding in Alaska.

Beth Worthen is a committee member and is the ‘meat pole’ manager.

Alex Shannon, Communications & Events Coordinator for the Wyoming Women’s Foundation talked about this year’s hunt.

Bekah Smith Hazelton, Director of Wyoming Women’s Foundation, and Alex Shannon.

Kyle Beach who with his wife, Betsy, run Crazy Woman Taxidermy in Buffalo, were on hand for any of the hunters who wanted to mount their trophies. Kyle said he does the skinning, and Betsy does the taxidermy work. This was their first year taking heads from the Women’s Pronghorn Hunt.

The hunt emphasizes hunter safety, hunting and land ethics, and the conservation and the proper management of wild natural resources, for an enjoyable experience for participants, guides, and landowner(s).

Each year there is a fundraising auction, and the proceeds go to the Wyoming Women’s Foundation, which invests in the economic self-sufficiency of women and opportunities for girls

Established in 1999, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation (WYWF) is one of a family of funds held at the Wyoming Community Foundation.