Laramie, Wyo. - Sponsoring the 2016 Wyoming Women's Antelope Hunt is just one additional way that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) ensures the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage for future generations.

The Wyoming RMEF State Grants Program has sponsored the Wyoming Women's Antelope Hunt for several years. So far RMEF and its partners have completed 624 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Wyoming with a combined value of more than $122.7 million. These projects have protected or enhanced 1,060,527 acres of habitat and have opened or secured public access to 93,460 acres.

Founded by the Wyoming Women's Foundation, the hunt promotes mentoring through hunting and developing camaraderie between women from Wyoming and around the country. Hunters will enjoy a weekend of friendly competition, fundraising, and other exciting activities with an emphasis placed on safety, hunting ethics and social interaction. The hunt, to be held Oct. 6-9, 2016, will bring together 40 female hunters at the Ranch at Ucross in northeast Wyoming

"RMEF is proud to again be involved in this worthy gathering," said Jill Tonn, RMEF Wyoming senior regional director. "We recognize that more and more women are going afield to hunt and support them as they do so."

"Through the continued support of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, we are able to offer mentorship opportunities to help women improve their hunting skills in the field and learn about wildlife conservation," said Rebekah Smith, Program Associate with the Wyoming Women's Foundation. "Hunting is a great way for women to provide healthy meat for their families, as well as a way to build strong hunting traditions with their children, friends, and other family members."

Monies raised at the event will aid the Wyoming Women's Foundation's mission to invest in the economic self-sufficiency of women and the future of girls. Thanks to supporters and sponsors like RMEF, so far the Antelope Hunt has raised more than $200,000 for grants and special projects to help women and girls across Wyoming.

This year the hunt will welcome Donna Boddington from the television show "The Boddington Experience" as a special guest hunter. Special guest hunters have included retired Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kite, Wyoming State Superintendent Jillian Balow, Jana Waller from "Skull Bound TV" on the Sportsman Channel, Women's Outdoor News (WON) Editor Barbara Baird, 2013 Ms. Wheelchair USA Ashlee Lundvall, and Julie Golob, captain of Smith & Wesson's highly successful shooting team. Of the 40 total hunters in 2015, 36 harvested antelope, 11 for the first time.

Wyoming Women's Foundation Media Contact:
Rebekah Smith | Office: 307.721.8300|rebekah@wycf.org