The Wyoming Game and Fish is helping to support the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt as the number of Wyoming women who hunt continues to increase. The hunt is the nation’s first all-women hunt and was founded by the Wyoming Women’s Foundation. Game and Fish employees are at the event to provide hunter education, mentoring and logistical support

Since 2008 there has been a nine percent increase in female hunters and a 17 percent increase in female anglers. This generally mirrors national data where female hunters are the fastest growing segment in the U.S. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s information shows the number of male hunters and anglers is holding steady.

“Across the state we are seeing more women take hunter education to become eligible to get a hunting license,” said Tristanna Bickford, Conservation Education Coordinator for the Game and Fish Department. “What we hear is that women feel that hunting is a great way to spend time as a family and an important means to feed their families. These are goals the Wyoming Game and Fish Department actively encourages for everyone.”

The Wyoming Game and Fish hopes that these numbers will continue to increase throughout the years.

“A significant aspect of our work is to offer social support for women and families that are interested in outdoor activities like hunting and fishing, we hope by building this community folks will see others like them doing these activities and feel comfortable engaging at various levels," said Tasha Sorensen, Hunter and Angler Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Coordinator.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department provides many ways for women and men to start hunting or fishing. These include hunter education, fishing opportunities and information, hunter education and a program to encourage families to hunt and fish called Forever Wild Families.

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