Women can register for an opportunity to participate in the educational and hands-on program
If it weren’t for Women Hunt, TWS member Jamie Benn would never have harvested her first buck—even though she didn’t do it during the organization’s annual week-long program.
After attending the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt class in 2022, where she learned everything from handling a rifle to cooking game meat, Benn was slightly disappointed when she didn’t get to harvest a deer. But it was there at the Texas ranch that she met the former social media manager for Women Hunt, who later took her to a family ranch for another chance.
On the last day of the follow up hunt, using the techniques instructors taught her during the class, Benn successfully shot a buck. “It was like a blur at the time,” said Benn, an assistant professor of wildlife disease ecology in the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and Department of Biological & Health Sciences at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “It was bittersweet in a way,” she said. “I just took this life, but this is how it all works to keep our populations sustainable and nature conservation going.”
It’s these types of connections between hunting and conservation that attract TWS members to the Women Hunt program. Now in its fifth year, the program teaches women every year how to hunt as well as the important roles that hunting can play in wildlife conservation and management. Over the years, six TWS members have participated in the program.
“I had already understood it before, but I didn’t have that deep-engrained feeling that if we stop hunting as a society, then everything will go out of balance,” Benn said.
Instructors teach participants about the importance of the North American Model. And this year, they are including information about fair chase. “As a TWS member, there’s a certain level of interest in conservation in general, but many practicing professionals and some early-career professionals never had the opportunity to engage in the outdoors in this manner,” said TWS member Corey Mason, Chief Operating Officer of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “The Wild Sheep Foundation and Women Hunt are a beautiful opportunity for wildlife professionals to connect those dots. We work for the natural resource in the front of our mind, but the opportunity to personally engage is sometimes evasive.”
TWS member and Women Hunt Class of 2024 graduate Jessica Braunstein agrees. ” I think the program offers so much value as a wildlife professional,” said Braunstein, an Associate Wildlife Biologist and a National Park Service wildlife biologist at the time of the program. “Many wildlife jobs require interacting with hunters or involve research and projects that have a direct impact on game species. Regardless of whether or not a wildlife professional personally chooses to participate in hunting, I think there is value in those in our profession taking steps to understand hunters and their perspectives.”
Sometimes it’s harder for women to get involved in hunting without mentors, especially later on in life. That’s why Renée Thornton created the program five years ago. Not knowing where to start because she didn’t know anyone who hunted or have any connections, she waited until her 40s to begin hunting. Women Hunt participants have similar experiences.
“Although I didn’t grow up hunting, I have always loved being outdoors and exploring different ecosystems, both recreationally and through fieldwork,” said TWS member Hannah Dinell, who was part of the 2023 Women Hunt class. She felt intimidated to translate her outdoor experience into hunting, until the Women Hunt program offered her an avenue to put her knowledge to use. “It offered a chance to grow not only as an outdoorswoman but also as a conservationist, where I could learn to engage with the hunting process in a responsible and hands-on way.”
Thornton is working on broadening the Women Hunt community by sharing hunting opportunities and even offering involvement for people who support hunting but don’t want to do it themselves. “The future is ridiculously bright for Women Hunt,” she said. “There’s a lot traction for this program right now, and I’m enthusiastic about it.”
The community and camaraderie gained from the program stand out. Women eat meals together, have classroom time together, and hang out and have fun together. “One of the incredible things about Women Hunt is that it doesn’t end after the experience,” said TWS member Ashley Evans, who was part of the 2024 class. “You’re part of a community of women you can reach out to and ask for advice, plan hunting trips with, celebrate the wins and mourn the losses. It’s a strong community dedicated to strong women, hunting and conservation and is my favorite part of being a part of Women Hunt.”
The Wild Sheep Foundation Women Hunt® 2025 application period is open May 1 to May 31.
For more information, go to https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/womenhunt.
