Frequently Asked Questions

The annual hunting event was founded in 2013 by the Wyoming Women’s Foundation as an opportunity for mentoring and developing camaraderie between women.

Thanks to our amazing sponsor and donors, roughly 1/3 of all hunters attend the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt on scholarship each year! There are general scholarships as well as one for a Wyoming single mom and US Military Veteran.  

Please sign up here if you wish to be notified when the scholarship application opens for the next hunt.

SEND YOURSELF:
Individual hunt packages cost $3,500 each in 2024. You do not need any hunting experience to apply to participate and payment plans are available! Open to both Wyoming and out-of-state residents. 

SPONSORSHIP:
In 2024, sponsored hunt spots cost $5,500 each. Sponsors will receive promotional benefits, and many will send hunters of their choice to participate. Sponsorships also continue to help support the scholarship program, ensure the sustainability of the hunt, raise money to host the annual event, and carry out the mission of the Wyoming Women’s Foundation.

Huge thank you to all of our sponsors! 

Email Alex@wycf.org to learn more. 

Friend of the Hunt Weekend Pass

Be part of the celebrations on-site at the Ranch at Ucross! Cheer for hunters at the meat pole, participate in outdoor activities and join nightly dinners. 

Weekend Pass Includes:
• Meals for 4 days and 3 nights, including the Auction Dinner!
• 3 Drink tickets.
• Commemorative gift.
• Activities to learn additional outdoor skills such as trap shooting, meat processing, cooking with game, and fly fishing.
• Opportunities to develop camaraderie and make connections for future hunting endeavors.

Lodging and transportation NOT included.

Volunteering

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt! This event would not be possible without all of our dedicated volunteers and mentors. 

Email Alex@wycf.org to learn more.

Hunter Lodging – Rooms are double-occupancy. You will be sharing your room with one other hunter. You will receive an email with your roommate assignment prior to the hunt. We will do our best to honor roommate requests and will give you the opportunity to make this request in a survey prior to the hunt.

To see more about the Ranch at UCross, check out their website by clicking here. 

Lodging for Family Members – We are only able to accommodate additional family members and hunter guests in the following cases: 

• Hunters under the age of 18, who are required to bring a family member or guardian.
• A camera crew for a media guest upon special request.

A room block has been set up at the Hampton Inn in Buffalo and is recommended for auction guests. Rates of $119-139 per night can be booked until September 20.

Phone Number – (307) 684-8899
Address – 85 US Highway 16 East, Buffalo, WY, 82834

To book: 

1. Go to https://www.hilton.com/en/
2. If you have a Hilton Honors account, log in. If you do not, no worries, proceed to step 3.
3. On the Hilton Website search for Buffalo, WY
4. Select your dates. (The room block Starts On Oct 10th 2024  Ends On Oct 13th 2024.)
5. Then click the “Special Rates” Button.
6. Then type in the 3 digit  “Group Code”  HNT. This will pull up rates of  $119/$139 depending on room. Room block rate will expire Sept 20th.

Events/Meals for Family Members – Additional meals are available for family members throughout the weekend and will be available for purchase at registration. Consider a Friend of the Hunt Weekend Pass! 

No. There is no ATM at the Ranch at Ucross.

So, please plan accordingly if you plan to use cash for auction, raffle or drink ticket purchases or to tip your hunting guide. The nearest ATM is in Buffalo, WY (17 miles away!).  We will accept all major credit cards and checks at the ranch.

Yes.

Most hunters will go out in pairs with one guide. In the spirit of sportsmanship and mentoring, if you are the first of your team to harvest your antelope, then plan to return to the field to support your teammate until she has filled her tag. You will be introduced to your hunting partners at the welcome dinner on Thursday.

Required Items

• Hunter Education Card
• Driver’s license or personal identification matching Hunter Education Card
• Comfortable hiking shoes/boots

Clothing Suggestions
The camouflage items listed below are suggested, but not required. Neutral colored clothing, work pants, or jeans are also recommended.

• Camouflage shirt
• Camouflage pants
• Stocking cap and gloves
• Sweaters
• Long-sleeve camo t-shirts
• Long underwear
• 3 pairs of cold weather socks
• Camp shoes
• Fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hunting vest or hat (required by law)
• Rain coat and pants
• Camouflage cold weather coat
• Camouflage jacket
• Travel clothing
• Clothing for evening events – Western or dressy casual attire suggested for Friday and Saturday evening. Expect to see cowboy hats and blue jeans. Some hunters and volunteers will be even be joining us right from the field!

Gear Suggestions

*Contact alex@wycf.org to reserve a loaner rifle and ammunition. 

• Hunting rifle, preferably with a scope
• Soft-side gun case if using your own rifle
• Ammunition
• Binoculars
• Sharp hunting knife
• Flashlight with fresh batteries

Suggested Additional Items

• Toiletries
• Medicine (aspirin, prescriptions)
• Camera
• Sunglasses (if prescription, bring extra pair)
• Cooler – at least 50 quart
• Wyoming fishing license if you have one

Many of our hunters choose to bring their own rifle for the hunt. If you do not have your own rifle, we will provide one for you. Contact Alex@wycf.org to reserve your loaner rifle and ammo.

• Your own rifle: Sighting in your rifle prior to traveling to the hunt will make the sight-in process at the event move more quickly and easily, so please do this if you can.
• Loaner rifles: Loaner rifles were donated by sponsor Thompson/Center and are fitted with scopes donated by Maven. These are .243 caliber Venture model rifles. Loaner rifles are available for those hunters who are unable to provide their own firearm. We will confirm whether you requested a loaner rifle prior to the hunt.
• Ammunition – You will need to bring your own ammunition if you are using your own rifle. A minimum of two boxes is recommended to cover the sight-in and the hunt. Loaner rifle ammunition donated by Hornady & Federal Premium will be provided for those using our loaner firearms.
• Shipping: If you are traveling to the hunt by plane, we recommend shipping your gun to the ranch 1-3 weeks prior to the event to avoid issues with delayed checked luggage. Ship to:

The Ranch at Ucross
2673 US 14
Clearmont, WY 82835
Attn: Your Name

Shay & Baileigh, the ranch managers, will take care of your rifle until you arrive. If you have any questions about shipping your rifle, please call them directly at (307) 737-2281.

If you don’t own camo yet and don’t want to go out and buy some, you can contact alex@wycf.org to see if there is something from our gently used camo closet you can reserve. Items and sizes and limited. 

Remember that camouflage clothing is suggested, but not required. Neutral-colored clothing, work pants, or jeans are also recommended. Please do be sure to bring comfortable hiking shoes/boots!!

Congratulations on your selection for a scholarship! Here are few considerations we are often asked about from scholarship recipients.

Hunter deposit: You will receive your deposit back by check when you arrive at the hunt. If you cancel your hunt, then you will not receive the deposit back. We will use it to defray the cost of your license purchase and outfitting reservation.

Transportation: You are responsible for getting yourself to the hunt. Once you are there, you will be transported by volunteers and your hunt guide. If you would like to try to carpool to the hunt, then we recommend checking for opportunities to connect with other hunters traveling from a similar location by reaching out to the Hunter Facebook group. If you are having difficulties arranging transportation, please let us know, and we will do what we can to help!

Other expenses at the hunt: Your scholarship is all-inclusive of everything you need to participate in the hunt! However, if you would like to bid on the silent auction, purchase a few alcoholic extra drinks, or purchase a fishing license (resident day license = $6 | nonresident day license = $14), then you will need to cover those costs. If you are on scholarship, then we will tip your guide for you. Note that there is no ATM at the ranch! So, please plan accordingly with respect to having cash on hand. 

Guide tipping: We will tip your guide. Feel free to supplement the tip with your own funds in any amount, as you are able, to show appreciation to your guide. However, it is not required.

Meat processing: There are three options for meat processing. Meat transport arrangent seperately.

1. We encourage you to go through our meat processing workshop where you will get one on one guidance on how to butcher your own antelope. Mentors will be available for the entirety of the process and supplies provided.
2. However, if you don’t want to or don’t have time to do that, then you are welcome to send your antelope to the meat processor. As a scholarship recipient, we will cover the cost of basic processing. However, if you want additional products, such as sausage, then you will need to pay the additional fees.We will transport animals to the processor. Hunters will pick up their own meat after it is processed. Usually, they are able to do this for us within 24 hours. (However, pickup time varies based on drop-off time and capacity.)
3. Donate it through the Food from the Field program.  Food bank donations must be processed at Big Horn Meat Cutting and you as the hunter are responsible for the processing fee.Meat Transportation/Cooler – If you are planning to transport your meat home, please bring a cooler of at least 50 quarts in size. If you are traveling by plane to the hunt, then you may want to have your meat packed for you in dry ice from Big Horn Meat Cutting for an additional fee (dependent on weight). Please check with your airline to determine whether you can bring this package on the plane or if you will need to ship it.
   
   Taxidermy – We will have a taxidermist at the ranch all weekend! Additional information coming soon. Contact Alex@wycf.org with questions.

Yes, it is customary to show your appreciation to your guide by providing a tip at the end of your hunt. Somewhere in the range of $100 – $150 (and up) is typical for a big game hunt of this nature, but anything you are able to do will be greatly appreciated. If you are on scholarship, then we will tip your guide for you. Note that there is no ATM at the ranch! So, please plan accordingly with respect to having cash on hand. 

You have three options regarding meat processing:

1. Do it yourself with one on one guidance from our mentors!
2. Have your meat processed by Big Horn Meat Cutting.
3. Donate it through the Food from the Field program. 

You will need to provide a credit card number or check at check-in when you get to the ranch in the amount of $145, as all processing must be paid for when the animal is delivered to the processor. Any specialty meat or cut options above the standard meat processing (review cut sheet) will incur an additional cost, to be paid when you submit your animal for processing. If you process the animal yourself, then you will get this amount refunded!

We will transport animals to the processor. Hunters will pick up their own meat after it is processed. Usually, they are able to do this for us within 24 hours. (However, pickup time varies based on drop-off time and capacity.) Food bank donations must be processed at Big Horn Meat Cutting and you as the hunter are responsible for the processing fee.

• Meat Transportation/Cooler – If you are planning to transport your meat home, please bring a cooler of at least 50 quarts in size. If you are traveling by plane to the hunt, then you may want to have your meat packed for you in dry ice from Big Horn Meat Cutting for an additional fee (dependent on weight). Please check with your airline to determine whether you can bring this package on the plane or if you will need to ship it.
• Taxidermy – We will have a taxidermist at the ranch all weekend! Additional information coming soon. Contact Alex@wycf.org with questions.

What is Food from the Field?

Food from the Field is an innovative program to help our most vulnerable neighbors in Wyoming! The Wyoming Hunger Initiative, the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and participating processors work together to streamline game meat donation to food pantries statewide. Food from the Field enables hunters to share their bounty by donating game meat to participating local processors who in turn will prepare it for local organizations to distribute to our neighbors in need. 

*Note: Donated game meat must be processed at a participating processer. Thanks for making this opportunity possible for our hunters Big Horn Meat Cutting!

How hunters can participate:

1. WYWF will collect Big Horn Meat Cutting’s basic processing fee.

2. Volunteers will be at the meat pole ready to help fill out the form and transport harvests to the processor.

3. Hunters will be asked to pay $50 toward processing; Wyoming Hunger Initiative will cover the remaining cost. Giant thanks to Wyoming’s First Lady Jennie Gordon and the Food from the Field team! 

4. Hunters will be reimbursed $75 and harvests will be distributed to Wyomingites in need.

Once you fill your tag, you may take part in the other activities we offer. Past activities include a meat processing workshop, fly fishing, a game meat cooking demonstration, and trap/skeet shooting. You may bring your own fly rod or shotgun, but if that is not convenient for you, we will have loaner shotguns and fly rods available. Fishing licenses will be available for purchase at the Ranch. Review activities.

We will be collecting as many photos of the hunt as possible! If you will be using a digital camera and would like to share your photos with us, please bring the cord that connects your camera to a computer so that you can upload them to our storage site. We will also be asking you to sign a photo/video release prior to the hunt. Once the hunt is over please send any photos you want to share with fellow hunters to alex@wycf.org. 

Photos from past events can be found on the hunt media page.

Please Respect Landowners – Landowners generously donate the use of their land to this event for the event dates only. Please be respectful to landowners and their property, and do not ask landowners to allow you use of their property aside from the guided antelope hunt. This includes filling other tags you may have and/or hunting in future years. If/when you meet your landowner, please thank them.