17. A New Hunter's Journey in the Women Hunt Program with Renée Thornton

This is the very first episode in a special series with Renée Thornton, founder of Women Hunt© a program under the Wild Sheep Foundation dedicated to guiding women into the hunting and conservation space.

In these episodes, Emily Richett will share behind-the-scenes as she embarks on the journey of becoming a hunter, from the initial application process to her personal motivations for this transformative experience.

Renée shares her story, the mission behind Women Hunt, and what participants can expect as they prepare for intensive training at FTW Ranch in Texas.

Emily and Renée dive into their own motivations and stories. Renée recounts her own journey to becoming a hunter later in life, after realizing the importance of ethically sourced protein and a more direct connection to nature.

Inspired by her experience, she established Women Hunt to provide women with the resources, knowledge, and community to confidently enter hunting. Emily, formerly a vegan, shares how her approach to food sources evolved, inspiring her to become more self-reliant and connected to what she consumes.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Renée and Emily get back together after the training to detail the experience, lessons learned, and memories gained.

Key Takeaways

• The Path to Hunting: Renée’s late-in-life interest in hunting arose from a desire to ethically source protein and reconnect with the outdoors, despite lacking any prior experience or mentors. She highlights the mindset shift and determination it took to build her knowledge from the ground up.

• Creating a Path for Women Hunters: Inspired by her own challenges as a beginner, Renée created Women Hunt as a platform to support women who may feel overwhelmed by the barriers to entering hunting. Her aim was to offer guidance, community, and accelerated learning, compressing what could take years into a supportive, intensive experience.

• Emily’s Story of Transformation: Emily shares her shift from being a former vegan focused on animal rights to her renewed approach to food sources, self-reliance, and ethics in meat consumption. She opens up about the application process, the surprise of being selected, and her biggest anticipations and nerves around attending the FTW Ranch training.

• Hunting as Conservation: Renée and Emily discuss how hunting plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation and the misconceptions many have about hunters. Renée explains the ethical dimensions of hunting and how it connects participants to the natural world in a way that respects and sustains wildlife populations.

Episode Highlights

1. [00:05:01] - Renée Thornton shares her story and the foundational purpose behind Women Hunt.
2. [00:14:30] - Details of Women Hunt’s programming, including partnerships with expert instructors at FTW Ranch.
3. [00:26:20] - Emily’s reflections on her application journey, personal motivations, and hopes for the experience.
4. [00:32:50] - Renée discusses the two main fears for new hunters: handling firearms and ethical harvesting.
5. [00:43:45] - The importance of conservation and responsible hunting practices, as taught in the program.
6. [00:51:08] - Renée’s advice for Emily, fellow Women Hunt classmates and any woman interested in hunting

Action Items & Next Steps

• Women Hunt Program Details: For those interested in applying, applications for the 2025 Women Hunt class open May 1st and run through May 31st. Check the Women Hunt website for application details.
• Women Hunt on Social: Follow Women Hunt on Instagram and Facebook to see updates, stories, and insights from women hunters nationwide at @women_hunt 
• Mama Bear Survival: Follow Emily's journey into hunting and conservation at mamabearsurvival.com and on Instagram: @mamabearsurvival. Don't forget to order the book (launching soon!).