HELENA, Mont. – During a ceremony at the State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte today celebrated the winners of his second annual Youth Hunting Story Contest alongside their families and the contest’s prize partners.
“Our hunting heritage is an important part of what makes Montana, Montana. Thanks to our youth hunters, we’re preserving it,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Selecting the winners of our second annual Youth Hunting Story Contest was no easy task, and these ten hunters should be very proud of their stories.”
Honoring the 10 youth hunters, the governor shared each of their stories and presented them with a certificate to commemorate the contest. Winning hunters also received prizes from Stone Glacier, Vista Outdoor, SITKA, J2 Taxidermy, Kenetrek, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF).
The governor also raffled off prizes from the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA) and Murdoch’s.
“Thanks to our prize partners, our youth hunters are leaving today with a great memory and even better gear for their upcoming hunts,” the governor said. “I thank SITKA, Kenetrek, Murdoch’s, RMEF, MOGA, Stone Glacier, J2 Taxidermy, and Vista Outdoor for their generosity and helping us celebrate these young hunters.”
MOGA donated one fully outfitted youth deer hunt to one hunter in the 10- to 13-year-old category. William Sheehan of Big Sky won the prize in a raffle.
Murdoch’s donated a Browning, Beretta, or Winchester shotgun or a Beretta, Tikka, or Browning rifle to one hunter in the 14- to 17-year-old category. Maizy Miller of Missoula won the prize in a raffle.
In 2022, Gov. Gianforte created the Youth Hunting Story contest for Montana youth and apprentice hunters between the ages of 10 and 17.
To enter the contest, resident hunters had to submit a story of no more than 500 words and a photo from their hunt. Eligible entries included the harvest of any legal game, furbearer animals, or birds in Montana.
Speaking after the ceremony, one of the winning hunters, Wyatt, said, “I was really excited about getting to hunt when I was ten. The season was going to end in November, but my birthday was September 25, so I got to hunt before the season ended.”
The winning hunters are below, and their stories can be viewed here:
Aidan Walker of Miles City (10 years old) for the story of his mule deer hunt
Caroline Dudden of Great Falls (13 years old) for the story of her mule deer hunt
Inslee Moran of Arlee (10 years old) for the story of her elk hunt
Maizy Miller of Missoula (16 years old) for the story of her pheasant hunt
Mollie Ruth of Big Timber (17 years old) for the story of her elk hunt
Samuel Prescott of Florence (17 years old) for the story of his mule deer hunt
Sierra Dockter of Conrad (16 years old) for the story of her antelope hunt
Weston Hobley of Capitol (15 years old) for the story of his mule deer hunt
William Sheehan of Big Sky (13 years old) for the story of his mallard duck hunt
Wyatt Smith of Billings (10 years old) for the story of his mule deer hunt
Press release provided by the Governor’s office
