One Shot Antelope Hunt Club
A 1939 challenge between Harold Evans of Lander, Wyoming, and Hand Dahl of Golden, Colorado, to shoot an antelope with just one bullet led to the first One Shot Antelope Hunt held on Labor Day weekend near Lander in 1940. There were only two teams that year– one from Colorado and one from Wyoming, with five men on each team, but it was the beginning of a tradition that has flourished. The hunt has been held every year since, except from 1942-1945 when it was suspended during World War II, and has been the inspiration for similar events in North America and Africa. On August 23, 1949, after the Wyoming Game & Fish Department announced it would no longer furnish wardens as guides for the hunt, and the governor would no longer furnish free licenses for participants, citizens of Lander incorporated the One Shot Antelope Hunt Club to perpetuate the hunt. Through the years, the Wyoming and Colorado teams have served as co-hosts to teams from nearly every state. The hunt has undergone very few changes since its inception. The number of team members varied until 1966, when it was changed to three hunters. The 100 plus member One Shot Antelope Hunt Club’s board of directors now consists of Lander residents. The President serves a two-year term , and a board of directors, coordinates all activities relating to the annual hunt. For more information, please visit the One Shot Antelope Hunt Club’s website: https://oneshotantelopehunt.com/
One Shot Past Shooters Club
During the years of the One Shot Antelope Hunt’s existence, many people of notoriety have participated as team members. These participants of the One Shot Antelope Hunt enjoyed the continuing camaraderie and competition with their fellow shooters. Many past hunters choose to return year after year to renew old friendships, develop new ones, and enjoy the activities of the One Shot Antelope Hunt.
By 1955, a sufficient number of Past Shooters were interested in developing their own club. The Organizational meeting was held September 2, 1955. Harrison Johnson was elected President and George Case, of Lander, Secretary-Treasurer. This position was later changed to Executive Vice President and is always held by a Lander Past Shooter.
The Clubs mission, then and now, is “to aid and assist the Lander One Shot Hunt Club… cooperate with and assist in wildlife management and preservation… to foster and perpetuate reasonable and controlled hunting of such wildlife in accordance with good sportsman like practices and hunting procedures… to encourage and demonstrate good sportsmanship in the hunting of wild game.”
By 1963, the organization had become large enough and ambitious enough to be established as a non-profit Wyoming corporation. There are twelve Directors serving three year terms – with four Directors elected at each annual meeting in September. The President of the Past Shooters Club serves a two year term. The Club’s membership is composed of Past Shooters of the One Shot Antelope Hunt and is limited to those who participated as a team member or alternate.
In 1979, the Wyoming legislature granted the One Shot Antelope Hunt Club a percentage of antelope licenses from the Wyoming Game & Fish to be used in the areas around Lander. Licenses not needed by the One Shot Antelope Hunt Team Members are made available to Past Shooters and their guests.
Water for Wildlife Foundation
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Past Shooters Club of the One Shot Antelope Hunt focused their energies and efforts on establishing a separate organization to assist the wildlife they enjoyed hunting over the years. According to the studies made by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the largest single factor in fawn survival was water. Therefore, on May 1, 1975, the Water for Wildlife® Foundation was incorporated.
In 1976, the Foundation, working with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, approached the Bureau of Land Management with a unique offer to participate in the funding of a much needed water development program. The programs objective was to provide water sources to drought stricken habitat – hence the beginning of the “Water For Wildlife®” program. Since the inception of Water for Wildlife®, the original vision has expanded to provide vital habitat resources to all wildlife species inhabiting the areas from Kansas to California. Each water project is uniquely designed to take maximum advantage of location, conditions, and topography.
The Foundation is heavily supported by members of the Past Shooters Club and the One Shot Antelope Hunt. The Board of Directors is composed of thirteen members and the Executive Vice President of the Past Shooters Club.
In an effort to raise money for these projects, it was necessary to establish a tax exempt organization with the Internal Revenue Service. Attorney and Denver Judge, Leonard V.B. Sutton, accomplished this. The funds to support the Water for Wildlife® Foundation and our ongoing Water for Wildlife® program come from tax exempt donations made by hundreds of individuals and organizations. The cost of the Water for Wildlife® projects vary a great deal, with the average costing approximately $5000-$10,000.
For more information about the Water for Wildlife® Foundation, please visit the WFWF website: http://www.waterforwildlife.org/
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