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Lady Diana's Wyoming Pronghorn Bowhunt

Cynthia Vannoy © July 2008

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In September of 1994, the Lady Diana’'s group received an invitation from a Wyoming Outfitter to come to Wyoming for a free antelope hunt. The hunt was to take place on a ranch near Midwest, Wyoming. Due to the fact that I was, at the time, the archery editor for a small newspaper, the Wyoming Outdoor Reporter, and I had written articles for Bowhunter Magazine, I was invited to attend the hunt.

Ann Clark (Archery Hall of Fame and Coor_dinator, and founder of The Dianas, All-Lady Bowhunters, and hunt mistress) was the coordinator of this hunt as well. Also hunting were: Ann Hoyt (Archery Hall of Fame, Hoyt/Easton Archery Company, and Olympic Archery Team Manager in 1984, as well as other awards of merit), Kitty Beuchert (NRA women's issues), Dorine Easterbrook (head of the Safari Club Sables), Cathy Beutler (Michigan United Conservation Guide), Jane Jackson (co-founder, Women Hunters of America), Marilyn Nicholas (Starlight Archery), Kay Richie (outdoor writer), Jeanne Richman (model and writer), Brandy Church (Tomboy Club), Margaret Hice (video producer), and two men, Richard Rhoades (Taxider_mist) my husband, now ex, and George Gardner (#1 Lackey).

Unfortunately for all concerned, the outfitter, that I don’'t think ever really expected the women to show up, dropped the ball. Although he supplied tents and a portable outhouse, he didn’'t supply guides or any way to get around. Luckily, my ex-husband, Richard Rhoades, lived not far away, and he came down for the week with a pickup. I had a vehicle as well. The landowner, hearing of the plight, offered guide service. So, we at least had guides. Having injured my shoulder in Taekwondo earlier in the month, I couldn’'t shoot, so my job was a guide.

The rancher set up several blinds made out of hay bales near waterholes, and many days were spent sitting in the blinds, waiting for the pronghorn. Other days were spent spotting and stalking the pronghorn.

It was an enjoyable hunt. The country was rugged, with a lot of rimrocks and dry washes. Pronghorn were plentiful, but getting close enough with a bow is always a challenge.

Three pronghorn were taken: two does and one Pope and Young buck which Ann Hoyt of Hoyt-Easton Archery downed with her compound bow.

I was guiding her that day, and we stopped to open a gate when the buck leaped across the road and stopped to look. His mistake. Ann raised her bow and shot, taking the buck with one arrow. In an Internet article about Ann she said she had taken game in 8 states, but her most outstanding hunt was the pronghorn taken on the Lady Diana’'s hunt. The official Pope and Young score on the buck was 71. Hoyt said it was a 70 yard shot, instinctive and without sights.

Other than Ann Hoyt’'s pronghorn, I think the best memories of the hunt were the nights we sat around the tent after supper, in the glow of the lantern light, talking over the day's hunt. I think more women should hunt in groups, like men always do. We need more women to get together in nature, and to return to our hunting ancestors’ roots.

Cynthia J. Vannoy-Rhoades

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