Governor Gianforte Announces Winners of the 2024 Youth Hunting Story Contest

• January 08 2025

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the winners of the 2024 Governor’s Youth Hunting Story Contest.

“Hunting is a vital part of Montana’s legacy, connecting generations through respect for the land and wildlife,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The Youth Hunting Story Contest celebrates this tradition. It’s inspiring to see so many young hunters submit stories about carrying it forward and I’m thrilled to invite the ten winners to the State Capitol to celebrate.”

Ambreigh Morris of Baker recognized as a winner of the 2024 Governor’s Youth Hunting Story Contest

Gov. Gianforte created the Youth Hunting Story contest in 2022 for Montana youth and apprentice hunters between the ages of 10 and 17.

To enter the contest, resident hunters submitted a story of no more than 500 words about their hunt and a photo from their hunt. Eligible entries included harvesting any legal game, furbearer animals, or birds in Montana. Read their stories here.

The governor will recognize the ten winning hunters in the State Capitol this month. Winning hunters will receive prizes from Stone Glacier, Sitka, J2 Taxidermy, Kenetrek, Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Murdochs, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

“Thanks to our prize partners, there are some great prizes for our winners to aid them as they continue hunting for years to come,” the governor said. “I thank Stone Glacier, Sitka, J2 Taxidermy, Kenetrek, Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Murdochs, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for their generosity and helping us celebrate these young hunters.”

The winning hunters are below, and their stories can be viewed here.

• Ambreigh Morris of Baker (10 years old) for the story of her first deer hunt with her uncle.
• Amelia Saylor of Wilsall (14 years old)
for the story of her deer hunt in her new hometown.
• Hannah Smith of Bozeman (14 years old) for the story of her first little “forkie” buck.
• Hays Darr of Bozeman (10 years old) for the story of his first bird hunt, where he was “excited as a dog with a big pile of beef jerky.”
• Jacob Reddish of Lakeside (16 years old) for the story of his first solo hunt.
• Layton Arnold of Belgrade (14 years old) for the story about saving money for seven years to buy hunting equipment for his first elk hunt.
• Malena Altschwager of Corvallis (13 years old) for the story of her deer hunt with her dad.
• Noah Wheatley of Deer Lodge (13 years old) for the story of how special his deer hunt was with his dad.
• Remuda Seymour of Dillon (12 years old) for the story of her new family tradition of eating cherry pie after hunting.
• Wyatt Mosher of Jefferson City (15 years old) for the story of his first antelope hunt on a Block Management Area and on state land.

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