HELENA, MT – Honoring Montana’s hunting heritage, Governor Greg Gianforte on Jan 28th, celebrated ten winners of his third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in a ceremony at the State Capitol.

“We started the Youth Hunting Story Contest to celebrate Montana’s proud hunting heritage, and the contest continues to grow with nearly 200 stories submitted this year,” Gov. Gianforte said. “It’s an honor to welcome the top ten winners to the State Capitol once again. I’m proud to see the next generation of hunters carrying on our hunting legacy.”

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 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.

The governor recognized the ten winning hunters in the State Capitol this afternoon. Winning hunters received prizes from Stone Glacier, Sitka, Kenetrek, J2 Taxidermy, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Murdoch’s, and the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association.

“I want to thank Stone Glacier, Sitka, Kenetrek, J2 Taxidermy, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Murdoch’s, and the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association for their support and generosity in making this celebration of young hunters possible,” the governor said.

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

• Ambreigh Morris of Baker (12 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 a new town.

• 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. 

• Leyton Arnold of Belgrade (14 years old) for the story of his 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 after hunting. 
• Wyatt Mosher of Jefferson City (15 years old) for the story of his first antelope hunt on a Block Management Area and State Land.