News – Sheridan Media
One of the participants at the 2025 All-Women Pronghorn Hunt, held on Oct. 9-12, at Ucross, Wyo., was Emma Shelton, who came to the hunt through the Outdoor Dreams Foundation. Shelton has been battling several health problems for much of her life and still has challenges.
She doesn’t let the challenges slow her down. This year’s pronghorn hunt is not her first hunt.
The Outdoor Dreams Foundation helps to make deserving youngsters time in the outdoors a form of therapy as well as giving them experiences they will never forget. Outdoor Dreams is similar to Wish-For-Dreams, but focuses mostly on hunting and the outdoors.
Emma has two other hunts booked, a bear hunt in S.C. in November and then a whitetail hunt in Texas. She said she might make a bear coat if she fills her bear tag. She explained why she loves hunting.
Emma said that her father loves to hunt, and its been fun for him to see her accomplish these things. Its been a bonding experience between them.
Emma talked about her health challenges.
Emma loves to compete in pageants, and while competing at the Miss Utah Volunteer pageant a year ago, she was hospitalized again.
After that, she said, her life changed. She wasn’t sure what her future would be. But, she said, be able to hunt helped her, and those she has met have been a support system for her. She competed again and was named Miss Utah Volunteer 2026.
Her mother, Natalie Shelton, was along on the hunt as well.
Emma harvested a nice buck antelope on the women’s hunt, and said she has plans to keep competing in pageants and hopes to compete in Miss American Volunteer pageant.
She plans to keep hunting as well. “Hunting is something I never thought I would do, but man do I love it. It is so amazing to see the wild animals and nature.”
Her advice to others is, “Get out there and go hunting, because it’s life changing.”
Emma’s Outdoor Dreams sponsor was Cari Goss, Sheridan, Wyoming, international hunter and creator of the Azyre Gear, which is clothing for other women who have a passion for the outdoors.
Goss has been a part of Outdoor Dreams and the Women’s Foundation Pronghorn Hunt for around seven years.
Outdoor Dreams can be reached through their website, Outdoor Dreams
Thanks to videographer Terence Knusen for photos of Emma in the field. Feature image includes mother Natalie Shelton and guide Gloria Courser.
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Last modified: October 14, 2025