Newsletter Kudos

I WANTED TO THANK YOU for the very diverse and timely coverage in the Fish & Game Report. I look forward to getting it every week and always learn something new. Thank you for working hard. It shows.

Jason Ellison

Mother and Daughter Make a Stand for Conservation

IN JUNE 2023, MY DAUGHTER, Delilah and I, along with my fiancé Jesse Woolley, had the opportunity to be part of a Higher Calling Wildlife expedition spearheaded by Texas Fish & Game Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore and his wife Lisa.

We set out for Colorado Springs, Colorado on a trip titled “A Voice in The Wilderness.” As I planned for the trip months in advance, my mind was fogged with thoughts of missing work, worried about missed pay, muddled with what to pack, logistics, and the stress of being away from home for nearly a week. All of these things were heavy burdens, but the tug on my heart to support and be a part of this mission was stronger.

Kat Hunter, her daughter Delilah Hunter, and Amber Borel were part of the Higher Calling Wildlife expedition to Colorado in June. They will use content they gathered from the trip to inspire others to take up the cause of wildlife conservation. Look for some of this content in our e-newsletter, The Fish & Game Report.

After we landed in Colorado Springs, we caravanned to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to meet the first kid we worked with through the Moore’s outreach. A girl of only 13. A girl the same age as my youngest daughter. A girl who has experienced things a teen, or anyone of any age, should never have to experience. When we met, we were strangers, nine of us eager to meet this sweet child, her mother and youngest sister. We walked the zoo, experienced feeding giraffes and an elephant. Each exhibit along the way provided awe and excitement for the Lord’s spectacular creatures, both big and small, from the tiny tenrec to the majestic mountain goat. It was small talk without mention of dark days.

Conversations consisted of favorite animals, trending TikTok videos, and teenage girl giggles. There was no thought on my end of bills sitting to be paid, the work that I was missing back home, the to-do list to check off, or anxiety over everyday stressors. I was simply thankful. Thankful to be among this sweet child. Thankful to be a small part of a reason she had ‘the best day ever.’

The encounter was meant to bring happiness to a hurting child, to show her that she is loved, that there are good people, and to plant the seed for a love of wildlife and conservation. By the time the day was over, we felt like family. The kind of warm and loving family you can count on. She openly offered hugs to the Wild Wishes crew and was so thankful. My heart ached and I felt such love all at the same time. It is so easy to get caught up in your own ’bubble’ and problems and issues, and forget there is someone, somewhere hurting in a dark place with much bigger problems of their own. We wrapped up the day successfully, all knowing we planted a little seed. We were that ‘voice in the wilderness.’

We spent the next few days at Mount Evans and in Estes Park doing conservation mentorship with my daughter Delilah, Chester’s daughter Faith and a sweet, spunky girl in the Wild Wishes program named Juno.

We also worked with Amber Borel, a forestry student at Stephen F. Austin who came along to help and gather content for her forthcoming media work.

When I left Texas at 4:30am I could never have imagined that the upcoming trip would impact me so directly. That I would have a hand in planting a seed or being an influential “voice in the wilderness”.

My connection to all of this came through being part of the 2022 class of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s (WSF) Women Hunt program where Chester was there to cover the program for Texas Fish & Game and visit with his WSF friends. I’m super grateful for that and for this chance to work with kids and wildlife in Colorado.

It is the belief of the Higher Calling Wildlife and the Wild Wishes program, that no one understands wildlife perils more than a young person dealing with struggles. The program is designed to ‘create a NOW generation of conservationists’ while providing a hands-on approach to wildlife encounters and while providing reasons to smile, feel loved and escape what perils may be present in the child’s life if even for a moment.

As a mother it was great to make a stand for hurting children and to make a stand for conservation through the photos and video Delilah gathered.

Kat Hunter

Email your comments to: editor@fishgame.com

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