Shooters ranging in age from 5 to 75 competed last month in the Hams Fork 3D Archery Tournament, which drew 110 participants from all around southwest Wyoming — and even some from Ogden, Utah — to Kemmerer. The event, a fundraiser for next year’s Wyoming Range Hunting and Fishing Expo, scheduled for June 4-7, 2026, in Kemmerer.
Expo cofounder Vance McGahey said tournament entry fees and raffle ticket sales combined to raise $3,950 toward next year’s expo. McGahey said they utilize their funds efficiently, with 90% going to conservation and 10% toward future expos.
Other cofounders and board members include Zach Key, Zach Boylen, Jeff Orvin, Emily Cunningham, Brett Ritter and John King.
“Not one of us takes a nickel in pay from this,” he said of the expo’s volunteer board of directors — all of whom are from southwest Wyoming. “Compared to other wildlife conservation groups … we have one of the lowest administrative costs in the state, if not in the Rocky Mountain area,” he said.
“Thanks to community support at the Hams Fork tournament, that goal just got a significant boost from South Lincoln Training and Events Center,” McGahey said.
A young shooting star from Kemmerer — Maddy Ritter, a bronze medalist in the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships in Mokrice, Slovenia — serves as an archery consultant for the group. McGahey said she serves as a consultant, rather than a board member, to avoid nepotism since Maddy’s father, Brett, is on the board of directors.
Board members were charged with setting up 40 targets at 20 different archery stations during the August tournament.
“Competitors ranged from novice youth at 2-yard pop-up targets, to seasoned veterans at 70 yards away, with a special challenge shot at 95 yards available for a dollar a try,” McGahey said.
Prizes included a Yeti cooler and a Vortex optics package — complete with rangefinder, binoculars and spotting scope. Attendees also purchased tickets for a two-gun package, which will be drawn at a later date.
Some prizes were donated — including two of McGahey’s own firearms.
“I had won two guns last year — a $2,200 gun that I never shot, also a shotgun… I thought ‘Ya know what, I’m not going to shoot these. I’ll donate these for the first raffle of the event,’” McGahey said.
Some prizes were also donated by SportsWorld in Evanston and, McGahey said, the sports store also gave them “a really good deal” on other items since the expo is a nonprofit. Board members took it upon themselves to cover the cost of door prizes for the tournament, which included field knives and backcountry watches.
Inaugural Expo
McGahey and the other founders got started on their idea of a hunting and fishing expo in Kemmerer about seven months ago. They’ve presented to local governments, which have been supportive, and McGahey said officials he’s worked with are looking forward to the expo.
“We’ve been working with BLM, National Forest … those folks are just flat-out excited. It’s going to be a big deal for them, as well as us,” he said.
While he said it’s too early to confirm the conservation projects they plan to spend their money on, McGahey said the people he has told “were really excited about it.”
Several vendors have already signed up — including a youth from the Bridger Valley.
“There’s a young gentleman out of the Valley that makes ties,” McGahey said. “I believe he’s 12 years old. We asked him to be at the expo, and his parents are very excited.”
McGahey said his goal for the expo is ambitious; organizers are hoping to fill 50 booths. At the same time, however, he’s optimistic about it.
“Our goal is 50 vendors but we will not be surprised if we have 70,” he said. As for attendance… “Cheyenne gets 6,200 people — and I’m not saying we’ll get 6,200 … but it’s looking pretty good.”
McGahey said they’ve already received some raffle items for the expo from generous donors, including “two fly-fishing trips so far. Plus, we’re excited to announce before the first of the year more door prizes, one that’s going to blow everybody’s mind,” he said.
More information about the Wyoming Range Hunting and Fishing Expo can be found at wyomingrangeexpo.com.
