I'll try to answer some of the questions, why this has become an "issue" now, and my feelings about it.
First of all, like many others I had heard of the one shot hunt, but never knew much about it...a theme that I've heard over and over again when telling people about it.
The catalyst for the light being shined on this, has 100% to do with HB60 that would have created 80 tags for the womens only pronghorn hunt.
The legislation was introduced and it copied existing law that give 80 tags to the mens only one shot hunt. After doing some research, we found that only 8 3-man teams were actually competing in the one shot hunt. We also knew that the womens hunt was only hosting about 40 women hunters. So, we thought rather than head down the slippery slope of 80 more tags being taken out of the draw and allocated for the exclusive use of one group, we would amend the current legislation to allot 40 to the mens hunt and 40 to the womens hunt. Keep in mind that I am very leery of any tag set-asides, I'm a firm supporter of the North American Model, and one of the tenants is equal access to wildlife resources. I'm also firm in my stance that hunting should not be an exclusive sport, but an inclusive sport.
Anyway, after digging around more, we found out about this whole "past shooters" issue. It seems that the remaining 56 tags are given to past shooters who have competed in the one shot hunt. These tags, as well as the one shot tags, can be used throughout the season and are valid for units 65, 66, 67, 68, and 106. Also fair to note that the 56 past shooter tags can be transferred to another person of the past shooters choice...essentially making those 56 tags, one of very few cases where a tag can be "transferable". Also, the one shot club has written all the rules about how the tags are distributed, I know of no other case where tags are "issued" that way in Wyoming.
Like has been stated, if these tags were drawn through the same process as everyone else, I would have no problem with it. But, when a state asset is being given to a private club, that then discriminates against women hunters...yeah, I have a problem with that. This whole argument of tradition is bullchit...it was a tradition in the past to own slaves too.
But, it gets better. For those wanting to dive into the 990 forms from the 501 c3 status that the past shooters and one shot hunt have, you'll find some things that are interesting there as well. Like donating 120K to remodel the community center in Lander, or spend a bunch of money on bronze statues. Glad to see our public wildlife resources are being used to remodel community centers in Lander, while our legislature slashed 5.3 million worth of general fund money from the GF department.
Now on the water for wildlife foundation...some interesting things there too. One would think that, again, if Wyomings/our public wildlife resources are being plundered by the well-heeled, our wildlife would be the beneficiary of 100% of the money that is raised at this event. Nope, a majority of the water projects have been completed in 11 other states and from the newspaper article, apparently South Africa as well. If those other 11 States and South Africa want to do water projects, maybe they should use their wildlife resources to raise money for those efforts...and Wyoming can keep the money they raise from the sale of our State assets in Wyoming.
As to the connection to the tribe, it should be noted that the tribe is paid to participate in the ceremonies surrounding the hunt. The whole "one arrow" argument presented in the tribune article is pure malarkey...no such tradition ever existed, as per the information on the one shot home page. It was started by a group of white guys bragging around a campfire.
This is 2017, not 1950 time for a change and time for the State to take a hard and critical look at handing out our State assets to a discriminatory hunt. Discrimination toward the fastest growing demographic of the hunting community, women hunters.
There is not much right about this whole deal as it is being currently conducted and its flown under the radar long enough...time for some exposure to the truth.