The SKYLER GABEL GROUP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that was founded in 2016 in memory of Skyler August Gabel, a young hunting guide who was killed in a truck accident while checking his trapline on the Chief Joseph scenic highway in 2013. Described as an “old soul”, Skyler cherished the older generation of mountain men who frequented coffee shops and trailheads throughout the state. He w
orked to learn their stories, trades, and ethics as he pursued the life of a 21st century mountain man. The GROUP exists to preserve the heritage that Skyler cherished including traditional Wyoming outdoor sports, living, history, and values ensuring that these treasures remain available to youth in the state so we never lose the unique gift of growing up in the Cowboy State. The GROUP is dedicated to the belief that growing up in Wyoming should include opportunities to experience our wide open spaces and traditional ways of life that lead to the establishment of our state and creation of other-focused, physically strong, reliable citizens who built our communities out of sagebrush, barbed wire, and handshakes. Inspired by the heroic figures of our past, it aims to bring the simple, timeless values embodied in our state’s history to the fore of Wyoming life. We will accomplish this by increasing awareness of the rich history of outfitting, shooting sports, trapping, and native traditions among our youth, through education, events, and other projects. Preference will be given to projects focused on muzzleloading, archery, trapping, horse and mule packing, wrangling, outdoor survival, hunting safety, mountain men, outlaws and western heroes, native lifestyles and traditions, and historical research/preservation/ publication.
