The opening of the general deer season always brings back fond memories, especially for those of us that raised our own kids on the hunting heritage -- our 'way of life'! 

But reach back into the ole' memory banks to remember what it was like to go on your first deer hunt. For most Texans, that probably meant 6 to 10 years of age. (For those of us that grew up in Colorado, that meant 14 years of age at the time.)

Not being able to sleep is what I remember.  Staring at that old alarm clock, tossing and turning and dreaming about what could be.  It was the proverbial 'rite of passage', and for a young boy, it meant manhood, of sorts.  (I'm sure for young girls, it felt differently.) 

To me, it was finally getting to do what my dad and five older brothers did before me -- actually get to try to shoot one of those wonderfully big critters that would provide a half freezer full of meat, great stories and even exaggerations for the rest of our lives.

To my son, Ryan, it was all about not missing -- getting the animal.  For my daughter, Sarah (photo), I remember it being a great time with dad "just doing what he does." She was also much more calm and cool in the heat of the moment.  He had more buck fever.  They both took great shots, though, and I'm sure I was the nervous one.

I remember virtually every big game hunt I've ever been on in great detail.  The ones with my son and daughter -- I hold especially 'dear' (pun intended).  Those of us that are involved in the Texas Youth Hunting Program or as a hunt mentor, find it exponentially more rewarding when we get to relive our own memories through the actions and emotions of a young hunter on his or her first hunt.

Ah! Welcome DEER SEASON 2016! Happy, SAFE moments & memories!

Steve Hall, HE Coordinator

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's Hunter Education Program and the Hixon Land & Cattle Ranch near Cotulla have teamed up, once again, to host this year's Heritage Hunt (aka "Dream Hunt") just like it did in 2014 and 2015.  Held November 12th and 13th, three lucky hunter education students, their parents or guardians and two lucky instructors are selected in a FREE DRAWING held each year. The drawing entry form is in the annual Hunter's Handbook included in your supply orders.

The Hunt is spearheaded by Focus Group International, the publisher of both the Hunting & Shooting Sports Education Journal and the Hunter's Handbook, the official IHEA-USA guides for 55,000 hunter education instructors and 700 million students certified annually in hunter education throughout North America.

Focus group generally selects Texas because of the flexible seasons, over-the-counter licenses, quality animals, variety of game and different experiences and habitats compared to the other states.   Seven Texas instructors and 12 students have been selected to go on Dream Hunts in past years, so Texans generally do pretty well in the drawing.

A special thanks goes out to former TPWD Commissioners, Karen and Tim Hixon and Ranch Manager, Mike Hehman, for hosting the Dream Hunt and Careco Productions in San Antonio of filming it for TV each year.  It is hunter education's chance to shine!

Be sure to let your students know about next year's hunt when you distribute the Hunter's Handbook.  Maybe YOU, too, will be selected!

Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist, assisted with the 24th annual Children's Challenged Hunt at San Angelo State Park.

Six youth participated --taking three does, one buck and three javelinas.  A total of 19 volunteers, two Texas Parks & Wildlife staff and several local businesses contributed to the successful hunt.  Major contributors included HEB (donated all food and drinks), the Outdoorsman, and Grogan Farm & Ranch. PHOTO: Scotty Cunningham, Alexis Ortiz and Marcus Luna enjoy tossing bean bags during the afternoon break at the San Angelo Hunt. HE Instructor, Gary Riddle, and volunteer, Bertha Lopez and her son (right); look on.

THANKS to all for another wonderful hunt and for creating even wider smiles.  Look for more photos of ADA Mentor Hunts coming up in December held by Chris Hall and his staff at Inks Lake SP.  The new Deer Hunting 101 Seminars and Workshops will be a part of such mentor hunts in the future!

Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist, Randy Spradlin, W TX and Jimmie Caughron, once again, assisted with the semi-annual Chaparral WMA Youth Shooting Sports Days for Laredo ISD and surrounding schools. The day features shooting activities with all sporting arms and a wildlife management & habitat trail/talk.  HE Instructors, game wardens, biologists and Border Patrol agents are all involved in helping the kids learn how to properly shoot sporting arms, many for their first time. This is another program that was begun in the early 1990s and has been hugely popular. TPWD Hunter Education and Mobile Range staff have been involved since the program's inception.