SCHEDULE MORE COURSES TODAY!

The busy season is going well, and many of you, especially those of you teaching in schools, are currently certifying thousands of youngsters who are learning CHARACTER values as users of our great Texas outdoors. THANKS for all of your hard-earned efforts!

Some random thoughts for you to mull over as we begin another hunting season:

• Volunteer for YHEC October 13th. (See next article -- YHEC needs your help!)
• Set up/conduct a HUNTING 101 Course.
• Order supplies 3 weeks prior to course on the new Supply Order Form (password protected) located at your dashboard. (Too many of us "wait until the last minute...")
• Your INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION CARD will be available soon at your dashboard along with a decorative certificate for performance purposes.
• If you are a member of team of instructors, be sure to record your PREP/TAUGHT times, too, for proper credit (since 2017!).
• Contact regional specialists for support with Online Registration System.

These are just a few random thoughts to ensure that we keep updated on administrative tasks and encourage participation in Hunting 101s and outreach. 

I plan on bow hunting for elk with my brothers again this year, in search of a "Gray Ghost" or, perhaps, for my own health and soul!  Happy, SAFE & ETHICAL hunting!

NEED VOLUNTEERS TODAY!

• 2018 TEXAS STATE Youth Hunter Education Challenge YHEC (NRA-sanctioned event)
• Arlington Sportsman’s Club, 11500 CR 525, Mansfield TX 76063
• Saturday, Oct. 13th 7AM – 7PM
• Open to Youth Ages 9-18 Yrs.
• Registration Deadline - 9-30-18 Spectators/Family Welcome!
• Cost $35 (Incl. Lunch/T-Shirt)
  

For more information, questions and registration forms, please contact:

• Deborah Laughman, TX-YHEC Treasurer; 6249 E. FM 916, Grandview,76050; 817-991-5525 LDL3Laughman@gmail.com
  
• David Hammonds, TX-YHEC Director; 7725 Lake Highlands Dr. Fort Worth, 76179; 817-236-3158 mrdavidhammonds@att.net 
  

Return completed forms to Deborah Laughman with check made payable to YHEC Outdoor Sports, the memo line should state “YHEC Registration.” About 65 youth will participate in 6 events - .22 rifle, shotgun, black powder, archery, responsibility exam, wildlife id/skill trail combo.  Volunteers get in FREE and get lunch! Call now!

TX at National NRA YHEC Events

The Texas Team made it to Raton, NM in 2017 and this year's teams that compete at the October event will also make plans to travel to the NRA Whittington Center to compete in this year's summer event. Go TX!

Below, some of the 2018 Texas YHEC competitors, that traveled to Mansville, PA, "weathered the storms" to compete for TX.

Shirley Odell, Edna, won the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) Volunteer of the Year at the recent Texas Wildlife Association Convention held in San Antonio.  Odell and her husband, Harry, are longtime hunter education instructors.  She was credited with her many years as an instructor and volunteer, but mostly she was lauded for her passionate involvement in TYHP. Texas Youth Hunting Program Director, Chris Mitchell (right), and Steve Hall (left), Hunter Education Coordinator, were on hand for the honor. Congrats Shirley!

Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, Carter Smith, dropped by to congratulate Shirley Odell for her accomplishments.  In Smith's congenial and friendly manner, "I'm sure glad you are on our team!" as he hugged Odell. "You should be very proud -- an outstanding representative of all of the volunteers that dedicate themselves to our programs"!  That is for sure, Carter!

Go GREEN this Hunting Season!  Download the Outdoor Annual APP Today! PROMOTE THE Outdoor Annual APP in your courses!

• Convenient and MOBILE
  
• Quick and Easy to Read
• Accurate (Regulations)
• Take photo of HE certification and store it on your phone along with APP!
  

A Texas Hunter Education Instructor's Association (THEIA) General Member's Meeting has been called Friday, October 12th from 2:00 - 3:30 PM, at the Arlington Sportsman's Club, 11500 County Road 525, Mansfield, TX 76063, prior to the State YHEC Championship on Saturday, October 13th.  Discussion items include YHEC, board representation and membership plans for State FY19 (2018/2019).  ALL WELCOME! Come and sign up as a returning THEIA member. (1st Year Hunter Education Instructors automatically are added to the THEIA membership rolls!)

SPANISH SPEAKING COURSES SET IN HOUSTON - Bilingual Hunter Education Instructor, Ivan Benavides, Pasadena, shown here taking his son thru live-fire exercises, will be teaching Spanish-speaking hunter education  courses on September 29th and November 18th at the Bass Pro Shops in Pearland.

Go to: EDUCATION REGISTRATION SYSTEM

1. Sign into your account (upper right) - User Name (Email) and Password)
2. Create Course Location - If not currently in your course locations list
3. Add New Course - Classroom or Field; Public or Private
4. Monitor Attendance - Be sure to select the course and hit 'Show' button
5. Close Out Course - Mark Attendance, Grades, Prep/Taught Hours
6. Make Payment Online - Using preferred method (credit card)

Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program -  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, along with Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation and TSRA Foundation, are teaming up to host the first-ever Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program in Texas on Thursday, Nov 29th (Trainers Nov. 27-29th), at a school/facility either in DFW, Houston or Austin (TBA).  Modeled after the very successful (TX) National Archery in Schools Program, (NASP), the SAR Program uses the same range & procedures as NASP to increase shooting sports opportunities.  NASP instructors are currently being surveyed to ascertain their potential interest in the program.

If a school already uses NASP, SAR teachers need only to attend a one-day training and secure the equipment that is added to their NASP equipment/supplies. A total of $30,000 in equipment is being donated to the first 10-15 schools that participate in the one-day training. The first Texas SAR Program Trainers will go through all three days of training. SAR uses a standard pellet air rifle/ (non-lead) ammo in place of bow/arrows and a slightly different target base, quiver (stand) and safety net.  However, range design, the "11 Steps to Success" and other equipment (e.g. bow racks) are the same.  The program also achieves the same results as NASP (e.g. better attendance in schools, better grades, more student diversity, higher confidence levels, firearm safety awareness and responsibility.) 

If YOU want to become a teacher or trainer, please email steve.hall@tpwd.texas.gov

Texas NASP Coordinator, Burnie Kessner, with assistance from Randy Spradlin, West TX Hunter Education Specialist, conducted a Texas National Archery in Schools Program at UTEP in El Paso. Spradlin was part of training 70 teachers over a three-day period in angler, boater, and bow hunter education and NASP which included Glen Grove (area instructors) and Canutillo ISD in El Paso and as part of the district's professional development program. Congratulations FAR WEST Texas!

Participants at TX-NASP training are typically outdoor education teachers working with the Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation curriculum, PE teachers and Texas Agiculture Science Teachers.  They learn the 11 Steps to Archery Success in a positive reinforcement fashion during the day-long training.  If you are interested in becoming a Basic Archery Instructor, please contact burnie.kessner@tpwd.texas.gov. 

SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN PUMP MORE THAN $93 BILLION INTO US ECONOMY

Article featured in NSSF NEWS

NEWTOWN, Conn. — New economic reports reveal that more than 53 million Americans consider themselves sportsmen, spending more than $93.5 billion in 2016 on gear, licenses, travel, clothing, gas and more in connection with their hunting, target shooting and sportfishing activities.  (See rest of article at the link above.)

NSSF reports and others detail economic impact of spending on hunting, target shooting and sportfishing in America.