D. Terry Erwin, who passed August 26^th, was honored on September 5^th in Kyle, Texas. See Terry's Obituary Here!  

Photo:  Terry receiving his IHEA Hall of Fame Award in 2010.

I felt a little empty that day in Sept., having hired and worked with Terry directly for 24 years.  But, I also felt fulfilled in knowing that Terry lived a very fruitful life -- full of character, integrity, honor and accomplishment.  He transitioned from the medical field into hunter education, seamlessly, and hit the ground running as the mandatory hunter education program took off in Texas in 1988.  I've since heard from many instructors, friends and family members on what an impact Terry had on each of them -- very heartfelt!  No doubt, he and the others who have passed are looking down on us, smiling, on what hunter education has accomplished -- what we all have accomplished!

Let's continue in Terry's (et al) honor & spirit -- accomplishing even more!

Rest in Peace, Terry!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Having just been on my annual September trek to chase the mighty wapiti with "stick and arrow" in the Colorado mountains -- with my family members and friends -- I'm reminded that we Texans get to bowhunt deer, turkey, hogs and other critters during the October archery season. What a '1-2 punch' to secure meat for the freezer and enjoy the fruits of our labor!

TPWD has put together its timely Hunt Texas articles and TPWD News Releases reminding Texas archers of the tips and responsibilities that will help them be more successful this season.  (Ref: Recent Weather Sets High Expectations for Archery-Only Season Opener). Our marketing staff also put together a Hunt Texas Page at Facebook for information about seasons, draws, species and tips on upcoming hunting opportunities.

And hear-hear  to TX bowhunter education (BE) instructors that prep those traveling to the Hagerman NWR, Alaska, Montana and other places requiring BE certification prior to arriving for the hunts.  It is difficult, but Texas instructors rise to the challenge each year to provide such training, even though it is typically a "few here - few there" proposition. Thanks, staff and instructors, for providing that added training! And, don't forget to take the 12 Factors "Arrow Lethality" training by Ashby Bowhunting Foundation (see below) -- I know it helped me, not only with elk, but with turkey and deer back here in Texas, too!

Photo:  My son, Ryan, took his first bull elk on CO public lands -- a big 6X7 -- thanks, in part, to our hosts in Rifle, CO, Tim and Lisa Zeman, and their son, Dakota! 

Passing on the hunting and outdoor heritage -- It's a GREAT thing!

Steve Hall

Instructors must remain cautious as you continue to schedule courses this fall.  Demand is exceeding supply, but we still want you to teach virtually, if you can, or conduct smaller courses and observe social distancing protocols.  For those of you conducting courses this fall, please complete the following form and submit it to: Instructor@tpwd.texas.gov

COVID Protocols Form HED

This form outlines the precautions that should be in place prior to conducting hunter education activities, even for the smaller groups or in rural Texas.

Added Resources:

• Best Practices for Online Hunter Education
• Course Decision Tree
• Cleaning Equipment
• Responsible Recreation (Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies)

Photo: TX YHEC Leader & Instructor, David Hammonds, Weatherford presented awards following the 2019 YHEC Event at ASC.

VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!

"We can't have an event without volunteers.  Let us hear from you!"

The Texas State YHEC will be held at the Arlington Sportsman's Club (ASC) in Mansfield on October 10, 2020.  Volunteers are an essential part of the event. In an effort to reduce and prevent the spread of COVID-19, ASC guidelines for members and guests using their facilities will comply with Texas and CDC requirements. Lunch will be provided for volunteers.  Hours are 7:00 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m.  There will be 6 events:  .22 rifle, shotgun, archery, black powder, responsibility exam, safety trail/wildlife id.  If you have an event preference, we will attempt to place you at that event.  However, the number of volunteers will dictate your assignment. If you would like to volunteer or have questions, please contact David Hammonds at mrdavidhammonds@att.net.  For registration forms and added information, please visit YHEC Outdoor Sports. 

Belt buckles will be awarded to 1st & 2nd overall junior/senior winners as well as to the "Good Sportsmanship" winner. Photo: Duke Walton, Area Chief and YHEC Volunteer, Porter, presents Marisa Hunter with the Wildlife Identification YHEC Award in 2019.

Special thanks to Raul and Amy Zambrano of RZ Livestock Co, allowing new hunters access to the 7X Feed Lot in Fabens.  Raul and his wife are avid supporters of youth programs including 4H Shooting Sports, Hunter Education and youth hunts. Jake and Tyler, pictured here, took part in shooting Eurasian-collared and rock pigeons. Spears, and Legarretta guided these first time hunters as part of the Upland Game 101 training.

HE Instructor Discounts

Sellmark Corporation is offering hunter education instructors special pricing on tripod mounts the month of October.  Their Kopfjajer Reaper (both AT and CFT models) are being offered. Please contact Nathan Allender at nallender@sellmark.net for questions or purchase.     

• KJ700 + Reaper Grip - $266.00   
• KJ800 + Reaper Grip - $390.00

Student Air Riflery Program Held

Larry Hysmith, Texas 4-H Natural Resources Program Leader with Texas A&M, TPWD Partner & Area Chief Hunter Education Instructor, holds biannual training for budding Agriculture Science Teachers. Training includes both the national Student Air Riflery Program and the National Archery in Schools Program (see next photo) -- programs that teachers use in the high schools when certifying hunter education students and using field and live-fire exercises. Congrats Larry!

Texas NASP Trainings Held

Burnie Kessner, TX National Archery in Schools Program Coordinator, Held a NASP BAI Instructor Training Course in conjunction with the SAR Training held by Larry Hysmith (see above) in College Station the last week of September. Students preparing for Agriculture Science and related careers, attend such training while in college, then take it with them as they secure employment throughout Texas, primarily in high schools.

Huge East TX Course Held in Sour Lake

Area Chief, Brent Beamesderfer, Liberty, held a huge socially distant classroom course for 92 students, most of them between the ages of 10-15, at the Sour Lake Community Center in early October, while maintaining social distancing and family groups.

Hunter Ed Instructor, Richard Powell, Orange (L), and Area Chief (ret.) John Meekins, Cleveland, assisted Beamesderfer along with Game Warden, Mike Boone, Beaumont (R).  (Mike is a regular on Lone Star Law on seen on Animal Planet.). Below: Brent Beamesderfer asks questions to spur on social distance involvement by students.

A big THANKS goes to Kevin and Deanna Cudd, Sour Lake, Owners of Cudd Gunsmithing and Firearms, supplied donated by raffle tickets and took the course with their two daughters and contributed to lunch for everyone as well.

John Davis, an NRA, Texas DPS and TPWD Hunter Education Instructor, Pflugerville, teaches several courses at TPWD's and Hunter Education's Airport Commerce Park including an Internet + Field Course, which has been popular during the COVID era.  He was able to maintain social distance and enable students to hear him at the various hunter skills stations, trying his best to provide hands-on opportunities while maintaining at least 6 ft. distance for instructional purposes.  Great work, John!

BOW WORKSHOP Fall 2020

On October 3rd, the Becoming An Outdoors-Woman program held a virtual weekend workshop since it had to cancel its regular workshop due to camp closures.  A total of over 4,120 people were reached, including 621 engagements.  The good news is that the instructor presentations and all “live” feeds" are available for replay at the BOW Facebook Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texasvirtualbow. ! 

You can email SE TX Hunter Education Specialist and BOW Coordinator, Heidi.Rao@tpwd.texas.gov for information about the training held and future BOW events.

Example of one of the presentations is Leave No Trace by Instructor, Rowan Prothro.

PLEASE GIVE 3 WEEKS NOTICE!

Changes have been made to your ORS Account to make ordering your course supplies faster and easier. Starting now, go to your dashboard and click on "Supply Request". A new form appears automatically containing your name, instructor number, contact number, and shipping address.

You only need to verify the ship-to address, tell us how many copies of each supply item you desire, the class date and time, and the click "send" at the bottom. You are done!  -- A BIG PROBLEM occurs when instructors give less than a week's notice, making it extremely difficult to fill the order on time, so please GIVE AT LEAST THREE WEEK'S NOTICE for your supply requests!

Gone is the need to make a copy of the old form, save it to your desktop, fill in the information, and email the request to our old Supply Request inbox. Future upgrades will allow for complete tracking of your order, from placement to delivery. So, if you have those old forms saved to your computer, please dispose of those copies. The old inbox no longer processes manual requests.

- Eddie.Kleppinger@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-389-4999

Hunter and Angler Education Instructors may order printed copies of the Hunting & Fishing Regulations Digest to distribute to students as part of the game laws presentations during your courses. These are the only PRINTED versions of the regulations, so be frugal with copies that you include in your supply orders!

Note: One Added Change in Bold

• P 49 - add red deer to list of CWD species; add sentence in last paragraph “Use common sense precautions while handling and processing any species susceptible to CWD.”
• P52 - make change to "FM 479 to CR 443" (from 433); add phone number under Segovia Check Station - 512-803-6174
• P53 - change Life Check Drug Store to God's Country Pharmacy; date on Hondo Check Station should be Jan. 18 - Feb. 28 (not Feb. 29)
• Page 55, under White-tailed Deer Youth-Only Seasons; third bullet - remove “(crossbows prohibited except for youth with upper limb disability)”
• P62 - change date regarding Light Geese Conservation Order (West Zone) to Feb 15 – Mar 14 (from Mar 15). Inside front cover dates are correct.

TX Celebrated NH&F DAY SEPT. 26th

AUSTIN – Saturday, Sept. 26 was National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF), and Texas hunters and anglers were encouraged to invite others to join them in their outdoor adventures. Whether it is a child or grandchild, friend, co-worker, neighbor or someone completely new to hunting and fishing, recreating in the outdoors is a great way to bond over a new activity.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation supporting the special day saying in part “Texas has a rich and storied tradition of hunting and angling, predating even the founding of the state itself. Our sportsmen and women were among the first conservationists to support the establishment of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and through their license fees helped fund state efforts to provide for healthy and sustainable natural resources.”