Summer 2021 - Get Outside!

It seems we've been locked up or 'structured' for years -- keeping our distance from others.  Studies show that sunshine (especially in Texas -- right?) is a good preventative to COVID via a good dose of Vitamin D -- great for our health!

I say, "Get Outside this Summer!" -- not only for a personal travel vacation, but to conduct hunter education activities at a summer camp or similar event such as the Duck's Unlimited Expo at the Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth June 25-27th. Volunteer Here! For more information about volunteering for TPWD, NASP/USA archery, you can send TPWD's Outreach & Recruitment Manager, Rob Owen, an email at rob.owen@tpwd.texas.gov.

If there isn't an event or camp with which you typically work (e.g. scouts, Outdoor TX Camps, 4-H Camps, Kid's Outdoor Zone, etc.), then set up your own event by scheduling a multi-day hunter education and advanced hunter education workshop (Hunting 101s).  We've held several Hunting 101s in April including two Turkey Hunting 101s and a Survival/First Aid workshop in West Texas. If you have the expertise, feel free to host your own 101 -- same as your would for a  basic course at your dashboard on the Online Registration System -- Course Fee options $15 or FREE -- your choice! 

Have fun and be SAFE in the Texas Outdoors this summer!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Photos: 

• (Above) Teaching at a Kid's Outdoor Zone Summer Boys Camp.
• (Below) Attend the June 25-27th Duck's Unlimited Expo in Fort Worth

Lakeview Methodist Conference Center

JOIN US for the annual TEXAS HUNTER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR CONFERENCE, supported by your State Association, the Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association!

REGISTER HERE!

Friday, May 21

• 8 - 4:30 pm - Student Air Rifle Program Inst Certification REGISTER HERE!
• 2 ‐ 5:00 pm - Registration, Bagley Hall
• 5:30 ‐ 7:00 pm - Dinner - Sparling Cafeteria
• 7 ‐ 9:00 pm - Area Chief Meeting, Steve Hall, Hunter Ed Coordinator
  Presentation on Instructor Resources
• 9:00 pm - Social

Saturday, May 22

• 7:00-7:50 am Breakfast, Sparling Cafeteria
• 7:15 am – 12pm Registration, Bagley Hall
• 8:00-8:45 am Opening Ceremonies, Bagley Hall
  • Colors Already Posted – Pledge of Allegiance, Texas Pledge
  • Welcome and Program Overview, Steve Hall
• 8:45 – 10:30 am Hunter Ed Updates - Eddie Kleppinger, Hunter “Ed” Admin.
• 10:30 am–12 pm Session 1
  • Biological Basics - Heidi Kryger Bailey, TPWD Wildlife Biologist
  • Ethics & Character Building - Steve Hall & Author, Michael Sabbeth
  • Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program, Morgan Harbison, HE Specialist
• 12 – 1:30 pm Keynote:, Leon & Leticia McNeil, City Kids Adventures
  
  
• 10:30 am–12 pm Session 2
  • City Kids Adventures Mentoring - Leon & Leticia McNeil, Family/Kids
  • Stop the Bleed - Randy Spradlin, HE Specialist
  • Media Communications & TPWD R3 – Steve Hall & Michael Sabbeth
• 3:30 - 5:00 pm “Here’s How I… How Do You…?” - A brain exchange in which instructors share creative training aids (e.g. How they teach hunter skills indoor and out) - Heidi Rao & Brock Minton - HE Specialist

    *** 6:00 pm Awards Banquet & Instructor Recognition - Bagley Hall***

Sunday, May 23

• 7 - 7:50 am - Breakfast - Sparling Cafeteria
• 8:00 am - THEIA Member Meeting - Lindsay Hodgdon, President
• 11:45 - Adjourn

We want to invite ALL volunteer hunter education instructors to become members of your professional association, the IHEA-USA. Join Today!

To provide the opportunity for all Volunteer Hunter Education Instructors to attend the IHEA-USA 50th Anniversary Conference we are offering FREE ATTENDANCE for Instructors. Sign Up Here

Highlights include:

• Keynote speakers Tracy and Lanny Barnes!
• Guest speakers from our IHEA-World partners.
• Updates from educational partner organizations.
• Volunteer Instructor-only room with IHEA-USA Executive Team – we want to hear from you!
• Special online training event (more details coming soon!)
• Annual Professional Educators Business Meeting.
• COVID-19 impacts on Hunter Education in America.
• Awards Ceremony including a new Volunteer Instructor Award!

Sponsors are welcome – opportunities and pricing are still being established, but please inquire here.

"Up and Comers" - IHEA-USA is looking for Stories & Photos from Youth Hunters!

IHEA-USA is looking for great stories and photos of young Up and Comers to feature in the monthly newsletter.  Tell us the story of a young hunter's trip, where they went, what they were hunting for, success or not, and provide a photo or photos. To make this even better IHEA-USA is giving away (2) $100 Cabela's gift certificates; one for best photo and one for best story. Please submit stories and photos to mgr@ihea-usa.org Thanks for all you do for Hunter Education!  Photo:  Mike Peterson, Dallas, submitted his son's, Felix's story from a TYHP Managed Land Deer Hunt held at the Selah Bamberger Ranch near Johnson City - See Full Story Here  

- Andrew Smith Project Manager, IHEA-USA

SAR INSTRUCTOR COURSES

May 11 - Whitsett Comm. Center (S TX)

• 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Contact:  Brock.minton@tpwd.texas.gov

May 21 - Lakeview Methodist Conference Center (See Instructor Conference)

• 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (near Palestine)
• Contact: Monica.bickerstaff@tpwd.texas.gov

July 27th - Hermleigh High School (W TX)

• 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (near Snyder)
• Contact: Randy.spradlin@tpwd.texas.gov

August 10 - Long Acres Ranch

• 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (near Richmond)
• Contact:  Heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov

August (DATE TBA) - (C TX) - (near College Station) 

• 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM 
  
• Contact: Morgan.harbison@tpwd.texas.gov

Austin, May 1st - National Virtual Championship

Jim DeLine, Highland Park Elementary NASP Coordinator and longtime teacher, double-checks shooting positions at the opening of the National (NASP) Tourney Showdown, May 1st at Lamar Middle School. DeLine is a "Pied Piper" in Central TX, coaching numerous teams to state and national titles for Highland Park Elementary.

Jim's daughter, J. Mariana Torres-DeLine (r), captain of her High School team, demonstrates "11 steps to Shooting Success" to Lamar Middle School Principal, Megan Tesano, prior to a qualifying tournament for teams from Highland Park Elementary, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School. THANKS goes to Ski Shores Cafe, the Engel Family, Texas Ski Ranch, for sponsoring the tournament. Thanks to Central Texas Archery who provided trophies and line judging Another Round Cookie Company!

SPANISH HE COURSES TO BE HELD THIS FALL- Tentative Dates: 10 AM

Central Regional - July 20 - 24th

Texas hunter education students should be gearing up for the 2021 Central Region NRA (YHEC) Youth Hunter Education Challenge  at the Arkansas Waterfowl Assn Recreation Center for Youth, 8088 Hwy 31 N, Lonoke, AR  72086. 

Photo: TX YHEC Team 2020

Gary Jobe, ARYHEC Coordinator, says,

"Welcome to the 2021 Central Region Youth Hunter Education Challenge at our new location! The dates for this year’s State YHEC Championship will be July 20-24. Our new location will afford YHEC more room and opportunities for regular YHEC events, plus other events related to YHEC.

Last year, the requirements to attend the Central Region YHEC was changed to assist newer or younger youth an opportunity to attend YHEC for their 1^st time. Again, for 2021 any youth can attend YHEC and compete in as few as one (1) shooting event and one (1) non-shooting event. The goal of this change is to encourage more youth into YHEC at a Local, State, and Regional Level. Youth can compete and win awards in each event they compete in. However, only individuals and teams that compete in all 8 events will be eligible for YHEC “Overall Awards”.

YHEC needs YOU!!!   We need Volunteers/Hunter Education Instructors!  The success of YHEC depends on its Volunteer Staff.   In order to conduct 9 competitive events plus other “fun” events, it takes many volunteers."  For registration form participants or volunteers), please email Gary Jobe at aryhec@hotmail.com.   

Registration deadline is July 3, 2021

Arkansas State YHEC Championship

Photo:  2020 Texas YHEC Leaders and other Volunteers worked hard for successful event.

Texans have always been invited to join the Louisiana State YHEC event, and now, Gary Jobe, Arkansas YHEC Leader, has invited Texas YHEC participants to join in their upcoming Championship. He said, "My interest and reason for extending this invitation is to promote YHEC, not only in Arkansas but other states as well. I know many years ago, Texas was always invited to Louisiana for their State YHEC event."  He continued, "While it was considered a practice session for us, it was a great opportunity  to meet new people and make friends...some of those friendships  have lasted a lifetime!"   He stressed two rules, however:

1)  Arkansas YHEC should be considered as a "practice" for your State.  Out of state youth will not be able to win Arkansas Trophies or Awards that are presented at the awards banquet. Out-of-state youth will not be recognized at the Awards Banquet even if their score would warrant such a recognition.  (Outside states are welcome to do their own recognition, separate from AR.)  Note:  ARYHEC will hold several raffles, auctions and drawings, youth from other states will be allowed to participate in these youth events.  

2)  Out of State youth will not be allowed  to represent AR at the Central Regional event in July.....they will still represent the state they are from.  (All other State YHEC requirements for your state apply towards qualifying or attending the regional event. i.e. Individuals from multi-states will not be able to form a single state team to represent any state, and no mixing of youth from multiple states to form a team.)

Bowhunter by Fall Campaign

Rob Owen, TPWD Outreach & Recruitment Manager, invites all hunter education instructors, especially those involved in bowhunter education or the National Archery in Schools Program, to sign up for the 2021 Bowhunter by Fall Newsletter and keep up on NASP, Community Archery and Bow Hunter opportunities. Events help volunteers contribute to Bowhunter Education, but they also serve to keep you "tuned up" for the upcoming season.

ARCHERY LETHALITY - A BOWHUNTING HUNTING 101 WORKSHOP

JUNE 5 - 9am - 3pm - Cinnamon Creek Ranch, 13794 Old Denton Rd, Roanoke, TX

Contact: monica.bickerstaff@tpwd.texas.gov

Partner:  Ashby Bowhunting Foundation - President, Rob Nielson

REGISTRATION LINK: ARROW LETHALITY WORKSHOP

General public portion of the workshop will be from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Hunter Education Instructor portion will continue until 3:00 p.m.

April 23-25, Brownwood, TX 4-H Center

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman held yet another successful workshop for 150 women from across Texas.  Including in the suite of four (4) half-day, hands-on venues were the welcome and topics taught by hunter education staff including (photos):

• Introduction to Firearms with new Area Chief HE Inst., Cheryl LeJune, Houston
• Field Dressing with Randy Spradlin, W TX HE Specialist
• Map and Compass with Brock Minton, S TX HE Specialist
• Basic Shotgun Skills with Jimmie Caughron, Area Chief and former TPWD W TX Specialist, Ballinger
• Official BOW Workshop Welcome by BOW Coordinator and SE HE Specialist, Heidi Rao (red) and N TX Specialist Monica Bickerstaff (blue).

Intro to Firearms - Cheryl LeJune, shown here teaching the basics of firearm nomenclature, sight pictures and other lessons, enables women to take other live-fire courses at BOW by taking her course. Many also go on to complete hunter education certification after completing LeJune's Intro to Hunting and exam.

Field Dressing and Processing

A Hunting 101 Series, Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist, taught two courses to two separate groups of women at BOW, but many attended both.  Each participant took home fresh organic meat, sausage, and hamburger they processed themselves, achieving the goal "Take care of game from Field to Fork!"

Map and Compass is another BOW favorite, typically taught by S TX Hunter Education Specialist, Brock Minton (R).  Participants learned everything from reading maps, taking bearings, triangulating, and pacing -- and then putting the skills to work during a practical experience.

Doug Lambert (R) - Burleson (2011)

Why I became a (Bow) Hunter Education Program VOLUNTEER – During an annual appraisal, my employer requested I do community service. Not really liking their options for service, and listening to another person recruiting volunteer instructors, I put two-and-two together.  Since I like bowhunting (I think I’m at least decent at it) and NEEDED an outlet to temper my nervousness with a crowd of participants, I found that outlet as a bowhunter education instructor. I enjoy teaching youth archery programs the most, but also teach as well.

My most prized sporting arm – I have three:

• H&R Topper .410, given to me @1976 as a present from my dad. That .410 claimed a lot of Arkansas squirrels.
• Remington Wingmaster 16ga - another that dad bought me, he thought it would be a good squirrel gun - it wasn’t. Once I moved to Texas and discovered dove hunting - that shotgun with a 26” barrel and improved cylinder was a dove-taking machine. (Luckily, I have plenty of shells.)
• Elite E35 compound - Shoot an Elite, you will be sold.

My favorite hunt – I have two:

• Hopewell Hunting Club outside Leola, Arkansas - back when anything with antlers was legal. In the 1970s, deer season was only 2 weeks, every other year antlerless (doe) was Thanksgiving weekend.
• Anything Hagerman NWR

If you could have a tee-shirt printed with any message, what would it say?

• "Don’t overthink it, Keep it short & simple (KISS)"

Steve Lightfoot - TPWD Communications Staff (Retired)

Steve Lightfoot worked many years bringing the hunting, hunter education and hunting incident stories and messages to the public, both for TPWD and for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) before that.  We will miss him dearly!

"Many of you had an opportunity to work with Steve during his tenure at TPWD, where he was known as a highly talented writer and gifted communicator who championed the TPWD mission by inspiring people to experience and steward the outdoors.  Before coming to TPWD, he was an outdoor writer, which gave him great insight on how best to communicate not only with fellow outdoor writers across Texas, but more importantly, their readers, who were keenly interested in the work and going-on’s at TPWD.  He later joined the NSSF as a media communicator.  Thankfully, he made his way to our agency in the 1990s and was initially based in Tyler, with a beat that focused largely on topics relating to hunting, fishing, and the management of fish and wildlife related resources.

Steve loved the outdoors and everything in it.  He was passionate about our mission, issues, and work, and the people, places, and outdoors we serve.  He valued greatly the men and women who carried, and who now carry, the TPWD torch.  He was deeply proud to be one, and we, in turn, were privileged beyond measure to work with him.  He will be deeply and dearly missed.   

Thank you for keeping Steve’s family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers as we mourn his passing and celebrate our time together on earth with him." Carter Smith - TPWD Executive Director