Photo:  Awarding Albert Ross, Arlington, (L) an in-service workshop certificate in 1988, the year the mandatory hunter education program began in Texas. Albert started as a volunteer instructor in 1972, the first year of the voluntary program, and personally served as a mentor of mine after I hit the ground running in 1985. In 1986, I recruited him as our Hunter Ed. "Rifle, Shotgun, and Handgun" In-service Instructor because of his extensive knowledge of firearms, his accommodating personality, personal arsenal of training aids/arms and passion for teaching. Albert passed in 2018 (RIP!).

This February, we will celebrate 50 Years of Hunter Education -- the first credited course being completed on February 28, 1972 under the direction of a newly trained instructor named Thomas Womack, Austin (see below). The first student credited from that course was Michael Fain, who later went on to become a Texas Game Warden in Sarita (See Cadet Photo). Both have since passed, but they left behind a true conservation education legacy in Texas -- a state that certifies the most students each year in the nation. (More photos upcoming in 2022 Target Talks, which begin a celebration of 50 years in each issue!)

Happy New Year and GODSPEED in 2022!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Photo above:  A year prior to COVID, South Texas instructors met along with Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist during the Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) Convention.  The meeting was held at the George R Brown Convention Center in January 2019 and included a welcome from HSCF Executive Director, Joe Betar, a statewide update by Hunter Education Coordinator, Steve Hall, and presentations by HE instructors including Kitty Haynes and Scott Lightle, Richmond, Long Acres Ranch, and a training aids presentation by Instructor Michael Thomas, Houston (R).

2022 Hunter Education GOALS

1. Hunting & Shooting Sports R3
   • LINK - TEXAS R3 Strategic Plan
   • LINK - NATIONAL R3 Hunting and Shooting Sports Strategic Plan
2. Public Requests (Phone/email/in-person)
   • Basic STUDENT Courses
   • Hunting & Firearm Safety Information
   • Advanced Hunter Ed (e.g., Hunting 101s)
3. Instructor Training, Info. & Recognition
   • Area Chief Appointments and Advanced Training
   • Basic INSTRUCTOR Courses - Class/Field
   • Hunting 101 Seminars, Workshops and Hunts (Methods & Species)
   • Instructor Incentive Awards & Annual Recognition
   • Instructor Communication
     • Regional Specialist
     • Statewide Coordination and Administrative Support
     • Target Talk Monthly Newsletter and Emails
4. Program Resources:
   
   • Firearm, Hunting and Outdoor SAFETY
     • Hunting Incident Reports
     • Firearms and Hunter Safety Brochures
     • Survival and First Aid Information and Training (101s)
   •  Hunting LAWS Compliance - Game Warden Notes, Data and Information
     • IHEA-USA Hunting Incident Academy Training (2022) - N Texas
   • Taking a GOOD SHOT (Wounding Loss Reduction)
     
     • Tic-Tac-Toe Shooting System (Cross Trail Outfitters ©)
     • Field & Live-fire Supplies (e.g., Inert Firearms, Dummy Ammo)
   • Taking CARE of GAME "from field to fork"
     
     • Care of Game & "Locavore" information (e.g., wild game recipes)
     • Care of Game equipment and supplies and training (101s)

Photo:  Hunter Education Instructor, Leon McNeil, San Antonio, shown here "Giving Back" to an entire generation during his City Kids Adventures Hunts.

Eric Morris, Producer & Host of N.onT.ypical OutdoorsmanTV, penned an article this month on the Hunting WIRE entitled The Evolution of the Hunter.  In the article, he enlightens the audience on the "Stages of Hunting", originally devised in the 1970s by the late Dr. Robert Jackson and his colleague, Dr. Robert Norton, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, based on research of deer and waterfowl hunters in the Upper Midwest. Their "Stages" were incorporated into early hunter education manuals produced by Outdoor Empire at the time.  They became a way for hunter education instructors to discuss and demonstrate the active motivations of hunters when pursuing game, and the pitfalls, perhaps, of such motivations (e.g., unsafe behaviors at the shooting stage, exceeding the limit in the limiting out stage, etc.).  Eric, a hunter education instructor, himself, and an active partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and other state fish and wildlife agencies, summarized the stages, well, and their importance to hunters of all ages and backgrounds.

But then he emphasized the 'sixth stage' and its importance in the evolution -- the proverbial "Give Back" Phase. He said, "The Giving Back stage takes hunting to an entirely different level and ensures that hunting will continue for generations to come" (a "golden nugget" as hunter education contributor, Michael Sabbeth calls it). Eric continued, " My genuine enjoyment comes from passing knowledge and inspiration on to others. I go out of my way to introduce more minorities to the sport of hunting because I realized the lack of attention given to minority outdoors people...".  He went on to give credit to the Texas hunter education program for including the sixth stage in its manual when other state's student manuals did not.

Editor's Note:  Having known the researchers and as hunter education coordinator for Texas in the mid-eighties, I called Dr. Jackson when writing a new hunter education manual for the Lone Star State.  I asked him specifically if I could take editorial liberty with his and Norton's research and add what I called the 'Give Back' stage as a sixth stage.  I personally witnessed, many times over, the sincere motivations of hunter education instructors, guides, parents, and what we now call "Huntmasters" in our Texas Youth Hunting Program, the passion they bestowed on others while in the act of hunting -- a stage that went beyond the personal motivations of the hunters themselves. A key point, though, was that the Giver's actions could also influence the hunter's actions (both positive and negative) and, to me, represented a huge force in the evolution of personal ethics and values -- motivations of the hunters they influence.  Dr. Jackson graciously allowed it, though not really part of the original research.  I'm glad he did -- as looking back over 35 years -- it was one liberty that helped students understand that the evolution of a hunter goes far beyond personal motivations and satisfactions, it extends to those we influence, especially while hunting together!

Thanks, Eric, for revisiting an important topic in hunter education and now in the R3 Movement - reaching even farther and wider with all of our collective efforts!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Whiz Bang, a 4-H Shooting Sports Partnership with Hunter Education, has been operating for a quarter of a century and was the brainchild of Charlie Wilson, former TPWD Mobile Range Coordinator, who was hired by Steve Hall, then Outreach and Education Director, (current Hunter Education Coordinator) in 1996.  Wilson was an agency contractor with the National Skeet Shooting Association/ National Sporting Clays Association in 1995, so it made sense just to put him on full time with the agency. Terry Erwin (deceased), former hunter education coordinator, and Wilson put together a quality program which retained 4-H Shooting Sports youth interested in shooting, making it an early successful recruitment and retention program (See R3).  Currently, Morgan Harbison, Central Texas Hunter Education Specialist, who took over when Wilson retired, runs the Whiz Bang Program along with Ag Clays and other Hunter Education activities in the Central Texas Region.

Deer Hunting 101 Resource

The National Deer Association (NDA) understands what it takes to become a new hunter. While the task at hand may be perceived as daunting, rest assured learning to hunt and becoming confident in your abilities as a hunter are easy and obtainable to anyone. Whether you want to acquire natural foods, gain a better connection to nature or increase your self-reliance, we have programs and resources that are proven to create hunters through both in-person and at-home learning. Here are some great FREE & paid resources for aspiring deer hunters: 800-209-DEER
deerassociation.com. The National Deer Association has created resources geared towards new hunters including a Guide to Successful Deer Hunting eBook, Deer Hunting 101 Blog and YouTube series, and How to Hunt Deer podcast. We also have our Today’s Hunter Deer Hunting 101 online course created in partnership with Kalkomey, the same company that produces the Texas Today' Hunter Student Manual and multiple Internet Hunter Education Courses.  

If there is anything, we can do to further assist your efforts, please email or contact Hank Forester, Director of Hunting, at hank@deerassociation.com; 706-340-8069.

Inks Lake State Park Mentor Hunt #2

James Roberson, Fort Worth, took his first animal hunting -- a feral hog --- during the Inks Lake State Park Mentor Hunt.  He and mentor, Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist, were after a doe or spike, but the hog was not only a fun first experience, but it is also a targeted species at the park.  Meaning -- great job, James!  Brock and James went on to harvest his first deer during the hunt, an important first step towards making hunting a way of life and enjoying wild game!

The month started with Kathy (center) and Gary Glass (behind Kathy), Eola, conducting a Game Processing 101 for 21 participants at the Barrows Foundation Museum and Ranch.  Participants learned field dressing, quartering principles and butchering techniques. Each participant enjoyed their work, taking steaks, roasts and four different styles of ground and sausage home. Thanks Kathy & Gary!

 A special thanks to Chad Meyer, volunteer instructor, Abilene, and his son, Cason, for providing the ducks used for field dressing and the Earnest and Dorothy Barrows Foundation Museum Board of Directors for hosting the event.  Glass Jewelers contributed aprons and boning knives for the participants to use and take home.  LEM Products provided door prizes and 'swag bags' for each participant.

The City of Cactus hosted Waterfowl (see group photo below) and Upland Game 101 workshops and hunts.  A total of 89 hunters, collectively, participated in the Upland Game 101 with a day of hunting and two Waterfowl 101 workshops. There was a total of five days of hunts and an added prairie dog hunt, hosted by Ivan Graves, GNH Custom Farming.  THANKS to all new hunters who participated in the various advanced hunter education opportunities!

City of Cactus Receives their 2019 Hunter Education Partner Award

West Texas Specialist, Randy Spradlin, and South Texas Specialist, Heidi Rao, presented Cactus Public Works Director, Everett Timmons, the TPWD's Hunter Education Partner of the Year award.  The presentation was scheduled for the City Council meeting. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting was cancelled at the last minute, so, while at the Waterfowl Hunting 101 classroom session, Everett graciously accepted the award to present next month to the City Council. The weather grew colder, but the waterfowl hunters, mostly new to the activity, geared up!

McCormick Students Learn about Anatomy

Timica Patton, 7th Grade Science Teacher at McCormick Middle School Buda, uses donated deer organs to help students learn about anatomy. The deer were taken during a City Kids Adventures hunt featured the December Target Talk. This is the second year Timica used deer organs and said, "I appreciate the donation as I know it is an unusual request. But, the students learns so much better when it is a hands-on lesson!"

San Antonio Hunter Ed Course

I just wanted to share pics of our class on December 11th.  Thomas Griffith, Schertz, and I had 20 students in attendance.  However, the real blessing was having Game Wardens Kathleen Stuman (L), Kevin Winters (R), and "K-9 Officer" Bailey (far right looking up at her partner) attended our class.  The students were blown away by the show Officer Bailey put on.  What a special treat! GW Winters said, "K9 Bailey is my new partner. She is currently certified in locating dove, sharks fin, red snapper, and sea turtle shell. K9 Bailey is a (1) year old female Labrador."

- Jeffery Hetrick, San Antonio

Annual Cave Creek & Harper Wildlife COOP Youth "Super Hunts"

Every January, two special hunts highlight the Texas Youth Hunting Program's nearly 200 hunts held each year on Private Lands. 

If YOU wish to volunteer for either hunt, and have not previously been involved or looped in, please contact steve.hall@tpwd.texas.gov and he will forward your interest to the appropriate huntmaster(s).

Georgia Remembers Terry!

Jennifer Pittman, Hunter Development Program Supervisor, Game Management, was able to honor Terry's last request in the great State of Georgia.  "We put out Terry’s ashes at Mike Commander Shooting Range.  The range is complete and is beautiful.  The day was perfect, and I know Terry is happy!"