In This Issue: Come to Annual Conference, 50 Years & More
50 Years of Success!
TEXAS HUNTING INCIDENTS reached a record LOW in 2021 with a total of 12, five less than the previous low of 17. In the 50 years of hunter education in Texas, there is an obvious correlation between the hunter education program and the number of hunting incidents by year -- a highly significant lowering of incidents since the 1960s. Hunter Education Instructors and STUDENTS can be proud of their accomplishments! CONGRATS!
Go to the following link to view the official 2021 Hunting Accident Report:
HUNTING ACCIDENT REPORTS
Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator
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 Some of the 2021 Conference Attendees posed for a group photo while at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center near Palestine in North Texas. This year's venue is back in the Southeast Region at YMCA Camp Cullen near Trinity.
JOIN YOUR FELLOW INSTRUCTORS!
ANNUAL INSTRUCTOR GATHERING
April 22-24th - YMCA Camp Cullen, 460 Cullen Loop, Trinity, TX 75862
Celebrating 50 years of Hunter Education!
The conference and training workshops are your chance to get reacquainted with like-minded, passionate instructors from throughout Texas, your regional and HQ staff. Celebrate our successes by attending training seminars all weekend, a keynote address during lunch on Saturday, followed by an Awards Banquet Saturday evening -- recognizing your achievements and those of your peers! CONTACT heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov for information! (NOTE: Submission for Reimbursements - Deadline NOW! - March 4th!)
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 YMCA Camp Cullen
AGENDA
Friday April 22nd
9:00am – 4:00pm – Student Air Rifle (SAR) Instructor Training
3:00pm – Check-in/registration for participants (Dining Hall)
6:00pm – SUPPER
7:00pm – Welcome – “Celebrating 50 Years of Hunter Education”
Saturday April 23rd
7:00am – BREAKFAST
8:15am – 9:45am – Training Seminars 1, 2, or 3 - TBA
10:00am – 11:30am – Training Seminar 4, 5, or 6 - TBA
12:00pm – LUNCH Keynote Presentation (Dining Hall) - TBA
1:45pm – 3:15pm – Training Seminars 7, 8, or 9 -TBA
3:30pm – 5:00pm – Training Seminars 10, 11, or 12 -TBA
6:00pm – SUPPER
7:00pm – ** Instructor Recognition Ceremony ** (Dining Hall)
Sunday April 24th
7:00am – BREAKFAST
8:15am – Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association training & meeting
11:00am – Departure (no lunch served)
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2022 North Texas Youth Hunter Education Challenge to be held June 18th at the Arlington Sportsman's Club
The 2022 Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) will be Saturday, June 18 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Arlington Sportsman’s Club (11500 CR 525, Mansfield, TX 76063). YHEC is open to all youth ages 3rd grade -18. There are two challenge categories: Junior (ages 3rd grade-13) and Senior (ages 14-18).
There will be shooting and responsibility venues: shotgun, black powder, archery, orienteering, and hunter safety trail/wildlife id. Olympic-style medals will be awarded for 1st-3rd places for each venue. Also, High score Senior and reserve Senior, high score Junior and reserve Junior, and Sportsmanship winners will be awarded belt buckles.
If you would like to participate, contact Debbie Laughman at ld3llaughman@gmail.com to obtain registration form and rules. Registration fee is $40. Registration deadline is June 1st. (Registrations sent after the deadline will be assessed a $20 late fee.)
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jeanette Hammonds at mrdavidhammonds@att.net to obtain volunteer registration form and rules. Each volunteer will be provided lunch.
Families are invited to attend! Please note that the participants’ lunch is included in the registration fee. Additional lunches may be ordered on registration form. People may bring their own food and drinks.
Photo: David Hammonds, Duke Walton, and Bob Boswell, pose with a winning YHEC Team from Texas at a previous National Challenge in Raton, NM, where they served as YHEC Volunteers and Instructors for various venues.
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Joe Betar, Executive Director, Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF)
HSCF's “Hunting Matters” Podcast Awarded Gold AVA Award
(Houston, TX- January 26, 2022) The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce that its “Hunting Matters” radio program/podcast has been awarded a 2022 Gold AVA award.
The AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design, and production of digital communication. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. Winners were selected from over 200 categories in Audio, Video, and Web-based production. READ MORE
Visit our website at https://hscfdn.org/ or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt! We Give!
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 Greater Houston, College Station & San Antonio Area Instructors & Partners
Kneeling (L-R): Ivan Benavides (Pasadena), Jonathan Shih (Missouri City), Brianna Nicklow (The Woodlands -TYHP), Cheryl LeJune (Tomball), Lillian Sampson (Houston)
Standing (L to R): Thomas Griffith (Schertz), Charles Marcus (Helotes),Dewayne Garrett (Houston), Steve Shrock (Hempstead), Nathan Dee (San Antonio), Kristin Collins (The Woodlands), Don Callender (Bellaire), Mark Darby (Houston), Joe Waldrum (Deweyville), Brent Beamesderfer (Dayton), Kitty Haynes (Richmond), Kirk Dorsey (Houston), Ransom Belton (Crockett), Jeffrey Hetrick (San Antonio), Dan Marcasol (SCI - Houston), Duke Walton (Porter), John Polasek (College Station), John Miller III (Houston), David Baxter (Spring), George Lentz (La Vernia)
SCI Houston - TPWD at the HSC Expo
Duke Walton, Porter, brought his "skins, skulls, scat and tracks" exhibit to the HSF Foundation "Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention". Be sure to join us next year January 20-22nd!
"Special thanks to Duke Walton (R), TPWD Area Chief (porter), past TPWD and National Hunter Education Instructor of the Year, for his contributions and dedication the TPWD Hunter Education and Texas Youth Hunting Program!"
- Dan Marcasol (SCI - Houston)
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TPWD would like to THANKS Dan and SCI-Houston for always being there to support hunter education instructors and their efforts to promote safe, responsible, knowledgeable and INVOLVED hunting and shooting sports practices! Pictured here with Duke is Kirk Dorsey, a hunter education instructor applicant who was a student in Duke's first-ever course -- decades ago. To the left of Kirk is an Alaskan attendee at the convention who was very interested in Hunter Education and the exhibit items Duke put together, including an Arctic fox!
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"Had a first this past weekend. I had the privilege because of some great friends to harvest this beautiful Pheasant and participate in my very first hunt. It was an incredible experience. As if that wasn’t enough, I was also given the opportunity to execute a long range 700yd rifle shot and with some expert coaching hit on the first send! In all this joy I was still missing something, more like someone! For things like this my whole life I have always been able to pickup my phone and call DAD and tell all about it. I miss him every day and sometimes moments remind me just how much he loved us kids and all the opportunities he provided for us.
So, folks please check your pride if needed and make sure you have told those who need to know that you love them!" - Edgar Reed, Abilene
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 (L to R) Dallas Willis - Rule, Jimmie Caughron - Ballinger, Gary Riddle, San Angelo (sitting), Kathy Glass - Eola, Edgar Reed - Abilene, Gary Glass - Eola, and Mike Royer - Ranch Host.
" Instructors were 'wowed' by the demographic numbers and shift in shooting/hunting. All realized the need for Hunting 101s," said Randy Spradlin, West Texas Hunter Education Specialist. "Kathy and Gary Glass, Eola, are thinking about taking the Wild Game Processing 101 on the road. They've had requests from Texas Youth Hunting Program ranches to bring it to those locations. Some of the 'tenured' volunteers even recognized the need for learning Modern Sporting Arm platforms, as it is the 'go to' rifle for most younger shooters," Spradlin continued, "Mike & Natassa Royer (hosts) went over the top -- their hospitality was incredible!" . "Meals were top notch including rib-eyes, meatloaf, breakfasts that looked like they were from a restaurant buffet - all topped off with apple and pecan pie!" Thanks, Royer family, and to the instructors who made the trek to Anson!
 Wild Game Processing 101 Held in February
(L to R) Jake Li, Jisheng Li, Adrian Esquillo, Jose Pardo, Alejandro Garcia, Garry Holt, Gary Glass, and Edward Hemaley.
Soon after the West Texas Instructor Meeting, Kathy, and Gary Glass, Eola, held a Wild Game Processing 101 workshop training students on how to take their game from the skinning shed and coolers to the freezer and table. "I am so happy that you received the (donation from the Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association to) help offset some of your costs (for putting on the 101 class) -- it shows how much you genuinely love teaching these skills that you would dip into your own pocket to continue having the classes! I will be on the lookout for a sign-up for the Feral Hog Processing class and will spread the word for sure!" - Edward Remaley
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Hunter Education Instructor also met in South Texas at Bass Pro Shops in San Antonio. Brock Minton, Hunter Education Specialist, led the way with program updates and Area Chief, Charles Marcus, Helotes, hosted the meeting where he conducts student courses. Special thanks to for allowing instructors to host hunter education at the store! Pictured are (L to R): Thom Griffith - Schertz, Area Chief Paul Silva - Luling, Area Chief and TPWD Biologist, David Rios - Uvalde, Brock Minton - S TX Hunter Education Specialist - Corpus Christi, Robert Vela - San Antonio, Luis Upton - Seguin, Area Chief Rick Hite - San Antonio, Area Chief Ken Lewis - San Antonio, Area Chief Charles Marcus - Helotes, and Jeff Hetrick - San Antonio. "Thanks, all, for attending the update meeting!" - Brock Minton
 Joined by Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator - Austin, the South Texas instructors presented Bass Pro Shops Manager, Jesse Pompa, a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the Texas Hunter Education Program.
 It's Rodeo Time - Game Wardens & HE Instructors Get Involved in San Antonio
Several instructors could not make the Bass Pro Meeting due to working the Rodeo at the same time. Jeff Hetrick - San Antonio, one of instructor meeting participants was able to send in a photo from the prior week at the Rodeo. " I wanted to share some pics from last night at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. I have the pleasure of volunteering for two great organizations. The Wildlife Committee of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and, as a hunter education instructor, for TPWD. Well, last night we were able to put the 2 groups together to honor and recognize some of Texas finest: Game Wardens!!
One of our Committee members said, "I am so thankful that SALE leadership took the step to honor these brave men and women who protect our natural resources. I am hopeful that we will be able to honor them every year."
Have a great 2/22/22 “Twosday” - Jeff Hetrick, HE Instructor, San Antonio
 Game Wardens who assisted at Rodeo included: Captain David Nieto - San Antonio; Johnny Jones, Kevin Winters, and Kathleen Stuman - Bexar County, RJ Zerr - Atascosa County, Rob Frets - Wilson County, Jorge Tamayo - Medina County, Brett Hernandez - McMullen County and K9 Game Warden Bailey
Also, in attendance was Operation Game Thief and retired Colonel Danny Shaw and retired Captain Scott Haney
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A total of $150,000 in Scholarships Distributed to Top Shooters
Fifteen (15) scholarship recipients pose, proudly, displaying their belt buckles and knowing that they each have been awarded a $10,000 scholarship.
Travis Mears from Defender Outdoors performed an exhibition shoot under the lights. He looked on to see if his pupil, Jacob Livanec can put to practice the tips and pointers that he has learned during the free coaching sessions put on by Cory Kruse, Travis Mears and William Berry, professional sporting clays shooters.
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PARTICIPANT NUMBERS for 2022
CONGRATS TO ALL SHOOTERS!
- Trap - 980
- Sporting Clays - 895
- Mod Trap - 611
- Super Sporting - 490
- Total Entries - 1057 (from 108 counties)
Samantha Mulvihill, Barbers Hill 4-H, leads the morning ceremonies, opening with the invocation.
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Junior Shoot-Out Committee Members (Front Row, L to R): April Gutchess, Carla Mcdaniel, Vice Chair Mary Lawson, Chairman Wade Mayfield, Angela Gerlich, Kathy Gregory, Melanie Harrington (Back Row, L to R): Stephen Etheridge, Steve Milam, Melissa Barringer, Brent Falkenbury, Tommy Allmand, Kaleigh Lawson, Rachel Barringer, Morgan Harbison - TPWD Hunter Education Specialist, Allen Lawson, and Javier Garza
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2020 "Professional Educator of the Year - Derek Watson
"Watson, I presume?" Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, implemented Sherlock Holmes’ investigative techniques to locate 2020 Professional Educator of the Year Derek Watson. Watson, now teaching in Madisonville, actively taught Hunter Education in the Outdoor Adventures program while at Keller High School. He has certified more than 700 students since becoming an instructor in 2014. Congratulations Derek!
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Trapping 101 - Coleto Creek
Photo: Dan Hepker - Bastrop (L), TTFHA Nuisance Control Coordinator and Earle Blakney, Region 2 Director, present young Luke Rao, Houston, with the "2022 Gray Fox Achievement Award" at the recent Trapping 101 Workshop held at Coleto Creek near Victoria.
"Thank you Brock (Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist) and Randy (Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist) for providing an avenue allowing our Association to share our trapping knowledge with a wonderful group of people. I appreciate the sincere dedication both of you provide to many families interested in learning more about enjoying the outdoors. Y'all are top notch in my book!!! Always fun being around the two of you!"
Dan Hepker, Bastrop, TTFHA Nuisance Control Coordinator
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 Along with Dan and Earle (demonstrating trap setting above) and several of their other directors with the Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters Association (TTFHA) such as Jim Brooks - National Trappers Association Director, and Keith Jackson - Region 3 Director, the TTFHA have been assisting TPWD Hunter Education Staff put on an annual Trapping workshop for over 25 years.
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Brock Minton, S Texas Hunter Education Specialist and Area Chief Benny Ham, will, once again be hosting a Turkey Hunting 101 in Whitsett, March 26th (9 am - 3 pm) and 27th, near Three Rivers. A total of ten (10) participants from the workshop will be drawn for hunts Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, as part of the workshop. Alongside Brock and Benny's instruction will be TPWD Game Wardens, Colton Thomas and Drew Garrett, and TPWD Biologist, Onalise Hill, will be on hand to present the legal requirements and natural history of turkeys, respectively. There will be a special guest Turkey Hunter & Calling Champion to share his knowledge and skills to help you bag a wily gobbler. He also will be assisting in guiding duties for one or two lucky hunters. REGISTER AT: Turkey Hunting 101
Photo: In 2021, all six (6) Texas Youth Hunter Education Challenge winners from October 2020 bagged a bird (five first timers) as part of a Turkey Hunting Hunt, compliments of YHEC Chairman and Instructor, David Hammonds, (on site host) and Area Chief Hunter Education Instructor/TSRA Director, Bob Boswell (ranch).
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 Area Chief, David, and Susan Rios - Uvalde, the dynamic duo in the rural lands between San Antonio and Del Rio, recently held a hunter education course and took the opportunity to pose with the students following the course. Thanks Rios family!
 Will Holt - Breckenridge (R), and Stephens County Game Warden Cliff Westbrook, recently held a course in the rural lands in North Texas. Will Holt is "Continuing the Hunting Heritage" of his longtime Legacy Hunter Education Instructor father, Billy Holt, who passed in 2017. Way to go Will and Cliff!
Texas Youth Hunting Program
Another Successful Hunt
"For the past 4 years, (except in last year due to Covid-19) the Mullen Ranch has been participating in TYHP, as well as hosting Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) hunts. This breathtaking 1500-acre property was once a cattle farm, but is now (an exotic ranch). Six (6) lucky hunters each year are chosen to experience seeing the exotics close-up, while keeping an eye out for (the native) whitetail and axis deer, species they are able to take during the youth hunt.
- Vincent Lecca - Driftwood, Area Chief HE Instructor & TYHP Huntmaster
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Alex Baer, Executive Director of the IHEA-USA, stated, “SIG’s generosity allows us to give even more back to our valuable volunteer Hunter Education Instructor Corps."
Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc., said "This is an exciting new partnership for SIG SAUER as we begin to further expand our presence in the hunting community for 2022. We first want to express our appreciation to all volunteer Hunter Educators for everything that they do for the firearms and hunting community,” He added, "Additionally, this new affiliation with the IHEA-USA allows us to expand our efforts in education with regards to gun safety through their new Firearms Fundamentals program.”
See IHEA-USA's 2021 Annual Report HERE!
February Special Announcement
Immediately with this new sponsorship, SIG SAUER® offers instructor discounts on select SIG SAUER products, and IHEA-USA Instructors will have opportunities to be awarded and win products and experiences from SIG SAUER through the IHEA-USA. To take advantage of this offer head over to the Instructor Discount Section on the IHEA-USA website today!
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The Council to Advance Hunting & Shooting Sports hosting 2022 National R3 Symposium in Broken Arrow, OK, May 2nd – 5th.
(WASHINGTON, D.C) – The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council) is hosting the 2022 National R3 Symposium in Broken Arrow, OK, May 2nd – 5th. The first-ever National R3 Symposium occurred in May 2018 and resulted in a groundswell of national focus and efforts to increase the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of participants in hunting, shooting sports, angling, and boating. While the Council has hosted two Virtual R3 Forums in its place due to COVID over the past couple years, we are excited to reconvene all professionals with a vested interest in R3 for the first in-person Symposium in three years. Several hundred representatives from agency, NGO, and industry across the country will be in attendance ranging from the practitioner to director/CEO level.
Registration and the agenda will be available in March, but be sure to mark your calendars now so you do not miss out! CLICK HERE to for more information or to register as a sponsor. Contact Swanny Evans at swanny@cahss.org
 Calling all Hunter Educators! Our annual conference agenda and sign-up are now available! Attend virtually or in-person in beautiful West Palm Beach, Florida, May 17-19. https://www.ihea-usa.org/2022-ihea-usa-annual-conference/
#iheaconference #huntereducation
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Lead Instructor, Area Chief, Duke Walton, Porter (L), and his team is conducting a Combo Hunter & Bowhunter Education Instructor Course on Friday, March 25th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the East Montgomery County Improvement District Bldg. 21575 U.S. Hwy 59 N, New Caney, TX 77357. Here, Duke along with fellow Bowhunting 101 instructor, demonstrate FOC in 2019.
MUST sign up on BOTH links, below (and share with others!) Note: Must have completed hunter and bow hunter education student courses.
For application requirements (prior to courses) email: heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov
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 Texas Wildlife Association hosted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Ashby Bowhunting Foundation over the weekend to record educational videos for Texas Youth Hunting Program and Hunter Education Instructors. Attendees were (L to R) Darrel Barnette, Oscar Taylor, Chris Mitchell, Dr. Ed Ashby, Bob Barnette, Rob Neilson, and Troy Fowler, and Immanuel Salas (taking photo). A special thank you goes to Texas Wildlife Association for graciously hosting this event in their new headquarters facility in New Braunfels.
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Bowhunting by Fall Newsletter
Rob Owen, TPWD Outreach & Recruitment Manager, along with his community archery and National Archery in Schools statewide staff, put together an emailed newsletter series several years back and says that there has been a significant increase in subscribers this past year. He said, "Subscribers were up 55% to 1,700 from 2020/21, and the readership was engaged with approximately 65% of emails sent being opened. That same subscribership showed a fair return on a “close out” survey to help hear about the success of the newsletter. Some of the relevant highlights are:
- 66% of the respondents actively bow hunted in the 2021/22 season
- 27% were first year license purchasers for a bow hunting season
- 63% of the first-time license buyers took Hunter Education in response to their interest in the bow hunting season
- 33% of the respondents were first year archers
- 96% of respondents said that the newsletter series provided assistance or added enthusiasm to the pursuit of bow hunting and archery in general
- 82% of respondents said that the newsletter series helped them to “better understand how to access and use the public hunting lands of Texas”
- Average respondent spent $815 on archery/hunting equipment in 2021, including preparation for the hunting season and/or target shooting
- 36% of respondents had a mentor helping them prep for the archery season
- 43% of respondents who bow hunted reported taking an animal, and for 54% of that group, it was their first harvest while bow hunting
- 100% stated they would participate in next year's archery season!!!
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Terry's Memory Lives in Louisiana
"The site I selected was a Louisiana cypress swamp adjacent to the Comite River on our Waddill Education Center property. It is accessed via our nature trail system, is a quiet idyllic spot (the wood ducks flushed before I could snap the pictures), but you can hear the shotguns from there when we conduct the shooting portion of our Hunter Education Courses. I thought it fitting for a lifelong outdoorsman and hunter educator," said Eric Shanks, Louisiana Hunter Education Coordinator and current International Hunter Education Association-USA President
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 (L to R) - Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator - Austin (HQ), Randy Spradlin (West TX Specialist - Abilene State Park), Heidi Rao (Southeast TX Specialist - Houston), Morgan Harbison (Central TX Specialist and Mobile Shooting Sports Coordinator - College Station), Monica Bickerstaff (North TX Specialist - DFW), & Brock Minton (South TX Specialist - Corpus Christi)
Steve Hall, Austin: steve.hall@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-389-8140w; 512-550-7330c
Randy Spradlin, Abilene: randy.spradlin@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-923-3509c
Heidi Rao, Houston: heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov; 713-829-1377c
Morgan Harbison, Bryan/CS: morgan.harbison@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-413-0194c
Monica Bickerstaff, D/FW: monica.bickerstaff@tpwd.texas.gov; 469-601-8349c
Brock Minton, Corpus Christi: brock.minton@tpwd.texas.gov; 361-944-3617c
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Hunter Education Overview | Instructor Resources | Student Resources
Operation Game Thief | Texas Game Warden Association
Texas Youth Hunting Program | Texas 4-H Shooting Sports
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International Hunter Education Association | NRA PROGRAMS & Services
NSSF Hunting & Ranges | Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association\
Texas State Rifle Association | Hunters Connect
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