50 Years of Success Continues...

In June, I had the pleasure of participating in an Archery Instructor Conference (see below), the first conducted by our Community Archery Team. Longtime friend and colleague, Burnie Kessner, Athens (R), was on hand to present archery awards and give updates on the National Archery in Schools Program. After bringing the program to Texas in 2004 from Kentucky (who began the program in 2002), we hired Burnie to lead the program beginning in 2007. He has certainly done a superb job in that role -- having trained thousands of instructor trainers and schoolteachers along the way.

Archery is a "gateway activity" for hunting & shooting sports at an age when getting kids outdoors is at the heart of our youth recruitment efforts. Hunting, bow hunting and target sports are healthy, character-building, lifelong activities that enhance outdoor knowledge, skills, attitudes and the overall quality of our lives.  Benefits include recreation, physical fitness, relaxation, mental health and spirituality, meat gathering (hunting & fishing), getting together with family and friends, job creation, economics, and sound management of wildlife and conservation. 

Thanks, Burnie, and the Community Archery Team, for the privilege of joining Norm McMinn and Teresa Meyer, as your first inductees in the newly established Texas Archery Hall of Fame. A big thanks for all you do to promote and grow hunting, bow hunting and shooting sports -- more important than ever before!

Photo below:  Burnie has put his hunting and archery skills to practice. Here he is packing out one of his Colorado elk -- enjoying the rich, tasty meat, later!

Editor's Note:  We will certainly miss Carter Smith, as he retires.  He's been an exemplary director in support of conservation and all our outreach & education programs and efforts, including hunter education and youth hunting programs! He has even hosted youth hunts on his own family property! Godspeed Carter!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

AUSTIN—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Executive Director Carter Smith announced on June 17th that he will retire effective January 2023, ending a 15-year tenure that strengthened private-lands stewardship, expanded state parks and wildlife management areas, bolstered conservation, law enforcement, and park funding, and brought a renewed focus on connecting Texans young and old with the state’s natural resources.

 “The opportunity to work alongside the immensely talented and dedicated men and women of this Department has been the privilege of a lifetime,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  READ MORE!

Carter had a passion for many conservation endeavors, but hosting TYHP Youth Hunts, shooting sporting clay targets or doves as part of hunter education celebrity events such as the Lonesome Dove Fest, working with hunter education volunteers and taking his own son hunting and fishing are surely among his most memorable times outdoors.  We will miss him; however, we know he will stay involved in teaching the next generations of conservation stewards wherever he lands.

National Sporting Complex

June 6th-7th, San Antonio

The 2022 Ag Clays Tournament was a huge success!  There were 461 entries this year including:

• 68 females - trap
• 52 females - sporting clay
• 172 males - trap
• 169 males - sporting clay 

There also were 21 coach/alumni (adult) participants.  Photo: Coach and parent, Jeff Cernosek (R), as well as teammates Faith and Joelee Lester, watch as Kinley Cernosek takes aim at sporting clay targets during the annual TX Ag Clays tournament. High Overall Individuals were Madison Brown, Devine & Corben Wolff, Gonzales.

There were 26 schools represented at this year's tournament. Gonzales FFA nearly swept the competition with their teams winning 5 out of 6 champion team titles -- All-Male Sporting Team, All-Male Trap Team, All-Female Trap Team, Mixed Team Trap and Sporting. Smithson Valley FFA won the All-Female Sporting team champion title.  Here, Concordia Lutheran member, Tyler Jeansonne, takes a shot at this station’s outgoing target during his round of sporting clays.

Central TX Hunter Education Instructor of the Year (2021)

Vincent Lecca, Driftwood

Vincent has been a hunter education instructor for 13 years, including seven years as Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) Huntmaster. He's also been a TPWD Angler Education Instructor for 15 years after completing the Hays County "Master Naturalist" Program, which motivated him to do more with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Though fishing is his passion, he spends just as many hours in hunter education and TYHP. "Any chance I have the opportunity to show the outdoors to students and peers, I take it!", said Lecca.  He added, "My goal is to help people be aware of the plants, wildlife, critters and habitat that surround them when in the outdoors."  Congratulations Vincent! 

Photo: Vincent was joined by his family and Callen Chambers, Cabela's-Buda (R), where Vincent teaches many of his hunter & boater education classes, Hunting and Angling 101 seminars and other outdoor topics.  Lecca received his award at the Buda City Council meeting, since "he gives so much to their community!"

Central TX Hunter Education Instructor of the Year (2019)

Bill Plumley, Burnet

Bill taught hunter education many years at one of TPWD retail partner locations -- Bass Pro Shops near Georgetown.  He earned over 10,000 incentive points and taught 3,102 students.  He moved to Burnet and will attempt to "get back in the game" since shutting down during the COVID years -- which came after he earned the 2019 award above.  Good to catch up, Bill!

Professional Educator of the Year (2021) - Southlake Carroll ISD

Nate Butler, Phoenix AZ

Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, presented Nate his award during a break in the filming of an Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation Outdoor Adventures (OA) Dutch Oven Cooking instructional video.  The video was recorded during a recent Hunter Education instructor course offered in Brock, TX, for professional educators who will be teaching OA in Texas. Butler, now a contributing author of the OA curriculum and an "Outdoor Adventures Manager" in Arizona, was joined by fellow nationwide OA Managers during the filming.

Nate began teaching Hunter and Boater and Education in the Outdoor Adventures curriculum at Southlake in 2017. His passion for getting youth outdoors was demonstrated by his ‘Wall of Fame’ on which he recorded more than 1100 students catching their first fish. Nate and his family relocated to Phoenix, AZ, in May 2021 where he continues sharing his passion. His is the first school in AZ to teach Boater Education. He is working on adding Hunter Education this fall. Congratulations Nate!

2020 North Texas Region Instructor of the Year

Ron Bobo, Arlington

Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, met with Ron Bobo’s widow, Joy, to present her with Ron’s 2020 award. Ron, who passed away in 2021, selflessly shared his lifelong love and passion for hunting with numerous students during his more than 26 years as a volunteer hunter education instructor, many with the Grand Prairie Gun Club.  Rest in Peace, Ron!

S TX Buckskin Brigade

Brock Minton, Corpus Christi

Brock Minton, S TX HE Specialist, was recently recognized by the South Texas Buckskin Brigade at their 22nd Battalion on the G2 Ranch near Pearsall.  The award plaque noted that it "Takes a Calm Person..." see below. As Maureen Frank put it, "At South Texas Buckskin Brigades, Brock represents dedication, reliability, and service.  He manages some of the most beloved activities at camp with a steadfast commitment to both safety and enjoyment on the shooting range.  He teaches and demonstrates responsibility and the strong moral character that we hope to foster in our cadets."

TOP INCENTIVE AWARDS

John Davis - Pflugerville - RIFLE

Congratulations to John Davis, Sr., for earning one of the top incentive awards -- this time a RIFLE gift card from Cabela's.  John earned 3,446 by the end of 2021, which puts him on track for a shotgun next year. He typically teaches two courses a month at Airport Commerce Park, a TPWD facility in Austin.  Way to go, John!

Thanks to Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association for sponsoring the gift cards for the Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun Levels to hunter education instructors reaching, 2,500-, 3,000- and 3,500-point levels, respectively!

Athens, TX June 6-7th

ADAPTIVE ARCHERY

Jeremy "PJ" Velez, USAT Para Archer, conducted a session on the "Adaptive Side to Archery" showing participants all of the innovative ways, gadgets, ideas and processes by which to train those with physical disabilities.  Here he demonstrates an adaptive mouth apparatus by which to either draw and hold a bowstring or release a string via a draw lock.  USA Archery provides an "Adaptive Archery" Instruction Manual, a program of Disabled SPORTS USA.  It is a supplement to the USA Archery Level 1 Archery Instructor Certification Program.

PJ next demonstrated how he lines up archers with visual impairments. Adaptive equipment is an important consideration to ensure that archery is available to everyone for a lifetime. Special THANKS to TPWD Community Archery staff members for planning and conducting the first Texas Archery Instructor Conference: Rob Owen, Outreach Manager, Robert "2" Ramirez, Austin/Training Specialist, Travis Glick Austin/Central TX Specialist, Kendrick Gray Houston/SE TX Specialist and Burnie Kessner, Athens/Statewide NASP Coordinator.

TX NATIONAL ARCHERY IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM

During the Conference, Burnie Kessner, Athens, TX National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) Coordinator, reported that there are currently 1700 TX schools (6.5%), grades 4 thru 12, in 173 Counties (68%) participating in NASP. There have been over 7,000 instructors trained, 4,400 of whom are classroom (professional) educators. A total of 2,922 students (COVID - impacted) attended the 2022 statewide tournament in Belton, and $282,000 has been raised in scholarships awarded to students. Additionally, there are numerous regional tournaments held annually in Texas. School teams then go on to the national tournament(s) to compete on behalf of all Texas NASP archers. The official partner in supporting the TX-NASP® is Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation (OTF). OTF helps organize and run the State Tournament and provides overall program support.

OUTDOOR SURVIVAL

According to Peter Velasco, Go Wild Outdoors, NP dba, Outdoor TX Camps, San Antonio, "Our Camping & Survival Instructor is Phillip Lieble, Primitive Wilderness Survival.  He’s AMAZING and the kids LOVE him.  He taught: 1) Fire Building with both Ferro rod and hand drill that he made with a local yucca plant stalk, 2) Shelter Building with both Tarp and A-Frame Brush Shelter.  3) Orienteering.  He also taught knife skills, knots used in survival situations, hypo/hyper-thermia and use of local plants in building rope and cordage.  Finally, he also took the kids on a nature walk identifying local plants that could be used for food and medicinal purposes.  This guy is incredible Steve! He was even on “ALONE, The BEAST” on the Discovery Channel!"

BASS PRO SHOPS

Hunter Education Area Chief, Charles Marcus, Helotes (L), Game Warden, Kathleen Stuman, and new Instructor, Nathan Dee, San Antonio (R), attended Bass Pro Shop's “fish weekend” (i.e., Father's Day sales) and are pictured here with  Salvation Army youth who got to fish! Hunter Ed goes fishing!

MUZZLELOADING 101

Debbie Ferrell, Ladonia, President of Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association, joined Jose Garcia, Irving (L) and Charlie Preslar, Garland (2nd from R) as a line coach during  live-fire exercises at Elm Fork Shooting Sports (Part 2) of their Muzzleloading 101 Workshop held at Grapevine Bass Pro (Part 1 - Classroom) that morning. Jose said, "A quick note to let you know how appreciative I am of the help that Marion Foster has given me over the years. She has always expressed a positive attitude and a willingness to help with whatever I need. She is a great asset to the Bass Pro Grapevine Store! Thanks for hosting a Firearm & Hunting 101 Courses! A million THANKS to Marion!"

Charlie Preslar, Garland, also sent in this classic from a past NRA Convention in Dallas showing his visit with longtime friend, trap & skeet champion, Kim Rhode - 6 time Olympic medalist!  Kim is no stranger to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Hunter Education and the Target Sports community.  She demonstrated at many Texas Parks and Wildlife Expos from the 1990s thru 2008 and was a celebrity guest at a Waterfowl 101 for 80 youth near Anahuac. She has since been married, had a son, and continues to serve as an ambassador for hunting, hunter education and the sporting industry. Thanks, Kim, for your support, advocacy and serving as a role model to the young men and women of the target sports community in the United States! 

CLEVELAND EXPO 2022

Area Chief, Brent Beamesderfer, ( 2nd from L), Dayton, and TPWD Game Wardens Chad McKinney (L), and Jake Noxon (R), along with a group of volunteers from the local churches (orange shirts) gave a hunter education presentation and allowed the youth to shoot NASP- style archery at the annual Cleveland Expo 2022 in June. They conducted presentations for over 200, hosted 100+ at their booth, and coached 80 shooters (min. 5 arrows each). Of the shooters, 46 were males; 34 females; 44 had never taken Hunter Education; and 36 were under 9 yrs. of age.  Thanks for sharing, Brent!

SKINS, SKULLS & SCAT

Jennifer Smith (L) and Lauren Mitchell, CTRS, CPRP, Adaptive Recreation Division Manager, City of Pasadena - Parks & Recreation, enjoyed the "Skins and Skulls" Loaner Trunk available through hunter education, TPWD. Jennifer's mom, Terry, said, "Jennifer and I put the Skins & Skulls to work today. We met with the City of Pasadena's 'Adaptive Recreation Manager' to plan out some events for special folks. She loved the trunk, a great 'sensory activity'! Instructors needing to borrow a kit, which also includes scat and tracks, need to contact their regional specialists (see below for staff contact information).

Shotgun Basics

Hunter Education Instructor Wilton "WC" Marek, Jr.

Education Instructor WC Marek, Temple, coached the women in basic shotgun shooting fundamentals and safety, stance, proper ammunition selection, action types, trigger slap, swing techniques and follow through.  Like with handguns, women migrate to the wing shooting challenge upon completing basic rifle and firearm courses -- mostly because of the allure of bird hunting behind a dog or hitting fast moving clay targets.

Handgun Basics

Firearms Instructor and Hunter Education Instructor Applicant, Chuck Leaming, Copperas Cove, coached the women in basic handgun safety, shooting stances, trigger pull, aiming techniques and follow through.  Handguns seem to empower women more than any other target shooting opportunities, helping them to build confidence in attempting any outdoor experience and new skills. 

Archery & Bowhunting

Instructor Alicia O'Connor, Park Ranger at Cooper Lake State Park, and fresh off attending the Archery Instructor Conference (see above), instructed the women in basic archery using the National Archery in Schools program equipment.  Alicia also attends and instructs in Becoming an Outdoor Women workshops - of which NWTF's Women in the Outdoors Program is a partner derivative.

National Shooting Complex

Friday, Sept. 9, 2022; 7:30am-2pm
5931 Roft Road, San Antonio

Danny Shaw, with Operation Game Thief, invites hunters, target shooters and hunter education instructors to "come out and join us for a day of fun and help us support conservation and Texas Game Wardens!" Click on this OGT Flyer. Register online at ogttx.org,
or by contacting Crystie Shibley at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

MASSACHUSETTS

I spread Terry’s ashes at the Wayne F. MacCallum Wildlife Management Area, just outside the Massachusetts Wildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough, MA. It is our main office is used when we offer Hunter Education classes, and the WMA is used by hunters primarily during pheasant season.

I spread them in a wildflower field where the milkweed blooms. (Maybe Monarchs from down in Texas will use the milkweeds from up here. 😊)

Susan Langlois, Hunter Education Program Administrator

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife

MONTANA

"Here are the views from the hilltop where Terry’s ashes were scattered. It is a hilltop in Sweetgrass County, Montana, just “up south” from Grey Cliff. This place is special to my family and especially my hunting partners. As you can see, on a clear day you can see mountains all around. The Beartooth’s – at Yellowstone Park, the Crazy’s – near Big Timber, the Bridger’s - near Bozeman, the Snowy’s – near Lewistown, the Pryor’s – near Billing, and the Big Horn’s – near Sheridan WY."

Wayde Cooperider, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks Outdoor Skills & Safety Supervisor

Terry's spirit is alive and well in Montana ... his heart was BIG SKY-worthy Thanks, Wayde! Photo: Looking WEST to the Crazies near Big Timber. Big Sky, indeed!

HQ Administrative Support Available!

Kevin Vo - Hunter Education Administrative Asst

512-389-4999 - General Hunter Ed Hotline

512-389-8140; Kevin.Vo@tpwd.texas.gov

Email Support: Instructor@tpwd.texas.gov

BUSY SEASON is coming soon! Please order your class supplies four (4) weeks ahead of time! Link is at your Dashboard under "Order Supplies".

Also, don’t forget to check TPWD WEB SITE for useful Instructor Resources.

• Instructor Resources
  
• Lesson Plans and Power Points
• Target Talks and Hunting Accident Reports