In This Issue: More, More, More - Conference; Instructors Honored
R3 National Symposium
In May, I attended the third National "R3" Symposium sponsored by the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports. The annual gathering helps us collectively maintain our momentum to recruit, retain and reactivate (R3) hunters and target shooters with the ultimate goal of conserving wildlife species and habitats throughout North America. Some of the National R3 Strategies discussed during the symposium included: 1) reaching new and more diverse audiences, 2) simplifying hunting regulations, 3) better organizing and providing more safe places to target shoot, 4) better tracking and communication with our existing customers, and 5) enhancing our technologies and services to bring many of our customers back into the fold.
In Texas, we have a State Action Plan that aims to do that and more, and is spearheaded by TPWD's Immanuel Salas, R3 Hunting and Shooting Sports Coordinator, and Jason Mercer, R3 Boating and Fishing Coordinator. Both attended the symposium along with other state R3 representatives. Immanuel works closely with those of us keeping the hunter education flame burning brightly -- ensuring our efforts continue to stay relevant going forward.
Those of us involved in hunter education have been accomplishing many of the identified R3 strategies for the last five decades. R3 plans give us new energy, funding, and a 'coming together', nationally and in Texas, to tackle current issues and barriers to participation in the outdoors (e.g., urbanization, land fragmentation, conservation "illiteracy", resource depletion, habitat degradation, anti-hunting/firearms). Onward and upward, as they say!
Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator
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Below, Aidan Flores, R3 Coordinator, Delta Waterfowl, (TX, LA, NM, and OK) is the son of retired game warden, Albert Flores, Ingleside, Hunter Education Instructor, and fellow Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow national instructor. Aidan presented to Symposium attendees a synopsis of programs by Delta Waterfowl, particularly their university waterfowl programs, a partnership with Texas Parks & Wildlife and other state Hunter Education Programs. Keep up the great partnership, Aidan! In Texas, we will continue to provide hunter education and Waterfowl Hunting 101s prior to and during hunts provided to those new to hunting!
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Arrow Lethality Workshop
Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator (L), along with Instructor Conference host, Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist (R), recognize Rob Nielson, Ashby Bowhunting Foundation President, and Dr. Ed Ashby, Founder and longtime researcher of arrow lethality & penetration. Below, left, Bowhunter Education Instructor of the Year, Bob Barnette - Dallas and Immanuel Salas, R3 Hunting and Shooting Sports Coordinator (R), visit with Ashby and Nielson, who later demonstrated one of the 12 Factors of Arrow Lethality at bottom right, during the training he conducted.
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 Non-lead Partnership by The Peregrine Fund
Chris Parish (L), Paul Juergens (R) and Niel Thagard (not in photo) presented information about the North American Non-lead Partnership to sustain wildlife populations, particularly California condors, but many other birds of prey, as well. The Peregrine Fund works with a coalition of hunters, anglers and other conservationists in the effort to document the effects of lead on birds of prey after ingesting offal and harvested animal carcasses. Their research explores non-lead alternatives applicable to modern hunting practices.
 Chronic Wasting Disease Training, Certification and Update
Photo: TPWD Biologist James Edwards, explains procedures for extracting lymph nodes from an animal head with Doug DuBois, Jr. - Austin (R), Sandy Mason - Joshua (orange shirt), and Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist.
Texas Animal Health Commission, in conjunction with TPWD, conducted a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Postmortem Collectors Certification Class during the conference. Special thanks to Rex Wyatt, TAHC Personnel Specialist and Dr. Joseph Burkett, DVM, for their assistance. TPWD Biologists Olivia Kost (Brown County) and James Edwards (Comanche County) assisted with sampling. CWD has now spread to free-range deer in Bexar County and continues to threaten large ungulates in Texas. See News Release HERE!
Muzzleloading 101
Brittney Yargo - Porter Hunter Education Instructor, granddaughter of Area Chief, Duke Walton, shows off her shooting skills at the Muzzleloading 101 Workshop held during the annual Instructor Conference. Below, Muzzleloading Instructor, Jose Garcia - Irving, monitors the loading progress of Area Chief, Louis Upton - Seguin, prior to his shot at the muzzleloading station. Instructing with Jose was Charlie Preslar - Garland and a guest instructor, Joel Ketonen. Thanks to all who taught and attended the primitive sporting arms offering during the instructor conference!
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BOW Training Workshops
Attendees select four (4) sessions in a typical BOW weekend workshop. Jimmie Caughron, former TPWD Hunter Education Staff member and Area Chief, Ballinger, is a longtime instructor of beginning and advanced shotgun, one of the three highest rated topics at BOW. Sharon Hayes (above in photo below) and Karla Kniffen, (below) instruct women in beginning and advanced archery. Lower photo: Heidi Rao, BOW Coordinator and SE TX Hunter Education Specialist, introduces instructors at the BOW orientation preceding Friday's afternoon session.
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2022 Game Warden of the Year
Shawna Poole, Rusk, is presented the award from Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist. Shawna was certified as an instructor in 2013, adding Bowhunter and Boater Education Instructor certifications in 2015 while a cadet in TPWD’s 59th Cadet Class. She has certified more than 337 youth since. Captain Game Warden Mike Hanson said, "Once commissioned, Poole immediately began to work with local youth through various outreach activities." He added, “The effort that she expends educating youth in outdoor-related activities is not surprising. Before joining the Texas Game Warden ranks, she was a 7-8th grade English teacher at New Summerfield ISD." Poole teaches an annual hunter education class in partnership with The Freestone County Game Management Association (FCGMA). FCGMA pays the course fee for area youth and purchases hunting licenses each year for all Freestone County youth hunters! "Her classes have continued to grow, year after year, Hanson shared, "Thank you for your commitment to TPWD and, especially to educating Texas youth!"
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2021 Hall of Fame Award Recipient
Abram “AJ” Cook III, Henderson and Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, were able to catch up with one another so that she could present him his 2021 Hall of Fame plaque. Since certifying in 1999, AJ has certified over 6500 students. Always willing to assist regional staff, AJ most recently accepted the call to assist Bickerstaff at Daingerfield State Park’s centennial celebration activities. "Thank you, my ‘brother’!" said Bickerstaff.
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2022 Legacy Award Recipient
John “Jack” Thompson, La Vernia, was certified in 2007 and became an Area Chief in 2010 for the San Antonio Area. He was an integral member of SCTHEIA (South Central Texas Hunter Education Instructor’s Association) and later served as President of that regional instructor organization from 2012 to 2016. Jack entered the Texas Hunter Education Hall of Fame in 2018 and has earned nearly 5,000 points to date. He has certified over 1,700 students and continues to conduct outreach events throughout Bexar County. He team teaches with George & Kelly Lentz, La Vernia.
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2022 Team Award - "San Antonio Rodeo"
Tom Griffin, Schertz, and Jeff Hetrick, San Antonio, were recently honored with the team award based on their work with the San Antonio Rodeo, game wardens and other volunteer instructors in San Antonio -- leading the band when it comes to instructing courses at the rodeo grounds, as well as many other venues in San Antonio. Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist, who recently presented the award to Tom Griffin (photo) during a visit to San Antonio, said, "This team continues to show their passion by continuously teaching the basic course, outreach events, 101 workshops, R3 programs and hosting hunter education meetings. It gives me great pleasure to present this award to these two Area Chiefs in the San Antonio area."
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Brock Reaches 15 Years
Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist - Corpus Christi, received his 15-year service plaque from Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, at the conference in front of fellow staff and instructors. Brock reached the TX Hunter Education Hall of Fame in 2003 and received the Terry Erwin Legacy Award in 2022. Congratulations Brock!
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Chris Mitchell - New Braunfels
Chris is the current director of the Texas Youth Hunting Program, a program of the Texas Wildlife Association. He has been a Hunter Ed Instructor since 2012 and Area Chief since 2017 and has taught almost 1000 students since. Chris retired in 2010 after 26 years as an Air and Missile Defense Officer. His first job in the Army was with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Division. Chris worked in Private Lands and Public Hunting, and when the opportunity to join the Texas Wildlife Associations’ Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) came about, and with TPWD’s endorsement, he applied and was selected as their first Operations Coordinator in 2012. In 2014 the TYHP director retired, and Chris assumed his that role. With a small cadre of very talented staff and extremely dedicated volunteers, the program has grown from an average of 130 hunts per year to over two hundred hunts per year. Way to go, Chris!
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Larry Patterson - Arlington
Larry was certified in hunter and bowhunter education in 2018. He rose to Area Chief in 2021. His passion for hunting runs deep, having hunted with his brother since age 11. Larry passes on the hunting heritage in many ways. He conducts multiple student courses and instructor courses every year and, occasionally, throws in Hunting 101 workshops. "I am pleased to recognize Larry as having attained the Buck Knife Incentive Award level, having earned 2197 points in the short five years as a volunteer instructor in our program." said Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist.
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Charles Marcus - Helotes
Charles accrued 2,231 points and taught 888 students by the end of 2022, qualifying him for a Knife Award. He became an Area Chief several years ago and has offered several instructor courses annually to go with his many classes offered at the San Antonio Bass Pro Shops, especially during the busy seasons. Here, fellow Area Chief, Ken Lewis, presents Charles with his one-of-a-kind Buck Knife, the 2,000-point level.
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"Worser" Award from THEIA Auction
San Antonio Area Chief, Ken Lewis, also presented fellow Area Chief, Charles Marcus this year's THEIA Auction "Worser" Award donated by part time HE Admin Andrea Cleveland from 2022 Christmas activities at the headquarters. Rudolf teaching and singing firearm 'safety' songs will now be at Charles' venues for the next year, as he will have to take the singing feller to all his courses as a result of being honored with this year's auction donation.
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SCI Houston Sponsors Course In May
Photo: John McLaurin - National SCI President with Hunter Education Instructor, Kirk Dorsey)
"This past weekend I was able to participate as a TPWD Hunter Education Instructor and volunteer representing SCI Houston “First for Hunters" at our 18th annual Hunter Education Course. The annual program is provided at “No Cost” to participants. It’s very gratifying to see so many youths with a passion for the outdoors." Kent Robinson (from Facebook post)
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 Special thanks to SCI Houston for continuing this event, owner Oscar Taylor of Bonfire Wings for donating lunch - again. Oscar, like me, is a past SCI Houston chapter president and is a director at large for SCI -- our international flagship! Thanks, too, to Christina T. Pittman, Texas Trophy Hunters Association, and Hunter Education Instructors including lead instructor Daniel Billings, Willard Franklin III with Four W’s Outdoors, Dan Marcasol, Brad Bull, and Kirk Dorsey, among others. Thanks to instructor and manager, Scott Lightle, Long Acres Ranch - what a great facility! Other sponsors included Cascade Services, Ciment Law Firm, PT Outdoors, Texas Youth Hunt Program, and Fishing's Future.
Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist held several courses in April and May, and sent these photos of the groups.
HE Instructor Course - Texas Tech
L to R: (Front) THEIA "Worser"; (Middle) Bryan Bridgforth, Heather Johnson (Migratory Game Bird Specialist – Lubbock);(Back) Cole McElwee, Brice Martin, Rebeckah Owen, and Jackson Harris
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Wilderness Survival 101 Workshop - San Angelo State Park
 L to R: (Front) Katy, Wiley, Garrison Amelia Grady, Luke, Hayes, John, Dole; (Middle) Stephanie, Chad, Eli, Micah, Cooper, Logan, Mark, Randy; (Back) Sabrina, John, Shane, Tray, Craig, Jacob, Grayson, Josh, Terrence, Brock
Spanish-speaking Course Offered near Houston
Ivan Benavides and his son, Ivan Jr. - Pasadena, (Kneeling L) taught a Spanish Hunter Education course, one of the biggest ever held. Way to go Benavides family!
Royal Rangers Instructor Course
N TX Hunter Education Specialist Monica Bickerstaff traveled to the North Texas District Council of the Assemblies of God Royal Rangers facility, near Waxahachie, to conduct a new instructor course hosted by N TX District Royal Ranger District Director, Stan Lewis. The Royal Rangers program is an activity-based, small group church ministry for boys and young men in grades K-12. The program’s mission is to evangelize, equip and empower the next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders. Joining Lewis for the course were Royal Ranger Leaders Preston Ferguson and Johnathan Wilson, along with four other applicants traveling from Lake Livingston, Nacogdoches, and Cleveland. All are enthusiastic about returning to or joining the TPWD volunteer instructor ranks. Welcome one and all!
 Hunter Education Instructor Course participants include (L to R) Andrew Boatman, Stan Lewis, Brent Ivy, Buddy Fortenberry, Preston Ferguson, Kristy Fruia and Johnathan Wilson.
Austin Woods & Waters (AWW) Distributes McBride Foundation Grants
Austin Woods and Waters (AWW) and the McBride Conservation Foundation support hunter education and youth hunting programs delivered by many of the organizations that received 2023 grants. The recipients were recognized at the May AWW monthly luncheon. Next grant deadline is November 1, 2023.
 Texas non-profits that received 2022 Grants and integrate hunter education into their efforts included: Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) - $5,000 (TWA Huntmaster T.J. Goodpasture); Central TX TYHP - $5000 (HE Instructor and Chief TYHP Huntmaster, Doug DuBois Jr. - Austin); Kid's Outdoor Zone - $5000 (HE Instructor and Founder, T.J. Greaney); TPWD Operation Game Thief - $2500 (Game Warden Kevin Winters); Outdoor Texas Camps - $2000 (HE Instructor and owner, Peter Velasco); TC Badges, Bucks Bass - $2000 (Area Chief HE Instructor, Joe Delahoussaye). Other organizations included operations for 4-H Shooting Sports, Hunter & Angler Education and other programs such as Brigades and others that support the TPWD Hunter Education Program. THANKS to all!
Sportsman Club San Antonio - Going Strong!
Ralph Winingham, President, gives a status report to some of the members of a club at a small luncheon. The club has been in existence for decades -- just like with Austin Woods & Waters (see above). The club boasts membership of retired TPWD fisheries and communication division managers; an astronaut who walked on the moon; professional actor; TPWD magazine, newspaper and professionals outdoor writers; a former Sportsman's Conservationist of Texas and Lonesome Dovefest executive; shooting champions; judge; artist whose collections and artwork are featured at the Alamo; famous restaurant owner; gun collectors; and many entrepreneurs/businessmen and women -- who continually support TPWD hunter education & conservation programs!
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Dallas Safari Club DSC Foundation Gala
 Corey Mason, former TPWD Wildlife Biologist and current CEO for the Dallas Safari Club (DSC) and the DSC Foundation is shown here speaking at his DSC Foundation's Gala and fundraising event in Dallas in May. Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, and The Honorable Hunter, Mike Sabbeth, were invited to take part and would like to thank DSC President, Tim Fallon, FTW Ranch, and his staff for touring them at his ranch prior to the Gala, a hunter training and Sportsman's All-weather, All-terrain Marksmanship (SAAM) facility near Barksdale. Several FTW staff are being trained as hunter education instructors, since they already offer new hunter training including highly intensive marksmanship activities, care of game, survival, responsibility, and actual hunting experiences. FTW staff also host and sponsor TYHP Youth Hunts at the ranch.
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A few months ago, at a hunting lodge in Namibia, I met a charming, thoughtful woman who was, I estimate, in her late 50’s or early 60’s. In addition to being a mother of grown children—maybe also a grandmother—she is a professor of political science at a university in Poland. During an earnest conversation that tip-toed into hunting and hunting ethics, she informed that gathering political forces in Poland were organizing to prohibit hunter education for students under the age of eighteen (18) years.
The professor agreed with the restriction. The argument the professor stated and which she accepted, to justify the age restrictions for hunting education was, essentially, that youth under eighteen years did not possess “the brain development to grasp that killing in hunting was different from other variations of killing. They were too young to learn about death.” The professor accepted the proposition that teaching young people to distinguish death from hunting from death in other human interactions would not be effective.
I pondered the professor’s words while studying her expressions. She was not an anti-hunting ideologue. After a few minutes, I expressed my disagreement with the premises she used to justify restricting the age of hunting education students. I explained, aware I hadn’t considered this issue before, that my assessment goes beyond rejecting that children under the age of eighteen years cannot differentiate the morality of different kinds of death and killing. READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE!
 Michael Sabbeth (R) is a lawyer, author and consultant in Denver, Colorado. His email is michael@thehonorablehunter.com. He is shown here at a previous THEIA Hunter Education Instructor Conference with City Kids Adventures, and their leaders, Hunter Education Instructor, Leon McNeil (second from R), his son, Lee Charles (next to Leon), and wife, Leticia (third from L). Be sure to email kevin.vo@tpwd.texas.gov to get a FREE copy of Michael's book - The Honorable Hunter: How To Honorably & Persuasively Defend & Promote Hunting
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Register to Attend the IHEA-USA Annual Conference Virtually Today!
The IHEA-USA Conference is right around the corner. Don't miss it! Your membership to IHEA-USA allows you to attend FOR FREE!
The 2023 International Hunter Education Association's (IHEA-USA) Annual Conference is shaping up to be an amazing event. Don’t forget that as a volunteer hunter education instructor, your IHEA-USA membership is paired (at no extra cost) with your ability to attend our upcoming conference in Boise, Idaho, virtually. Recorded sessions will be available if you are unable to watch live.
 IHEA-USA's Jae Ellison, M.Ed., Director of Education, at the recent R3 Symposium held in Albuquerque, NM in May. He will be on hand during the IHEA-USA Conference to present more about their new Learn Hunting Program.
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Jan Hall - "My MOM"
Personal Note: This past Mother's Day, my nine siblings and I (See photo below), along with many relatives and friends, were able to honor our mother during her "Celebration of Life", held in Denver. I would like to thank fellow TPWD Outreach & Education and Outdoor Woman Program staff, hunter education staff and volunteers, and others for offering me well wishes back when my mother passed, including the "lilac tree" (Photo: "her favorite!") planted in her honor. She was a great fan of our program's mission, objectives, and accomplishments -- topics which she and I would talk about, for hours on end, when I would go to visit with her. "Love you, Mom!" Rest in Peace!"
Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator
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Kandice Schaefer, Fort Worth
Story HERE
"Steve, it is with great sorrow and heartache to inform you of the loss of another former volunteer Hunter Education Instructor/Assistant Instructor, Kandice Marie Schaefer. Please share this with the other instructors. Kandice has earned her wings this afternoon. Her fight against Cystic Fibrosis is over! - No services at this time, but a 'Celebration of Life' will be planned at her request." - Jim Schaefer, Grandview
Our Hunter Education condolences, prayers & blessings for the Schaefer Family!
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Morgan Harbison, C TX: morgan.harbison@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-413-0194
Monica Bickerstaff, N TX (DFW): monica.bickerstaff@tpwd.texas.gov; 469-601-8349 c
Kevin Vo, Austin, Hunter Ed. Admin: kevin.vo@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-389-4999 (general); 512-389-8142 (direct); Email Support: Instructor@tpwd.texas.gov
Steve Hall, Austin, Hunter Ed. Coord: steve.hall@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-389-8140 w; 512-550-7330 c
Brock Minton, S TX: brock.minton@tpwd.texas.gov; 361-944-3617 c
Randy Spradlin, W TX: randy.spradlin@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-923-3509 c
Heidi Rao, SE TX (Houston): heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov; 713-829-1377 c
TPWD & Texas Hunter Education Partner Resources
Hunter Education Overview | Instructor Resources | Student Resources
Operation Game Thief | Texas Game Warden Association
Texas Youth Hunting Program | Texas 4-H Shooting Sports
Other Hunter Ed Resources
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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