Dick and Mary Cabela

My heart sank, when I heard the news in early June that Mary Cabela had passed (See In Memory below), joining her husband, Dick, who passed in February 2014. A longtime and dear friend, Mary was synonymous with words like family, great mother (to both family & friends), outdoors, safari, elephants, conservation, philanthropy, generosity, integrity, holy, Christmas, and many more as espoused by hundreds in Sidney, Nebraska, and in the hunting, conservation and outdoor industries and communities. Because of Dick and Mary, Cabela's will forever remain a true American success story -- an integral component of the Outdoor & Hunting Heritage in the United States, and worldwide, because of the families' many hunts and adventures around the country/world.  They also supported fantastic philanthropic projects to better the lives of kids and the impoverished and enhance wild landscapes/habitat and populations of wildlife. I will miss her, greatly!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Idaho Fish and Game Hosts Hunter Education Conference

Idaho Fish and Game Department hosted this year's annual International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) - USA conference in Boise, Idaho.  The conference featured both in-person and virtual attendance by administrators, R3 staff, partners, industries and especially VOLUNTEER instructors. The format hopes to grow and keep getting bigger and better. The association is growing and doing wonderful projects benefiting states and instructors.  We hope you JOIN TODAY!

Hunter Ed Coordinator of the Year

Wayde Cooperider, Montana Hunter Education Administrator, was honored as IHEA-USA Coordintor of the Year.  Presenting the award was Ginamaria Smith, Alaska Hunter Education Administrator, and IHEA-USA President, Erik Shanks, Louisiana.

IHEA World & IHEA-Mexico

Edgar Wenzel, IHEA-Mexico President, was present at the IHEA-USA Conference to convene a meeting of IHEA-World and review applications for membership from countries like Australia and Brazil.  Edgar and his team were originally trained by a contingent of coordinators and partners including Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Program Staff and Biologists.  Several groups of Mexico hunter education instructors were trained at the Chaparral WMA to ensure enough courses could be taught in our neighbor's land, especially those coming to Texas to hunt.  Congratulations, Edgar, for continuing the expand hunter education throughout the Latin American countries!

YOUTH HUNTER ED CHALLENGE

Texas North State Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) was held May 20^th and was a huge success, thanks to the VOLUNTEERS! The events this year were Archery, .22 Rifle, 5-Stand Shotgun, Skills Trail, Wildlife Id, and a challenging Orienteering course. The Overall Senior winner was Mary Steelman from Round Rock, TX.  The Reserve Senior winner was Dustin Polone from Boyd, TX; Overall Junior winner was Xander Lovell from Burleson, TX, and Reserve Junior winner was Zachary Garrett from Mansfield, TX.  The Sportsmanship award went to Clade Layton from Burleson, TX.  Congratulations to the winners and everyone who competed.

A big Thank You to all the N TX YHEC sponsors.  A special Thank You to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas State Rifle Association and Arlington Sportsman’s Club for hosting the YHEC. 

Stay Safe!  Larry C. Patterson, Patt’s Firearm Academy LLC

Larry@pattsfirearmacademy.com

*EDDIE KLEPPINGER* Next Generation Award

Felicia Davis – Spring, SE TX

Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist presented the award and said, "Felicia was certified in August 2021 in Hunter Education and has already taught 225 students.  She is well known in her community teaching not only hunter education, but other classes which introduce new shooters to firearms and safety.  In the short time she’s been active, she’s made a significant contribution to the Hunter Education program and the community she is serving.  Congratulations Felicia!"

2022 Hunter Education Hall of Fame

Kathy Harrison,  Pasadena (6219 points), shown here with her Hall of Fame, husband, Troy, reached her Hall of Fame level in 2022.  She was certified in 2012, and she and her husband have since certified 2,915 hunter education students.  They employ hands-on exercises, skills trails, and live fire exercises into their courses and have developed a great partnership with Bass Pro Shops (Pearland), where they teach most of their classes. Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist also was on hand to present. Congratulations Kathy!

John Davis - Shotgun Incentive

John Davis, Pflugerville, earned his 3500-point level SHOTGUN Award for points garnered through the 2022 year. On hand to present the award was Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, who stopped by one of John's many classes held at the TPWD Airport Commerce Park Offices in Austin.  Thanks, John, for all you do for hunter education in the Central Texas region!

State Representative Congratulates David Rios

Area Chief, David Rios, Uvalde, received a congratulatory letter from State Representative Tracy King for his recent  South Texas Regional Instructor of the Year Award.  As you can see below, David, and his instructor wife, Susan, travel throughout South Texas to deliver student, instructor and outreach events, as well as train hundreds in the Hunting 101 programs that included handgun hunting, hog and deer hunting in 2022-2023.  David also trains others in Big Game Scoring methods. Congratulations, again, Dave -- Keep it up!

Hunter Education Instructor Course - Chaparral Wildlife Management Area

Area Chief David  and Susan Rios and Brock Minton, S TX Regional Hunter Education Specialist, conducted a Hunter Education Instructor Course in the 107 degree heat of South Texas in early June. The Rios duo traveled from their home in Uvalde to conduct the course, important to reaching new instructors in the far reaches of South Texas.  Outstanding job South Texas Team!

South Texas Buckskin Brigades

A total of 27 cadets, five "herd leaders", and 5 Assistant Leaders attended the Buckskin Brigades at the Chaparrosa Ranch, La Pryor.  Here, Jimmy Rutledge, TPWD Wildlife Biologist, explains the difference between preferred foods and less preferred, importance of each, and the deer ruminant process.  Knowing the plants that deer eat is just one of the many topics taught at Brigades Camps.

In 110+ degree heat of mid-June, Dr. Bill Eikenhorst explains the four-chambered stomach (rumens) and functions.  Below, Mikayla Killam shows how to age a pre-born fawn.  Brigades such as the Buckskin Brigades are longstanding weeklong workshops at which students apply for and get the opportunity to learn communications, leadership and other skills while learning wildlife biology through a "charismatic species".

The Range (Austin) - Promoting Shooting Sports

Jill Kreindler, Marketing Specialist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, recently participated in a photo shoot at The Range at Austin to produce more shooting sports promotional material on behalf of the State and success of Target Shooters that support conservation thru the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program.  Be looking for such photos in upcoming issues of Target Talk.

Texas Archery Instructor & Coaches Conference 2023

Burnie Kessner, Retired TX - NASP Coordinator, is inducted into the "TX Archery Hall of Fame" by Kendrick Gray, TPWD Outreach Manager (L) and TX-NASP Coordinator, Travis Glick (R). Kessner managed the TX-NASP program from March 2007 through August 2022, when he retired.  Over that time, he took Texas to great heights with over 2,000 active NASP schools and 3,000 TX-NASP (State) Tournament participants annually.

Kendrick Gray, TPWD Outreach Manager (L) and Travis Glick, TX-NASP Coordinator, honor Karla Kniffen - Joshua, and Sharon Hayes - Burleson, as the "2023 Volunteers of the Year". Karla and Sharon volunteer many hours teaching the various archery sessions at TX Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops and for the annual TX-NASP tournament in Belton. (Below - L) Alberto Trevino - Lasara, and Lindsey Hunt - Terrell, were also honored with the Archery Advocate and Coach of the Year, respectively.  Congratulations to all TX-NASP Instructors for your efforts!

TPWD celebrated 30 years of the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program in April 2023. Dr. Christine Thomas, founder of BOW, was the keynote speaker and after the event, she informed Hunter Education Staff that her friends at Ducks Unlimited wanted to celebrate our Texas BOW!  A message from Adam Webster, National Director of Fundraising Operations with Ducks Unlimited, was sent to all participants who attended the event.

“At Ducks Unlimited we are passionate about our mission to conserve wetlands across North America, and we share your desire to get outside to enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.  In fact, more than 85 years ago, it was a passionate group of sportsmen that banded together to reverse the loss of drought-plagued waterfowl populations during the dust bowl era.  You can visit our website to learn more about the DU story About DU | Ducks Unlimited.

To date, 36 participants have taken advantage of this complimentary DU membership!   What a fantastic opportunity for all of us who have a passion for the outdoors and all things wild!  If you were a participant in the spring 2023 BOW and missed this legitimate email (check your spam folder) please contact Heidi.Rao@tpwd.texas.gov for more information.

Cabela's Matriarch Passes

Mary Cabela, Sidney, Nebraska, a huge supporter of Hunter Education, Conservation and Outreach programs such as the Kid's Outdoor Zone (founded by T.J. Greaney, a Texas Hunter/Outdoor Education Partner), passed May 30th, after a life that could only be described as the Ultimate Outdoor & Conservation Family Legacy. They are naturally famous for starting the outdoor company, Cabela's, in 1961, while having nine children and many grandkids/great grandkids along the way. Their life and outdoor and hunting passions are highlighted in several books written by their son, David Cabela, the first entitled: Cabela's - World's Foremost Outfitter - A History.

See Mary Cabela's Obituary HERE!

Photo above: Dan Cabela, keynote speaker at our N TX Hunter Education Meeting in 2022, joined his mother, Mary, in 2023 as she received the prestigious Beretta and Safari Club International Foundation Conservation Leadership Award

Photo below: Mary Cabela's last big get-together for family and friends was in February 2023, and it included a 'Patriotic Theme'. She is shown here with her son, David Cabela, to her left, and Steve Hall, Texas Hunter Education Coordinator (L) and Steve's son, Ryan, daughter-in-law, Kelsey, and daughter, Sarah.

While we're thinking about Mary and her patriotism -- Let's take time to remember her this Independence Day, and say a prayer! She so cherished and shared our American freedoms and liberties with family and everyone she met throughout the world -- her entire life!  Rest in Peace, Mary!

Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator

Luis Labon Stuart III, age 88, passed peacefully in his Spring, Texas home surrounded by his family on Friday May 5th, 2023. Born on March 26, 1935, in Mineola, Texas to Myrtle and Luis Stuart II. He was the oldest of three children. He spent many hours with his grandfather, Sam “Daddy” Cockerel, hunting in the East Texas woods. At 16 years old, his family moved to Houston. At 17 Luis became an Eagle Scout, his love for the Boy Scouts continued when he became the Scout Master for Troop 878.

Luis had a passion for the outdoors and adventure. From hunting trips in Iran and fishing in the Amazon River to hiking his property along Spring Creek, he was rarely indoors unless he had to be. He was an accomplished hunter and lifelong angler who enjoyed passing his knowledge to everyone he met. Luis was also a regular blood donor with the Gulf Coast Blood Bank having donated over 10 gallons before his passing.

See Full Obituary Here

A memorial was held at Spring Baptist Church in June and donations were sent to the Texas Youth Hunting Program to memorialize his passions.  RIP Luis!