Texas Youth Hunting Program

In the mid-1990s, I remember working with Dr. Wallace Klussmann (photo) on a committee with other agency and conservation leaders to discuss what we could collectively do to bolster and continue a strong hunting heritage in Texas -- a "private land" state! Appropriately, we held several sessions at his ranch near Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, where Wallace took many youngsters hunting -- those who may not have otherwise had the opportunity.

Not surprisingly, one of the strategies was the formation of what would become known as the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), in partnership with Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), hired a wildlife division staffer to direct the program.  After a couple of years, TWA took over the staffing and program, with grant assistance provided through the TPWD Hunter Education program. TWA took the program to greater heights, including the first "Huntmaster" training, which I was privileged to be part of presenting.

Today, Chris Mitchell, TYHP Director, Huntmaster, & Area Chief Hunter Education Instructor, and an entire statewide staff, coordinate TYHP, in a continued partnership with Hunter Education and its volunteer instructors -- many whom get trained as huntmasters. Staff are doing an excellent job (see IHEA-USA Partner Award below) and are taking the program to greater heights, including the addition of a new Adult Learn to Hunt program.  If you know folks interested in learning how to hunt, direct them to these programs that provide access and opportunities, and reinforce principles taught in Hunter Education!

It's time to practice your bow hunting and shotgun skills in August.  Get outside!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Texas Youth Hunting Program

The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) – USA recently honored Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and its Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) with the annual “PARTNER Award” for an agency or non-governmental organization that exhibits outstanding support for the IHEA-USA and its mission.  Alex Baer, IHEA Executive Director, said, “The award is for an innovative effort that fosters new ideas in hunter education and that, by virtue of personal staff efforts, serves as a national model for education, R3, hunting and target shooting programs -- enhancing the hunter education movement in a superior way.”  

Steve Hall, Texas Hunter Education Coordinator, an IHEA-USA State Member, echoed Baer’s remarks stating, “TYHP fits the bill by creating a model for all states -- a connective path from hunter education to hunting to license buying, supporting the conservation of species and habitats.”  Hall pointed out that such an effort helps overcome the four major threats to conservation, especially the threat of limited access to public resources and hunting. “Especially in a private land state, it is important to connect families to affordable hunting opportunities, and TYHP did just that by creating a sustainable access program by partnering with private landowners and the state fish and wildlife agency, as well as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”

Photo: Justin Dreibelbis - TWA CEO, Chris Mitchell – TYHP Director and Jonathan Letz, TWA President, accept the IHEA-USA Partner Award from Steve Hall, Texas Hunter Education Coordinator, on behalf of the IHEA-USA

TWA's VOLUNTEER of the YEAR

Hunter Education Instructor and TYHP Huntmaster, Austin Stolte - Del Rio, was honored as the Texas Wildlife Association's Volunteer of the Year. Austin has served as a TYHP Lead Huntmaster since 2012, running 22 hunts on eight different ranches during that time.

IHEA-USA Professional of the Year

Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist, joined his fellow staff members, Heidi Rao, SE TX HE Specialist, and Monica Bickerstaff, N TX HE Specialist, in the honor of having spent many years coordinating a region as big as some states. The award goes to those that exude the mission of IHEA-USA, as well as the State's Hunter Education Program Mission "to promote safe, responsible, knowledgeable and involved hunting and target shooting sports practices..."  Along with the summer "Brigade Camps", Brock has been instrumental in hosting the annual Ag Teachers Convention, where TPWD staff annually train several hundred teachers in the programs, and reach nearly 1,500 teachers during their 4-day convention.  He also is instrumental in teaching many Hunting 101s and Trapper Education in South and West Texas, often times assisting his fellow regional specialists.  He teaches map and compass and orienteering at two Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops each year and is a life member of the IHEA-USA! He was instrumental in hosting the IHEA-USA Conference in San Antonio in 2013. Congratulations Brock!

Junior Munoz - Area Chief Instructor, Austwell, was recognized as the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) - USA's "50 for 50" State Instructor of the Year at their recent conference in Idaho. One instructor in each state is recognized, and Junior will officially receive his award package in August or September from IHEA-USA.

Junior was extremely active in 2022 and 2023 certifying new instructors, most recently, USFWS employees at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where Junior works.  He and fellow Area Chief, Ruben Rangel, Brownsville, have long been teaching and hunting partners and have held many student courses in the Rio Grande Valley.  Munoz also traveled to at least five different cities conducting student courses for partners and ranges that asked him for help.  He conducts many youth and mentor hunts, Hunting 101s (e.g., Turkey Hunting 101, Trapping 101, etc.), and numerous outreach events, especially for veteran groups such as Serve Outdoors.  He and Rangel led the Instructor Meeting in the Valley this past year, and he assists S TX Hunter Education Specialist, Brock Minton, any time he is asked. CONGRATULATIONS Junior! Well-deserved!  Photo below: Munoz taught skill exercises as part of a student course held at Resaca de la Palma State Park.

N TX Hunter Education Specialist, Monica Bickerstaff (R), coordinated TPWD Hunter Education involvement in the annual Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas Professional Development Conference. Hunter, Boater, Angler, and Community Archery programs were promoted by respective program specialists in the exhibit, including the Boater Education Specialist, Ashton Parsley (L). Staff taught new Ag Teachers and reactivated many others during the conference attended by over 1,500 Ag Teachers, statewide, many whom teach TPWD programs.  Hunter Education has been a part of High School Ag since 1988.

A total of 33 Texas Agriculture Teachers participated in a Hunter Education Instructor Course which included Instructor Program, Policies & Procedures in the morning taught by Bickerstaff and SE/S/W TX Specialists, Heidi Rao, Brock Minton, and Randy Spradlin, respectively. Monday afternoon concluded with a hunter skills trail conducted by Hunter Education Area Chiefs, Jose Garcia - Irving (below), and Charles Preslar, Jr. - Garland (R) at Elm Fork Shooting Sports, a TPWD Target Range Grant Project.  

Along with the hunter skills trail, participants, including Cheyenne Peters and Pat Flores (see photo) shot sporting clays with instructors Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist (R) and Brock Minton, S TX Specialist. Learning how to conduct live-fire exercises is critical component of the Hunter Education Field Course. Hunter Education Instructor, Sheri Tull - Keller (below), led attendees in group discussions and presentations of ethical dilemmas. Rao and Bickerstaff ensured that all participants got registered and completed a final instructor exam.

Larry Hysmith, Texas 4-H Natural Resources Program Director, College Station, at the State 4-H Office, led a weeklong Hunting Camp for 4-H youngsters attending summer camps at the Texas 4-H Conference Center near Brownwood. Students experienced a Hunter Skills Trail, Muzzleloading, Rifle and Shotgun activities along with getting certified at the end of the camp. Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, along with Hunter Education Instructors, Travis Bell and Benjamin Morrison, assisted Hysmith with the camp.

Licenses on Sale August 15th

Report Your Hunt Harvest - My Harvest

Harvest reporting is mandatory for:

• Wild turkeys in select south-central counties
• All Eastern turkey counties
• Antlerless white-tailed deer in select south-central counties
• Digital tagging for harvested deer and turkey for Digital Supercombo license holders
• Electronic On Site Registration for most sites when using the Annual Public Hunt (APH) Permit

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Hunter Ed Course - Pleasanton

TPWD Biologist David Veale taught a group of students at First Methodist Church in Pleasanton.  Local landowner, David Smith, provided his ranch for a shotgun field exercise led by Boyd Grimshaw and a group of volunteers.  Archery demonstration was Led by David Veale and Meredith Rutherford.  25 students were certified at this 2-day event in late July. Way to weather the heat Dave et al!

Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, Randy Spradlin, W TX Specialist, and fellow BARI Trainer, Larry Hysmith, College Station, taught the Student Air Rifle Program Instructor Course to the Royal Rangers in late July, near Waxahachie. Thanks to Stan Lewis, NTD Royal Ranger District Director, North Texas District Council of The Assemblies of God, for spearheading the effort, both in North Texas and nationally -  with assistance from Jake Hindman, National SAR Director.

NSSF Project Childsafe

On Tuesday, July 18, Galveston city leaders joined the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — The Firearm Industry Trade Association—and its Project ChildSafe program to host a special media event announcing the city-wide launch of “Project ChildSafe Galveston.” The initiative is designed to encourage responsible firearm ownership and promote secure storage of guns to help prevent gun accidents, thefts, and misuse—including suicide. Photo: (L to R) Christopher Allen - Hoodneck, Galveston Police Dept. Chief, Balli and Craig Brown, Galveston Mayor, listen to Joe Bartozzi - NSSF President/CEO as they await their turns to speak about the importance of safe gun storage.

During the launch event, local law enforcement officers and community organizations distributed firearm safety resources—such as NSSF's Project ChildSafe’s Parents’ Guide and FREE cable-style gun locks to community residents.

The initiative began with a press conference held at Galveston Police Department.  Following the press conference, Project ChildSafe representatives and local community leaders distributed free gun locks at two Galveston community centers -  McGuire-Dent Recreation Center and the Wright Cuney Recreation Center. Local law enforcement officers were present at both locations to provide gun lock demonstrations.  Photo: Joe Bartozzi - NSSF President/CEO took the time to visit with Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist, during the press conference. NSSF has partnered with NSSF since the early 1970s, when the hunter education started in Texas.

National R3 Symposium

(Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation)

Education Director, Jae Ellison of the International Hunter Education Association-USA's presented information about their Learn Hunting Program, one many programs and topics featured at the R3 National Symposium in Albuquerque in May.  As IHEA-USA's web site states, "Hunting is a complicated activity, and the best way to learn it is by going hunting with someone else. That’s what we do here at LearnHunting.org. We match new adult hunters with experienced hunters so they can be prepared to hunt in a low pressure, one-on-one environment."

David Walter Bosecker, a Deputy Sheriff at Eastland County Sheriff’s Office was killed in the line of duty on July 21st. after responding to a Domestic Call. He was 57 years old.

Obituary Here

David was born in Perrington, Texas on July 13, 1967 and served 21 years in law enforcement including Wise County Sheriff’s Office, TABC, Texas Game Warden, Comanche Police Department, and was employed by Eastland County Sheriff’s office since 2021. David graduated High School in Midland, Texas, graduated from Tarleton University in Stephenville, Texas, served in the United States Marine Corp. He loved hunting, fishing, gardening and loved working to make a safer place for everyone, he followed his oaths to Serve to the best of his ability and pushed himself beyond his limits, worked out all the time to keep his body and mind in shape to handle the jobs of law enforcement.

The David Bosecker Memorial Fund is set up through the First Financial Bank of Eastland County, 201 E. Main St., Eastland, Texas 76448, 254-629-6139 for options of ways to send money. All monies will go to help the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office to provide gear needed to help their Deputies be safer. David believed in this cause through his own career.