"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!"

I often tell people that, growing up Catholic, I must serve a penance of teaching firearm & hunting safety for the rest of my life. Metaphorically, I'm 'Ralphie' from A Christmas Story! For those of you who haven't heard my recount, I received by first gun on Christmas Day 1965, at age six -- a "Red Ryder"!  I joined the ranks of my five older brothers -- a rite of passage in our family of hunters.

Our unfinished basement was the perfect target range, with two dirt walls and crawl spaces below our house.  I shot my brand-new air rifle all Christmas day -- it was the best present ever!  Bright and early the day after Christmas, I again ran down to the basement to empty the nooks and crannies of two "buckets of army men". Except, one of my brothers got dirt stuck in the magazine threads at the muzzle end. I was not happy!  Being unsuccessful at getting it unstuck with pliers, I did the next best thing -- my teeth! It worked! Even though I shook the rifle beforehand, hearing no BB's rolling back and forth within the barrel/magazine (didn't think about a BB in the chamber), and had my hands around the barrel, I heard a strange 'clicking' sound (trigger release tension) as I twisted the muzzle cap with my teeth. 

Until I wiped blood from my mouth, I didn't even know I shot myself. Minutes later, under my mom's arms, and at the hospital where my dad worked, I had every doctor around my bedside because "Doc Hall's son shot himself!"  After dad and other doctors took turns (hemostats - help!), one doctor finally 'squeezed' the BB to the surface at the back of my tongue, gave me ice cream, patted my back and sent me home. Back at school, at the insistence of my teacher, a nun, I had to sheepishly recount how I shot myself with two classes of my peers.

Here's hoping you get a favorite hunting or sporting arm for Christmas, but ALWAYS POINT THE MUZZLE IN A SAFE DIRECTION (certainly not at your eyes, or tongue!) and remember to take hunter education! 

Merry Christmas!  Until next year -- 2024!

How to Talk About Hunting  Research-Based Communications Strategies

In 2020, the National Rifle Association published a book as part of their NRA Hunter Skill Series -- a book made possible through the NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum. Project Manager with the Forum was Peter Churchbourne, a longtime friend of Hunter Education, and the author and main contributor was Mark Duda with Responsive Management, a well-respected research firm that has conducted fish and wildlife management research for well over several decades. A second book, authored and published by Michael Sabbeth in 2021, is "The Honorable Hunter Instructor Training Manual - How to Honorably & Persuasively Defend and Promote Hunting".

TPWD Hunter Education Staff have used the concepts from these books to help Instructors improve their teaching and media relations knowledge and skills. Both books serve up plenty of factual, proactive fodder by which to communicate and promote hunting with both hunters (students) and non-hunters (families, friends, and outreach audiences).  Hunter Education Instructors and Youth Hunt "Huntmasters" represent the front line when it comes to successfully advocating for hunting, target shooting, responsible ownership and handling of sporting arms and the conservation heritage.  Employing the concepts and strategies will greatly help instructors, huntmasters, and hunting mentors improve their confidence and effectiveness!

If you would like a copy of either publication, please email kevin.vo@tpwd.texas.gov with your name and mailing address.

Texas Hunter Ed Instructor Assn

Do YOU have TRAINING Ideas?

Email us at: info@texastheia.org

APRIL 26-28th, 2024

Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Hill Country Shooting Sports Center will host the Central Texas THEIA Conference in April next year. Please get it on your calendar NOW!  Come help us celebrate your successes, attend the latest training seminars, and enjoy food and comradery with your fellow instructors from throughout Texas.

TPWD Staff Host: Morgan Harbison, Central TX Hunter Education Specialist

Lonnie Ward – Argyle, and Monica Bickerstaff, N Texas Hunter Education Specialist, were finally able to get together so Monica could recognize Lonnie with his 2022 Legacy Award.  He has certified 24,000+ students in 1300+ courses taught during the 26+ years since joining the volunteer Texas Hunter Education Instructor ranks. Ward took the opportunity to give Bickerstaff a tour of Denton County Sports Association, Inc.’s (DSCA) indoor classroom and range where he conducts classroom and live-fire instruction, plus outdoor “Field Day” activities on-site (day or night, rain, or shine). "Ward’s creativity in putting together a Hunter Skills Trail within the range’s limited space -- located BETWEEN two cell towers -- is commendable to say the least," said Bickerstaff. "Thank you for your creativity in affording students live-fire and skills trail activities in the DFW Metroplex! Your dedication to Texas Hunter Education is greatly appreciated! Congratulations, Lonnie!"

Jerry Warden - TYHP Director

Among the Legacy Award Recipients and honorees at the THEIA 2023 Hunter Education Instructor Conference held at the Texas 4-H Center in Brownwood, last April, was Jerry Warden - Rock Springs, former Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) director who took the program to great heights early in the 21st Century. Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, traveled to Jerry and his wife Kiki's ranch near Rock Springs to present the award. Hall said, "Wow -- this place is really out here - Way to go!"

Jerry and Kiki Warden were tireless in their efforts to create opportunities for young Texans to hunt, especially on private lands, throughout Texas. They have been recognized by many for their accomplishments, which now includes this award from the Texas Hunter Education Program, which honors their leadership in the Texas Youth Hunting Program. The program is the epitome of the process of acquiring new knowledge and skills through hands-on, mentored hunting and shooting sports opportunities. Among the program's highlights, including many that occurred during Jerry's Legacy, over 82,700 participants have been reached since 1996. Private landowners appreciate the added liability protection afforded them in hosting young hunters and their families.  TYHP Volunteers and "Huntmasters" enjoy the challenge of setting up and conducting such hunts. TYHP has become the model youth hunting program, nationally, and has recently branched out to include mentored adult hunts within the scope and objectives of the Texas Wildlife Association -- an R3 Hunting Companion program!  Congratulations Jerry & Kiki!

A LOCOVORE Way of Life

New adult hunters are beginning to find the same opportunities as youth. New strategies outlined in the State's R3 Action Plan include mentored hunting programs for those new to hunting, but over 17 years of age.  For example, the new Adult Learn to Hunt program with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) will be a huge new endeavor -- providing the same experiences for adults that they do for tens of thousands of youth and their families.

Photo: Johnathon Nguyen took this nice doe on an Inks Lake State Park Public Land Mentored Hunt which are limited, but available each year -- to go along with TWA's Adult Learn to Hunt Mentored Experiences, mostly on private lands.

Four of the eight (8) were selected as continuation of a mentorship initiated at a mentored deer hunt in January 2023. District 3 Wildlife Staff served as mentors, cooks, instructors, and guides. Ranch facilities and assistance was provided by Clearfork Ranch. TPWD Biologists, Olivia Kost, Patrick Kostecka, and Kyle Melton, provided hands-on instruction regarding dove ID, biology, habitat management, population monitoring techniques, and field care of harvested doves.

Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, was photographed scouting for white-tailed deer at Lake Whitney while assisting Irving Police Athletic League (PAL) coaches with final preparations for this year’s PAL mentored youth hunt held the weekend of November 3-5, 2023. The hunt was conducted in partnership with the Lake Whitney Corps of Engineers, Irving PAL and TPWD. Twelve youth – four young ladies and eight young men ranging in age from 11-17 years – were accompanied on the hunt by 11 coaches and camp staff - 10 Irving Police Department employees (past and present) and Bickerstaff. The entire trip is FREE to all PAL youth having successfully completed PAL’s Texas Hunter Education course and participated in the five crossbow archery practices conducted by TPWD Hunter Education Instructor, Chelsey Jones, Irving Police Media Affairs Coordinator, fellow coaches, and PD employees passionate about hunting. Jones serves as the hunt coordinator, coach, and mentor as she shares her passion and knowledge with PAL youth during the two-day hunt.

TPWD Wildlife Biologist Kyle Melton explained Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and its potential impact on deer herds as PAL youth and Park Rangers Aaron Szotka and Jarod Brisco observed Melton’s sampling procedure. The hunt resulted in 14 deer – 1 buck and 13 doe. Another successful wildlife management hunt benefiting Lake Whitney and the Corps of Engineers is in the books!!!

TX - National Archery in the Schools

2024 State Qualifying Tournament

• Schools must participate in a qualifying tournament, alone or with other teamsr to participate in the State Tournament. Registration and posting of scores on the State Qualifying Tournament listing at www.nasptournaments.org
• You may submit as many teams as you wish in the State Qualifying Tournament and the State Tournament.
• The 2024 Texas NASP State Qualifying Tournament is $2.00 per student by mail or by credit card.

Who May Participate

(State Qualifying Tournament)

• Schools (Public, Private, Charter, Magnet or Homeschool) that teach NASP archery in school, in a class during the school-day for 10 hours minimum, are qualified to compete in this tournament. The following Divisions are part of the Qualifying Tournament:
• Elementary, 4th & 5th grade.
• Middle, 6th - 8th grade.
• High School, 9th-12th grade.

NOTE:  TX-NASP School Teams and Individuals must participate in the State Qualifying Tournament to attend the State NASP Tournament March 26-27th

For more information contact: TX NASP Coordinator, Travis Glick

travis.glick@tpwd.texas.gov

NASP websites: www.naspschools.org & www.naspbai.org

NASP Tournaments: www.nasptournaments.org

Junior Holds Course for 4-H

Junior Munoz - Austwell (R), a USFWS Aransas NWR Employee, traveled to Seguin to certify students in the County 4-H Shooting Sports Chapter there. An Area Chief, Munoz often travels to other cities in the South-Central Coastal Region and in the Rio Grande Valley, "Because I Looovvvve it," said Munoz. Munoz also has been busy conducting youth hunts as a Huntmaster for the Texas Youth Hunting Program.  Keep up the great work, Junior!

New Instuctors at FTW/SAAM Ranch

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator (R) traveled to the FTW Ranch near Barksdale to train and certify professional hunting staff and guides, David Knesek (L) and Efren Hernandez (Center).  David, Efren and their staff specialize in providing hunting adventures (mostly exotics year around) and teaching Sportsman's All-weather, All-terrain Marksmanship (SAAM) courses to clients from all over the world, especially exotic hunting "from field to fork" and shooting skills, including long-distance and sniper training specialties.  In this case, when they teach those new to hunting during their week-long adventure hunts, they will add on hunter education training and certification for those not yet certified.  Hunter education as a part of hunting lodges, target shooting ranges and related venues offer the best in hands-on experiences and memories. Way to go FTW!

Marilyn Bentz, Exec. Director

Photo: Marilyn with an Osceola turkey taken in 2009, not with a bow, "but with the biggest gun on the rack!" she mused.

Marilyn Bentz has served as executive director for the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) since 2003, over 20 years! She said, "Bow hunter education has been a part of my life since I started bow hunting over 35 years ago in 1987."

Her first employer was the archery icon, Chuck Saunders. "He was history, marketer extraordinaire and innovator all in one," she wrote. "I was so fortunate to know the individuals that formed the basis for today’s bow hunting world.  Fred Bear, Ann and Earl Hoyt, Jim Easton, Bill Wadsworth and people like Pete Shepley and Andy Simo whose companies were just getting started." She summed up saying, "They all left their imprint on the archery industry as well as Marilyn Bentz (me)!"

She took the International Bowhunter Education Program course and instructor class in 1990. In 1997, she served as a volunteer on the NBEF Board of Directors until 2003 when she became the Executive Director of the organization. Her main goals included forming partnerships with those who could get the bowhunter education program out to more individuals - the ones not being reached.  One of her first partnerships was with Kalkomey Inc. which greatly updated the IBEP-copyrighted student manual to full color and bulleted style information. Along the way, she also partnered with organizations such as the Treestand Manufacturers Association. Most recently she collaborated with the crossbow industry and combined certification for crossbow safety through the International Crossbow Education Program (ICEP). 

Marilyn is widely known in the shooting and hunting industry as being supportive of issues which encourage broad based participation and setting high education standards which follow the renown North American Model for Wildlife Conservation. She sums up her career by reminiscing, "The deer, squirrel, and hogs, harvested in addition to the knowledge, associations, and life experiences have been more success than I could have ever imagined when I set out on this journey over 35 years ago."  Texas enjoys working with your, Marilyn -- keep up the great work!

Letters from Instructors

Steve:

Thanks for the Knife (2000-point Incentive Award). It means a lot to me! Almost 40 years ago, I was sitting at the Dallas Gun Club and said to the president, Ron Coleman, "You know, our youth program here stinks!"  He replied, "Why don't you do something about it?"  This prompted me to get certified as a hunter safety instructor, and you have seen the history. Thanks for the opportunity to pass on my love of hunting to future generations!"

Sincerely, Bill Thomas, Hunt TX

P.S. Tradition says I give you a coin for the knife.  Here it is (enclosed)

Photo: George Lentz, La Vernia, received his 2000-point Knife Award from Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator back at the 2022 Instructor Conference.  These incentives are limited edition Buck Knives signed by the late Chuck Buck.