In January, I joined a team of instructors under the leadership of longtime friend and former Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division Chief, Rusty Garrison, at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield, GA. Rusty helped build the visitor center back in 1996, and they opened the conservation lodge in 2004.

The training was the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program, a program that has trained more than 1,200 natural resource professionals and university students. It is a program that does not necessarily recruit new hunters, but it is intended to give participants knowledge and skills related to responsible hunting and shooting sports practices and how these activities contribute to conservation success in the United States.  Simply put, it helps such professionals relate better to their audiences.

Joining the team were instructors Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist and Laura Anderson - Rockport Hunter Education Instructor -- both national CLFT instructors.  I've been involved in the program for more than 20 years, and hope to keep contributing, as I have seen firsthand the success of CLFT.  I've learned a lot, myself, along the way, and feel privileged to serve as an instructor.

Hope you are able to get out in February and go after quail yourself, or exotics or pigs -- all excellent table fare for you, your friends and family!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

Chris Mitchell - SuperHUNT Welcome!

Texas Youth Hunting Program Executive Director, Chris Mitchell, a hunter education Area Chief, welcomes the 60 hunters, their parents/guardians, landowners and volunteers to the 21st annual "Superhunt" sponsored by the Cave Creek Wildlife Management Association including Landowner, Ronnie Ottmars, who spearheaded the effort all those years on behalf of the landowner and wildlife management association. Chris was not able to stay for the weekend due to having to be at multiple Hill Country youth hunts that weekend, but he was able to teach the last-minute Hunter Education Course on Friday, prior to the hunt weekend, at the old schoolhouse, for those that did not show up with their certification, a prerequisite to TYHP hunts.

Superhunt - Hunting Responsibility

Gillespie County Game Wardens, Tommy Johnson and Joshua Sako, (See photo) reminded participants of game laws, proper identification and other hunter responsibilities, especially during the SuperHUNT.  Prior to the game warden presentation, Hunter Education Coordinator, Steve Hall, and Area Wildlife Biologist and Hunter Education Instructor, Joyce Moore, reviewed topics such as hunting and firearm safety, proper shot placement, Chronic Wasting Disease, proper ID of antlered and antlerless animals, tagging and various other considerations.

SuperHUNT Activities

Saturday mid-afternoon, the hunt features educational stations including sausage making, hunting skills, rifle range, archery, and other topics.  Here, Morgan Harbison, C TX Hunter Education Specialist, led a new activity at this year's SuperHUNT - Proper Knife Sharpening & Use. Below, Hunter Education Coordinator, Steve Hall, once again, led the archery event along with playing Huntmaster to one of the many ranches hosting young hunters at the SuperHUNT.  3-D style (animal targets) archery is always a popular with TYHP youth hunt participants and their parents/mentors.

...I work hard for this, as developing participation in both the hunt AND the WMA is equally important to me, and one can lead to the other.  I work with Cherry Springs WMA year around with Joyce and also with landowners individually to move feeders, fill feeders, etc…..as requested for projects (example: we are trying to build or renovate one blind per year for any landowners in need during the summer, so they are warmer, bigger, drier for not just the aging landowners and their families, but for the youth hunters.  NO ground blinds, and no open blinds.  It fits my rules for (1) no getting skunked, see deer (or hogs, etc.), (2) not too cold, the kids really struggle with the cold sometimes, and (3) plenty of good food!" - JP Bach, Huntmaster

Photo: Kids at Cherry Springs hoisting up an honorary winner of Schutzenfest, the Schützenkönig! (King of Marksmen). Hoisting are the kids themselves and the high school hunt-help team members.

Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association

APRIL 26-28th, 2024

Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Hill Country Shooting Sports Center will host the Central Texas THEIA Conference in April. 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

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest form of recognition that a local BSA Council can bestow on a volunteer. On January 6, 2024, Royce Engler, Conroe, was presented the Award by the Sam Houston Area Council.

Royce is an Eagle Scout.  He has served the George Strake District and the Sam Houston Area Council for the past 13 years and is the Council Shooting Sports Chairman, and an Associate Crew Advisor. He has previously served as a Cub Scout Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor, Wood Badge staff, Powderhorn staff, National Youth Leadership Training staff, 2017 National Jamboree Shooting Sports staff, and 2019 World Scout Jamboree Shooting Sports staff.  Royce is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.

Royce has completed Powder Horn training, and has been honored with the Military Order of the World Wars Community Service Award for his Scouting service.  He is an NRA Training Counselor, a USA Archery Level 2 Instructor Trainer, and a Texas Hunter Education Instructor.

During his Scouting career, over 575 Scouts and Scouters have completed almost 1200 NRA certifications in his classes.  Those Instructors have gone on to mentor thousands of Scouts in Shooting Sports, helping them complete the Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, and Archery Merit Badges, as well as having a heck of a lot of fun on the shooting ranges.  As the Chairman of the Shooting Sports Committee, Royce ensures that shooting events throughout the Council are staffed with the best possible Instructor staffs.

Thanks, Royce, for you service to the target shooters and hunters in Texas.  Your accomplishments certainly speak for themselves, and Texas is thankful that you landed in the Lone Star State!

"I found my original hunter ed cert…I was an Ensign on active duty at Naval Nuclear Power School in Vallejo, CA, and several of us went down to the Marine Barracks and got the Gunny to give us a course so we could go hunting.

Bought my first gun there...a Remington 870 in 12 ga at the local K-Mart in Vallejo.  Many years later, I loaned it to my son to go hunting in South Texas.  After several months, I asked when he was going to return it.  He replied...Dad...am I the ONLY guy I know whose father never gave him a shotgun. Some years later, he has kids and asked me to hold on to a .270  rifle he won in an oilfield drawing.  When he asked about it later, I told him, Son...am I the ONLY dad whose son never gave him a rifle?  He still has the 870 and I still have the .270." - Royce Engler - Conroe

Then, to register for one of the training events listed above, go to Texas Wildlife Association's Events Listing. The training cost for TWA members is $55. If you are not yet a TWA member the cost is $90.

Cleburne State Park - Feb 23-25

Our first Texas Youth Hunting Program "Huntmaster Training" of the year is a unique opportunity to become a TYHP Huntmaster AND a TPWD Hunter Education Instructor. Register HERE to reserve your spot now!

Purtis Creek Waterfowl Hunts

"Good Morning Folks,

I just wanted to pass along the hunt report from January 6th's Waterfowl Hunt at Purtis Creek SP.  I think the email below from one of Jeremy’s hunters does a nice job of summing things up. Overall, 29 birds were harvested between the 4 groups. All were green-winged teal or bufflehead, and all hunters took at least one bird. As always, I can’t thank y’all enough for pulling off another safe and successful hunt!  There’s lots of moving parts to putting these things on, and it’s not always easy, but y’all sure make us look good."

Thank You!" - Heidi Kryger Bailey, TPWD Wildlife Biologist

Carter Country Hosting Hunter Ed Courses

John Meekins, Cleveland and Brent Beamesderfer, Baytown, visited with Carter’s Country and made arrangements with Ms. Lori to hold Hunter Education Courses at their facility beginning in 2024. Area Chief Beamesderfer said, "I am super excited to work with Carter’s Country this year and hold as many classes as we can in Humble / Spring area.  I would like to thank the family and staff for this great opportunity!"

Instructor's "Bucket List" Hunt

The manager of the Texas YHEC Challenge (see article above), David Hammonds - Weatherford, filled one bucket list items this holiday season when he harvested a nilgai at Santa Cruz Ranch, Santa Elena, in early January. The "blue bull" weighed 568 pounds. Congratulations!

"Thank you, Nick, for being an excellent guide!" - Jeanette Hammonds

Tim Walker Receives SEAFWA Award 

A native of Deep East Texas received a prestigious award at January's Texas Parks and Wildlife Meeting. Timothy Walker, Angela county, was recognized by TPWD as the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Officer of the Year.

Read More: Texas Game Warden From Angelina County Receives Statewide Award

"Crane Hunting 101" in Panhandle

"Ribeye of the Sky"

Austin Woods and Waters Club held another annual Crane Hunt for its members, many new to this type of hunting. "Twenty three (23) club members and guests ventured to Lubbock last week for the Club's sandhill crane hunt.  We met each morning at 5:00 and followed the guides to the fields.  The first morning, we all helped put out the decoys.  "

It was raining on the second day so the guides handled that chore themselves while we stayed dry in our pickups. The guides spent that afternoon scouting and figured out where the birds had moved.  That gave us a lot more action on day 2.  Fortunately, the rain let up about the time it was light enough to shoot.  One group ended up limiting out and the second was 3 birds short of a limit.  The second group could have easily limited but had to get back to the hotel for late checkout. - Joe Bob Everett, President Austin Woods & Waters

'Jewelry' from the Duck Harvest

Back in December, Area Chiefs, Ruben Rangel - Brownsville (below), and Junior Munoz - Austwell, led a Waterfowl Hunting 101 and Hunt at Resaca de la Palma State Park, Loma Alta Trap and Skeet Range and Arroyo City, with the help of Game Wardens, Cody Levy - Cameron County, and Roel Garza, Jr., - Hidalgo County. During the hunt, Samuel Prado, Weslaco, took his first shot and first duck ever, and it was a banded blue winged teal drake -- Mr. Lucky! Ruben took Samuel to a Taxidermist friend of his, Xavier Garza, Xavier Taxidermy, Rio Hondo, who said he would mount Samuel's duck for no charge, since it was such a rare and special moment in everyone's hunt that day.  And in January, he made good on his generous offer and proudly presented the handsome drake to Samuel.  THANKS Xavier and congratulations, Samuel -- a one-of-a-kind story in the world of hunting!

Texas Wildlife Expo - '92 thru '08

The Expo was Texas Parks and Wildlife's opportunity to showcase its people, mission, conservation efforts and programs -- LOTS of programs!

It was especially a great opportunity for the hunter education VOLUNTEERS to showcase hunting and the shooting sports, providing opportunities for over 13,000 visitors each year to shoot a bow, crossbow, shotgun, air rifle, .22 rifle, muzzleloader and participate in firearm safety.  What a wonderful series of events, and brings to mind, Terry Erwin, Charlie Wilson and other hunter education staff who spearheaded the shooting sports events at every Expo.  Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, who coordinated the first Expo, managed the Expo Schedule of Events every year, including the raptor show with John Karger of Last Chance Forever, deer and duck calling contests, hunting seminars, turkey calling, sporting dog demonstrations, shotgun exhibitions with John Satterwhite, Tom Knapp and Patrick Flanigan, and many others.

Deer Hunter Numbers

Here are estimates of the number of deer hunters from Texas Parks and Wildlife's big game harvest survey mailed out each year.  Although there is a slight downward trend since 2016 there is a slight bias due to a low response rate with the survey. License sale data of ALL hunters (below) are a better indicator of trend data, and this past year showed an increase of 15,000 licenses above last year (as of 12-31-23). These are license numbers used in the annual Texas Hunting Incident Analyses. The 2023 Hunting Incident Analysis is due out shortly after the release of this newsletter and is useful information for HE courses.

Randy Spradlin, W Texas (Ft. Worth): randy.spradlin@tpwd.texas.gov; 512-923-3509 c

Heidi Rao, SE Texas (Houston): heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov; 713-829-1377 c

Andrea Cleveland (L) - Austin Part-time Hunter Education Admin. Asst. 512-389-4999 w

andrea.cleveland@tpwd.texas.gov