The last weekend of April, Hunter Education Instructors met at the YO Ranch Hotel in Kerrville and at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center.  

A HUGE THANKS to the Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association (THEIA) and to all instructors who attended this year's conference! I hope next year, the rest of you can join us to celebrate YOUR accomplishments and attend valuable training seminars. Congratulations to all those who were recognized this year for outstanding work in the field in 2023. (See AWARDS & INCENTIVES below!) It is so nice to see such passionate, dedicated, longtime instructors, some that have far exceeded 25 years of service and reached Hall of Fame status some time ago -- and are still ACTIVE! (See LEGACIES.) A long life of volunteerism isn't a bad deal -- Studies show that active volunteering extends our lives by a (lucky) 7 years!!

Happy Mother's Day to all moms and Happy Memorial Day, especially to those families who have lost loved ones who died in service to our country!

Photo:  Hunter Education Coordinator, Steve Hall, receives a "worser" auctioned off by Terry Erwin Legacy Award recipient, retired TPWD mobile range operator, Charlie Wilson, at the Awards Banquet & Auction. Part-time Hunter Education Administrative Asst., Andrea Cleveland, and her husband, William, were the successful bidders and promptly "stuck" Steve with taking the worser with him every place he goes in 2024-2025 when representing the Texas Hunter Education Program. (Funny, that worser auction item resembles someone else!)

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

YO Ranch Hotel & Hill Country Shooting Center- April 26-28th

The Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association (THEIA) teamed up with Texas Parks and Wildlife to deliver the annual Instructor Training Conference and Awards Banquet. What a great job THEIA did to organize the event, agenda, lodging, meals and training seminars at the YO Ranch Hotel and at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center. Hats off to THEIA and the many instructors recognized for significant accomplishments in 2023!

Keynote Speech - Able Outdoors

Chad Waligura, Able Outdoors and conference Keynote Speaker – invented accessible items to be able to continue shooting after he had to get creative, since, many times, there had not been any devices on the market to aid his trigger finger! 

“If you like to see accessible outdoor adventures and you enjoy learning more about staying active, regardless of your ability level, you’re going to want to stick around!  We’ll be tackling year-round experiences, including sharing more about our everyday lives and what it is like living life from a wheelchair.”

Able Outdoors Wing Shooting

Participants of the 'Adaptive Shooting' demonstration session taught by Chad Waligura of Able Outdoors held at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center. The purpose of the session was to demonstrate the difficulty of wing shooting for a person with certain disabilities but to seek innovative and commercial adaptive equipment that will aid them in swinging a shotgun and/or pulling a trigger. Front (L to R): Kevin Jackson - Galena Park, and Dan Billings - Willis, with PT Outdoors (see shooting station), THEIA President, Debbie Ferrell - Ladonia, Owner - Able Outdoors - Chad Waligura - El Campo, Nathan Dee - San Antonio and Sue Snowden - Atlanta. Back (R): Robert Eason - McAllen, Ken Lewis - San Antonio, and Charles Snowden.

Wild Game Processing Class

Photo: San Antonio Area Chief, Charles Marcus, and Hunter Education Instructor, Jason Stewart - Highlands, enjoyed processing their deer.

The instructor of the processing class, Andrea Brunelli (below), demonstrates how to properly process a deer, demonstrating and discussing the different cuts of meat during the Meat Processing workshop at the Conference. Andrea is a local resident who use to manage K & G Plaza Meat Market in Kerrville.

Conference Participation

Meet the youngest conference attendee at just 4 weeks old! Harrison Yargo, son of Brittney Yargo, and great grandson of Area Chief Hunter Education Instructor Duke Walton - Porter. Brittney and Duke traveled a long way to get to the conference, and other instructors got to see PAPA taking care of Harrison here and there -- even changing diapers. Talk about going above and beyond to bolster the hunter education and hunting heritage in Southeast Texas! Congratulations, Brittany, and health and Godspeed to the future INSTRUCTOR!

BOW Hunter Education Leaders

L to R: Monica  Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, Krista Liewald - Conroe, Area Chief, Cheryl LeJune - Tomball, and Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist, lead the charge, not only running the Texas Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Program (Heidi -  Coordinator, Monica - Asst. Coordinator, Cheryl and Krista - SUPER Volunteers) but also created hunting & shooting sports opportunities for all women, including those that get certified in Hunter Education by the end of each workshop (see below).

Bill Olson - Texas Outdoors Journal

"Thank you so much for your generous donation of Texas Outdoor Journal to the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) spring workshop at Camp Aranzazu in Rockport, April 19-21st! Approximately 130 BOW participants and 70 staff, volunteers, instructors, and Camp Aranzazu staff enjoyed a complimentary copy of your magazine! And the 10 lucky women really enjoyed being drawn in the raffle for their one-year complimentary subscription as well – thank you!!" - Heidi Rao - SE Texas Hunter Education Specialist, BOW Coordinator

2022 STATEWIDE Hunter Ed Instructor of the Year

Cheryl LeJune – Tomball

"Cheryl is relatively new to the instructor ranks, being certified as hunter and bowhunter education instructor in 2021. She’s has certified 324 students, earned 1322 incentive points and trained many new instructors. She always goes above and beyond assisting me with behind-the-scenes tasks related to many TPWD programs, especially the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program, where she also trains BOW participants in Intro to Hunting and Hunter Education Coursework. She:

• Serves as BOW instructor & guide for mentored hunts. Assists with BOW planning, registration, coordination, and follow-up.
  
• Builds partnerships with organizations such as Long Acres Ranch, Baytown Nature Center and Wetlands Center, Lone Star Community College, and TPWD facilities: State Parks, Sea Center, and Law Enforcement offices.
• Manages R3 partnership between TPWD, Delta Waterfowl, and Sam Houston State University – teaching college students Hunter Education, and professors as Hunter Education Instructors.
• Coordinates outreach and opportunities for a variety of target groups (youth, women, adults, etc.) and programs and expo events in State Parks. 
• Helps plan and coordinate annual Take Me Outdoors Houston event at Discovery Green, Downtown Houston.
• Developed “Hunting Opportunities in Texas” presentation for outreach event in conjunction with Houston Safari Club Foundation.
• Attends and supports the weeklong Lasershot Shooting Simulator booth during Ranching and Wildlife Expo, Houston Livestock Show &Rodeo
  
• Directly supports THEIA annual hunter education instructor conference, Hunting for Conservation and other statewide conferences and workshops and serves as an integral and very active member on THEIA Board.
• Conducts Hunting 101s and several outreach events/workshops, to the senior community, youth, and women.
• Conducts Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program Basic Air Rifle Instructor (BARI) courses, securing a facility for the production of a SAR instructional video and serving as one of the actors teaching in the video.

Congratulations Cheryl on your incredible dedication to TPWD!" - Heidi Rao

REGIONAL Instructor of the Year - South Texas

"Fernando "Fernie" Rocha - Edinburg was certified as a hunter education instructor in 2011, becoming an Area Chief and Bowhunter Instructor in 2021. He has taught 77 students in 2023 and a total of 1770 students in 83 courses since becoming an instructor.  He attended the Student Air Rifle Instructor Training in 2023 and assisted with many outreach events in the Rio Grande Valley, including setting up a regional meeting for all Valley instructors. As an Area Chief, he is working with other instructors to ensure that there are Spanish-speaking hunter education courses throughout the Rio Grande Valley – one of his many goals. It gives me a great honor to present this award to Fernie, who is here with his wife, Loree!" - Brock Minton, S TX HE Specialist

  Loree

REGIONAL Instructor of the Year - West Texas

Dr. Edgar Reed - Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist, said, "What can be said about Dr Reed?  Let me start with stating that I’ve known Edgar as an athletic trainer for a considerable amount of time. He is considerably younger than me, but I don’t hold that against him. Edgar took a path that led him to A&M Commerce, University of Houston and San Angelo State attaining his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate before finally deciding it’s time to get a job and start repaying student loans. He landed at Hardin-Simmons in Abilene where his tenured track took the University to a first in the state recognition of being the only university or college to require students in the school of education to certify in all TPWD’s educational programs – Hunter, Boater, Angler, Bowhunter and Project Wild. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was executed in 2017 at the annual instructor’s meeting in Abilene. Since that time, Edgar’s path has changed, now at Angelo State, he is working to develop the same program he left at HSU. Having certified over 750 students since becoming an instructor in 2010, Edgar stepped up to the Area Chief role in 2015. He is well on his way to Hall of Fame, but that was slowed a little this past December when he suffered a heart attack. He didn’t stay down long, as he taught a new instructor class today. It’s a great honor to present Edgar this award!"

REGIONAL Instructor of the Year - Central Texas

Chris Mitchell, New Braunfels - Morgan Harbison, C TX Hunter Education Specialist, said, "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 has taught almost 1000 students since then. Chris retired in 2010 after 26 years as an Air and Missile Defense Officer. His first job post after that was with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Division. Chris worked in Private Lands and Public Hunting. An opportunity to join the Texas Wildlife Association came, so he applied and was selected as their first Operations Coordinator in 2012. In 2014, TYHP director, and last year Hunter Education Legacy honoree, Jerry Warden, retired. Chris assumed the role as director. 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. Chris continues to expand the vision and influence of TYHP and continues to produce new hunters every year. Thanks for all you do for both programs, Chris!"

Partner of the Year Award - 2023

Irving Police Athletic League

Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, said, " I have had distinct pleasure of working with dedicated Irving Police officers of all ranks, along with other IPD personnel giving of their time and talents as PAL Urban Outdoors Program coaches. The Urban Outdoors Program introduces Irving “at risk” youth ages 8-18 to outdoor recreation, education and conservation through outdoor activities including archery, camping, and hunting. Youth participating in PAL’s archery program earn the opportunity to travel to Lake Whitney to participate in an annual mentored deer hunt hosted by Lake Whitney Army Corps of Engineers rangers in partnership with TPWD and PAL. The youth are required to earn their hunter education certificate and annually attend the course taught by officers/Urban Outdoor Coaches certified as volunteer TPWD Hunter Education Instructors. Youth are transported to Lake Whitney to camp, hunt and learn the ins and outs of deer camp including field dressing and processing their harvest for transport. The youth must demonstrate proficiency using the crossbows with which they hunt, continuously show respect, discipline, and a willingness to learn and exposes them to positive role models, their coaches. I have had the pleasure of joining the youth and their coaches on their successful hunts and to share in the weekend’s events. It is my pleasure to present this award to one of the founders of the Urban Outdoors Program, Sgt. Joe Palomar; Police Media Affairs Coordinator Chelsey Jones, the program’s current coordinator and Officer Michelle Malone (L) who play an integral support role. On a personal note, PAL coaches supported me during my cancer, gave me strength at the passing of my parents and we all supported one another at the untimely loss of our beloved coach, Jesse Boleman, whose memory lives on in one of the awards presented the youth during the hunt. Congratulations PAL and thank you for all you do!"

Professional Educator of the Year

- Eric Kale - Hico

"Eric began teaching hunter education in 2000 while at Grandbury High School. He joined Hico Secondary School’s faculty in 2006 as the agriculture education teacher. Wildlife is but one of the many courses Kale teaches at Hico. Included in his course curriculum is the Texas Hunter Education student course. In the 24 years since joining the volunteer instructor ranks, Kale has certified 762 students in Texas Hunter Education. He has hosted numerous Texas FFA Career Development Events (CDE), many for which TPWD personnel has written Safety and Game Laws questions and answer, in his career. In 2015 Kale led two FFA teams – Homesite Evaluation and Range - to the National Championships in Oklahoma City where they each won Reserve National Championships." - Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist

Team Instructors of the Year

PT Outdoors Team – Daniel Billing (L) and Kevin Jackson (Accepting Award) along with team members, Kent Robinson; David Keck; Matthew Stall; Kenneth Brown; Clint Narcisse; Ransom Belton; and Johnnie Miller III 

Heidi Rao SE TX Hunter Education Specialist, said, "Faith, conservation, and heritage are some of the values that this team strives to promote.  Daniel Billings started PT Outdoors as a personal brand and has evolved it into a 501(c) to help introduce kids to hunting and the outdoors.  With an active team of at least nine (9) instructors – this group never stops educating!  Daniel was certified in 2021 and hasn’t slowed down!  Not only is this team hunter and bowhunter education instructors; they are also all Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) Huntmasters, introducing and mentoring youth, adults. and new hunters as part of our hunting heritage in Texas!  As a team, they have certified over 700 students since 2,021 and over 7,000 students, collectively, since they started. We can always depend on this team when in need of instructors, mentors, and volunteers to volunteer at hunter education outreach events in Southeast Texas. They step in and step up!  Congratulations everyone!  I’m certainly lucky to have you in my region!"

Asst. Instructor of the Year

Ivan Benavides, Jr. – Pasadena

"Ivan Jr. was brought up in the hunter and bow hunter education community, shadowing his dad from the early days he was a toddler!  His dad, Ivan, was certified has earned 2,835 points teaching both English and Spanish courses in the greater Southeast Texas region. Ivan Jr. has been there every step of the way, but wasn’t officially certified as Assistant Instructor until 2022.  He has been most active in recruiting Spanish friends and students alongside his dad and volunteering at hunter education outreach events, too.  He’s been to several hunter education instructor conferences and regional meetings and has watched while his dad has been recognized at previous conferences for their collective efforts teaching courses. Congratulations Ivan Jr. – to many more years in the program!" - Heidi Rao, SE Texas Hunter Education Specialist

Terry Erwin LEGACY AWARD

Charlie Wilson - Cuero (*Honorary Recipient) - "Hired by TPWD Hunter Education Program 1996, Charlie worked for and became a close friend to Hunter Education Coordinator, Terry Erwin, his "boss" as he used to call him at the time. Charlie Wilson the first mobile range coordinator for Texas and served for over 20 years. I call him the 'Pied Piper ' of the Shooting Sports in Texas as he had quite the personality and following – especially from 4- Shooting Sports participants throughout Texas. He came up with the 'WHIZ Bang' program to cement 4-H participation, and annually recognized the top shooters at the Wildlife Expo, typically with the TPWD executive director, Andy Sansom, and baseball legend and TPWD Commissioner, Nolan Ryan. Charlie's program and teachings were a big hit at Expo, the Texas Sportsman’s Caucus, Houston Cattlemen, San Antonio Rodeo, and a bunch of other audiences at 40+ events per year. Later, he and Terry developed the Ag Clays program and, by then, trained hunter education specialists like Heidi Rao, Jimmy Caughron, and me in the program.  After he retired, Charlie recommended and helped hire a red-haired accomplished shooter out of Texas A&M, who is TPWD Central Texas Hunter Education Specialist, Morgan Harbison, the existing mobile range coordinator. I can’t think of a better way to honor Terry than presenting his LEGACY AWARD to Charlie Wilson, here with his wife, Cheryl." - Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

LEGACY AWARD Recipient

William "Scotty" Oliver (*Honorary Recipient) - "Scotty was most noted as the TPWD Target Range Grant Coordinator, but also helped develop the Hunter Skills Trail along with much assistance to both then Outreach & Education Director, Steve Hall, and Hunter Education Coordinator, Terry Erwin for over a decade.  Scotty was instrumental in the operation of Parrie Haynes youth summer camps, on a range that he helped the Texas Game Warden Association develop at the ranch. He assisted with the Texas Youth Hunter Education Challenge and the national YHEC, often traveling with a Texas contingent of instructors such as Jim Dea - Lubbock, to run activities at the national event. The two also showed off the Texas Hunter Skills to many groups such as Federal Aid representatives in New Mexico to game wardens to new hunter education instructors.  On a more personal note, Scotty and his wife, Juanette, raised an outstanding family who, in Marlis’s case, worked at TPWD and in David’s case, took a student course from Scotty and yours truly.  Scotty also helped me, personally and spiritually, in the office -- always helping the hunter education team in a big way. Congratulations, Scotty!" - Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator

LEGACY AWARD Recipient

Bryant Truitt - Kerrville - "While volunteering during TYHP youth hunts, Bryant Truitt met a gentleman that later used such choice words as “Have I Got a Deal for You!” – then coordinator, Terry Erwin.  Bryant became a hunter education instructor that year, 1988, and later an Area Chief teaching students throughout the Hill Country’s summer youth camps. He taught 736 students, earned 4,739 incentive points and became a Hall of Fame inductee in 2013.  He also has taught in other states such as New Mexico & Louisiana. Bryant also knew my grandfather and father way before I knew him … but that’s a different story. Congratulations Bryant -- as a recipient of a Texas Hunter Education Legacy Awards!" - Brock Minton - South Texas Hunter Education Specialist.

THEIA T.D. CARROLL AWARD

Charles, Jr., & Katherine “Sue” Snowden, from Atlanta, Texas, receive the highest THEIA award from Doug DuBois, Jr., THEIA Vice President - Austin, and Debra Ferrell, THEIA President - Ladonia. They have been involved in hunter education since 1987. Charles gained his bowhunter education certification in 1992. He has earned 6,397 incentive points and reached the Texas Hunter Education Hall of Fame in 2010.  He has logged 103 courses and taught 1545 students in the northeastern corner of Texas.  He was certified as one of the first Area Chiefs in the 1990s and has since trained nearly 200 instructors recently several at two different ranges. Though she assisted Charles since the eighties, Sue became officially certified as an instructor in 2011 and has logged 20 courses above what she assisted Charles earlier on. She has earned over 1,095 incentive points and taught an additional 626 students, giving the Snowden's over 2100 students in a rural part of Texas. They were honored with the TEAM Award in 2020 and Charles earned a LEGACY Award in 2021. Recently, Charles has offered sage history and advise as a key member of the THEIA board.

Curtis Ansley

Overlooked in the incentive points process, Curtis Ansley was certified in December of 2003 and earned his Hall of Fame level back in 2016. (Note: We had to correct that computing error and presented Curtis is Award this year!  Better late than never, and we appreciate Curtis being so patient and bringing the error to our attention.)  Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist, added, "Curtis has been active teaching classes north of Houston serving that large demand.  He became an Area Chief and Bowhunter Education Instructor and continued offering classes and working with partner organizations to host annual classes at farm and ranch, Houston Safari Club, and several churches in the area.  Congratulations Curtis!"

Steve Shrock

In presenting the award, with Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist said, "Steve Shrock was certified in March of 1981 and has been an icon in Northwest Harris County ever since!  He's always the first to step up when a class was needed and enjoys attending the Houston Rodeo helping me run the Laser Shot each year passing on his passion for hunting safety and education.  Recently, he's endured some pretty rough times, but remained active in our program because he believes in spreading the gospel of hunting safety!  Congratulations Steve!"

RIFLE - Area Chief Hunter Ed Instructor, David Rios, Uvalde

David Rios became an instructor in 2002 and Area Chief in 2010. Last year, during the Awards Banquet, David not only received his Pistol Award Gift Card, but was also named South Texas Instructor of the Year. With a lot of help from his wife and partner Area Chief, Susan, David has managed to crawl over the wall to earn the Rifle Award with 3022 points.

Congratulations, David!  Keep going!

HANDGUN - Are Chief, Charles Marcus, Helotes

Charles Marcus became a Hunter Education Instructor in 2011 and Area Chief in 2020. He teaches student and instructor courses throughout the Bexar County area, many of them at Bass Pro Shops.  Charles has reached the Pistol Award earning 2690 points. He participated in a Deer Hunting and Pistol 101 Course held by the rifle award recipient (above), David Rios, and said, "Everyone needs to consider taking Dave's course next year -- Pistol shooting is a blast!"  Now you will have your own, Charles!

HANDGUN - Area Chief, Chris Mitchell, New Braunfels

As indicated above with his Instructor of the Year recognition, 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 2016 and has taught almost 1000 students since. With a small, very talented staff and a hundreds of extremely dedicated, trained "huntmasters" and volunteers, the program has grown from an average of 130 hunts per year to over two hundred. Chris continues to expand the vision and influence of TYHP and continues to produce new hunters every year. Thanks for all you do for both programs, Chris!

HANDGUN - Area Chief, George Lentz, La Vernia

George Lentz has taught in the San Antonio Area since he became a Hunter Education Instructor in 2007 and Area Chief in 2012. He earned 2,507 points by the end of 2023, earning him the handgun award.  He, his wife, Kelly, and John "Jack" Thompson team teach and often teach in the North San Antonio corridor, even though they are south of San Antonio.  On hand were Debra Ferrell, THEIA President, and Brock Minton, S TX Hunter Education Specialist.

Monica:

"Thanks for asking me to help out at the event. We had a good time!  It would have been great if the weather was better. We set up an education station and met with people of all ages. Information on TPWD programs, Hunter Education, TYHP, youth hunts, and a hands-on experience with pelts and mounts. Pictured with the mounts are Hunter Education Instructors, Bill Andrieu - Arlington, Myranda Baker - Burleson, and myself " -  Area Chief Hunter Education Instructor, Sandy Mason - Joshua (R)

Turkey Hunting 101 - Creedmore

Immanuel Salas, Hunter Education Instructor and TPWD Target Range Grant Coordinator partnered with Hunters of Color, conducting a Turkey Hunting 101 in Creedmoor for five new turkey hunters. They learned about regulations, safety, strategies, and tactics for a successful pursuit.  To get connected with Hunters of Color, visit their 'Ambassador' page at https://www.huntersofcolor.org/ambassadors.

Jesse Griffiths, James Beard Media Award Winner, renowned chef and restaurateur spoke about his newest release, during two book signings in Austin in late April. The Turkey Book: A Chef’s Journal of Hunting and Cooking America’s Bird. “The Turkey Book is a hunting chef’s ode to a single turkey season spent traveling the country, pursuing America’s most famous native bird with a group of passionate hunters who love to cook turkeys and experienced chefs who love to hunt them.” The Turkey Book provides 368 pages of adventure, techniques, recipes and beautiful photography to fuel 'pavo' pursuit in new and current turkey hunters.

A granite marker honoring Legacy Award recipient, Scotty Oliver, stands at the foot of the staircase leading up to the Grand Prairie Gun Club’s Hunter Ed Building, commemorating Oliver’s target range development efforts in the 1990s. Generations of Texas youth passed through the building’s doors during the countless courses conducted by the dedicated VOLUNTEER Hunter Education Instructors.