I first met Olympic Champion, Kim Rhode, at our own Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo (1992-2008) after she won her first gold medal in Atlanta (1996). She demonstrated her prowess and presented at four Expos, as well as being the featured celebrity at one of our youth waterfowl hunts near Winnie. The hunt which was aired on our TPWD TV Show. I also was able to visit with her many times at NSSF SHOT Shows and when she competed for a World Championship at one of our TPWD-funded target range grant project sites, the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center (photo).

She is the perhaps the greatest USA Shooting Sports champion - winning medals in six (6) separate Olympics and being an outstanding representative for our cause -- our passion!  This includes activities such as waterfowl hunting, which Kim grew up enjoying in California, providing meat for her family. Along with Vincent Hancock and many other U.S. Shooting Team Medalists, including the archers, we must continue to provide shooting sports opportunities such as Student Air Rifle  and National Archery in Schools Programs in schools, not only to create future Olympians, but to support conservation efforts in a big way. 

Cindy Sandoval, Communications Specialist with the Office of Conservation Investment, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, just wrote an article entitled, " Seeds of Olympic Shooting Sports Start in Youth Programs," about the connection between programs such as hunter education, 4-H Shooting Sports, mobile sporting clays, target range development (i.e. Pittman Robertson Act programs) and the overall development of target shooters, including Olympic - caliber champions. She features some of our Texas efforts and individuals in the article, some who are representing the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

THANKS to all of you who continually develop young hunters and shooters, and who CHAMPION hunter education and the target shooting sports for all Texans, especially the younger (future) generations.

Here's wishing our American Shooting Teams success -- now, and in the future!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

The Ag Teachers Association of Texas (ATAT) convened in Dallas for the 2nd straight year and TPWD Hunter Education Staff were on hand to train new teachers as instructors and staff an exhibit where teachers could to speak with their regional specialists and/or with Kevin Vo, HE Administrative Assistant, who helps instructors navigate the ins-and-outs of the Online Registration System (ORS).

Standing L to R: HE Team members, Heidi Rao (SE TX Region Specialist), Kevin Vo (HE Admin Assistant), Monica Bickerstaff (ATAT Staff Host; N TX Region Specialist); and Morgan Harbison (C TX Region Specialist, Mobile Range). Sitting: Randy Spradlin (W TX Specialist) and Brock Minton (S TX Specialist).

Skills and Live-Fire Exercises

Jose Garcia and Charlie Preslar led the 'skills trail exercises' at Elm Fork Shooting Sports as part of showing the new Ag Teacher Hunter Education Instructors the fine points of integrating hands-on field activities into their high school coursework. Below, Ag Teachers Amber Pipes (L) and Joey Perez (3rd from L) receive proper shotgun shooting instruction from C TX Hunter Education Training Specialist, Morgan Harbison, and Area Chief Instructor, Melanie Sturgis – Carrollton.

BOSS Lady 2024

"Becoming an Outdoor Super Senior"

Long Acres Ranch - June 29, 2024

"A total of 35 senior women participated in one of 15 different course topics within each of four (4) sessions. BOSS participants ranged in age from 55 to 83.

Courses included: Fishing, Fly fishing/tying , Fire Building, Dutch Oven, Now That You Caught It (or Lake to Plate), Intro to Firearms, Archery, Air Rifle, Birding, Compass, Trailering, iNaturalist, Nature Art, Gardening A to Z and Ranch Tour/Wildlife Viewing.

Intro to Firearms presented examples of rifles, shotguns and handguns for the students to handle while learning about safe firearm handling. Archery (TPW's Joel Janssen) and Air Rifle (Photo: Hannah Muegge demonstrating proper techniques) were very popular with the participants, many being new to shooting sports.

Although most courses were held in the shade, the heat still took a toll on most – hydrating stations were set up everywhere around the Ranch as well as a cooler with ice water for participants to wet their kerchiefs, a gift in their 'Swag Bags'. Thank you to Long Acres Ranch and to Scott Lightle, SE Texas Hunter Education Instructor of the Year, and HE Instructor, Jennifer Lopez, for providing the venue and staff that make this event a success! Look for more BOSS Lady workshops and a BOSS Man!"

Kitty Haynes- Workshop Coordinator, Hunter Ed Area Chief - Richmond

Photo: Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) director, Chris Mitchell (L) and Texas Wildlife Association executive director, Justin Dreibelbis (R), honor TWA Volunteer of the Year, Rodney Koenig, during the TWA Annual Wildlife Convention in early July. Koenig later wrote a letter thanking TYHP and the many folks who helped him along the way, including his family.

From TYHP Facebook Post:

"Rodney became a lead Huntmaster in 2016 and has since run 40 hunts on 11 different ranches. Including the parents or guardians that accompany each hunter, 252 people have benefited from Rodney’s expertly run hunts. In addition, Rodney serves as one of eight Volunteer Area Coordinators. where he is responsible for recruiting landowners, donors, volunteers and youth, He also trains and mentors new volunteers and new Huntmasters in that role.

Rodney is especially adept at managing all of this at a pace most do not attempt. During the 2023-2024 season he donated seven weekends to getting families outdoors on wholesome, educational adventures. Texas businessman and past TWA President, J. David Anderson, said it best, “Rodney has been lead Huntmaster on my family ranch since 2016. He treats our property with the utmost care, and we are happy to continue to open our gates to new hunters and their families thanks to his leadership and professionalism in running our youth hunts. Join us in congratulating Rodney for this well-deserved honor!"

This is to remind all Hunter Education Instructors to schedule their fall courses and order their supplies THIS MONTH! Please order supplies no less than 3 weeks prior to the 'Course Start Date' to ensure timely delivery.

Scheduling Courses - Especially for NEW instructors, remember to 'Create a Course Location,' FIRST, before adding a course and a Course Start Date. (Note: There is 3-Day window after the Course Start Date to make any changes (number of seats, registering students, changing the date, etc.), but once a course is closed out no changes can be made.

Supply Orders - With an influx of incoming supply orders, staff will try and fill them immediately; however, shipment of orders is based mainly on Course Start Date (i.e. Courses in August will take priority over those in September/October). We have a new hunting seasons poster (green) -- a copy of which will be sent with each order along with Big Time Texas Hunts information. Also, the 2024-2025 Outdoor Annuals are now available and will be sent out with the current orders. If you have any questions about your order(s) please email: Supply.Request@tpwd.texas.gov

- Kevin Vo, Hunter Education Administrative Assistant

Final Exam Time

Palo Pinto County, Game Warden, Mike Foster, reviews some of the topics covered prior to administering the course’s final exam. Mike and several volunteer instructors were instrumental in creating the partnership with the Church and gathering the community for one big summertime hunter education festival and course. Congratulations to all!

Below: Santo First Baptist Church’s Fellowship Outdoors Hunter Education Extravaganza attendees, instructors and volunteers gather for a group photo.

TAHPERD - June, Frisco, TX

North Texas Hunter Education Specialist, Monica Bickerstaff, recently exhibited components of the Student Air Rifle (SAR) program in a booth at the 40th Annual Summer Conference of Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) in Frisco. Attendees were introduced to SAR and the benefits of offering the program in physical education courses at their respective schools.

TYHP Hunter Education Week

In late July, the Texas Wildlife Association Headquarters and the Texas Youth Hunting Program Staff and Volunteers hosted weeklong hunter education courses for the general public.  "Today we are proud to host 12 future hunters for a Hunter Education course at TWA headquarters in New Braunfels. A big thank you to Ron Roberts for providing today's instruction. In addition to serving as a TYHP area coordinator, Ron has volunteered as a TYHP 'Huntmaster' for 17 years! - TYHP Facebook Page

TPW's New Archery Trailer

"Last April we found out our team was awarded a grant from Archery Trade Association (ATA) to promote archery around the state and be basically the blueprint for other agencies and organizations around the country. We call it our “Archery Mobile Command Center.” It has the ability to run a 12 target IBO range that can be set up in minimal time, has a custom built in target wall by Morrell Targets for equipment testing and adaptive archery, a media room with both the Accubow System and a PS4 for interactive hunting games, a 4k digital streaming camera that will project whatever we want or are demonstrating onto two connected 65” TV’s, sound system with microphone, a walk in cooler room, game skinning hoist, tons of storage for our Explore Bowhunting training materials and an awards platform at the front of the trailer, for photo ops after tournaments." - TPWD Archery Team

AUGUST

Hunter Ed Instructor Course

Aug. 10th - Harleton, 9am - 4pm

It’s that time of year when school teachers find out that they are required or have the opportunity to teach Hunter Education as part of their fall Ag Science Wildlife (FFA and ATAT) or Outdoor Adventures (Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation) curricula. In an effort to get such educators certified as Hunter Education Instructors, Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist will be conducting an Hunter Education Instructor Course August 10th in Harleton. Link to REGISTRATION:

https://tpwd.elementlms.com/course/hunter-education-instructor-course-291/

Spanish Course - Harlingen

August 24th; 10am - 6pm

SEE LINK BELOW

SEPTEMBER

Saturday, September 28th

National Hunting & Fishing Day 

On July 24th, Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, proclaimed September 28, 2024, to be Hunting and Fishing Day!

The proclamation reaffirmed the annual tradition that reminds Americans and Texans that hunting and fishing is a longstanding pastime and heritage in North American and, in the last century, has funded conservation efforts to the highest degree in the United States, "In 1972, National Hunting and Fishing Day was established to recognize and celebrate hunters and anglers for their priceless contributions to fish and wildlife conservation as well as to our society. At this time, I encourage all Texans to learn about, participate in, and appreciate the time-honored traditions of hunting and fishing and to celebrate the ecological, cultural, and economic benefits they provide."

The proclamation further stated, "Hunting and fishing offer a variety of individual as well as collective benefits. Being able to provide for yourselves and your loved ones is an innate drive, and to this end, hunting and fishing are unrivaled. These activities also deepen relationships with loved ones and with nature itself, boosting one's mental and emotional wellness. Moreover, there are numerous economic and ecological benefits that these activities provide to a state that prides itself on its robust economy. The hunting of invasive species, for example, is a noble pursuit to protect the natural integrity of the Lone Star State."

Take Me Outdoors Houston

Saturday, September 28th

At a time when people in big cities are becoming increasingly disconnected from the world of nature and the outdoors, Take Me Outdoors Houston is hosting its FREE 15th annual, family-oriented, outdoors festival, in conjunction with National Hunting & Fishing Day on Saturday Sept. 28th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Discovery Green, across from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel, sitting between the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park. “By introducing Texans, especially urban adults and kids, to outdoor recreation, our woods, waters, and natural places become more relevant and important to them,” said Heidi Rao, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Hunter Education Specialist, “We believe recreation leads to conservation. If they’re out there enjoying the natural world, they come to care about it, then care for it.”

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department exhibitors this year include State Parks; Inland & Coastal Fisheries; Angler, Boater, and Hunter Education; BOW; and Buffalo Soldiers. Other exhibitors include: Four W’s Outdoors; Harris County Precinct 3 + 4 Parks; National Wild Turkey Federation; Texas Brigades; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Texas Wildlife Association; Texas Youth Hunting Program; Wetlands Center and Baytown Nature Center.

There will also be two raptor demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. by master falconer, John Karger, (see photo) with “Last Chance Forever– the Birds of Prey Conservancy.”  John has a potent conservation message for all Texans!

For more information about the event, contact Heidi Rao, (713) 829-1377, heidi.rao@tpwd.texas.gov.