Looking for a New HE Coordinator

I sent hunter education instructors an email in early November regarding the Hunter Education Manager job opening. Some heard about the job through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), its partner communications or by word of mouth. The job opening looks like it will be extended into December with a few changes. If you are interested, go to: TPWD Jobs. In December and/or January, we plan to start the interview & selection process -- to begin a new era in Hunter Education in Texas in 2025!

I will be staying on with TPWD through May to serve as a mentor, ensuring a smooth transition for the mandatory program and volunteer management system.  Kevin Vo, Hunter Education Administration Assistant, also will be on hand to assist in the training of the new coordinator.

I've had a blessed, rewarding and privileged 35-year career with the department, and an additional five years as executive director with two of TPWD Partners --Texas State Rifle Association and International Hunter Education Association.  I'm not exactly sure what the future holds, but no doubt I will stay involved in outdoor education and conservation circles, and volunteer as a hunter education instructor -- no matter where I travel. "I'm in it for life!" Photo: In November, I received my 35-year service award from TPWD Executive Director, David Yoskowitz, Ph.D., & TPWD Commission Chairman, Jeffrey Hildebrand.

I hope you had a rich and rewarding Thanksgiving holiday, including the enjoyment of traditional hunting, fishing and outdoor trips. I also hope you had a memorable Thanksgiving meal with friends and family. It is certainly my favorite time of the year, mostly pheasant hunting in Iowa or turkeys in Texas. This year, however, my wife and I were able to spend time with our kids and grandkids in the mountains of Colorado -- a most wonderful adventure!  Gobble-gobble!

Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator

Dr. Ed Ashby Bowhunting Award

2024 Recipient - Steve Hall, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Hunter and Bow Hunter Education Coordinator

"Congratulations to Steve Hall, recipient of the 2024 Dr. Ed Ashby Bowhunting Award which was presented at the Longoria-Hosmer Foundation Banquet. Also, a huge THANK YOU to Ricardo and Britt for hosting this event that benefits so many wonderful conservation organizations"

- Rob Neilson - Co-Founder and President, Ashby Bowhunting Foundation

Award Criteria:

• A history of ethical bowhunting practices
• Participation in Bowhunter Education
• Active participation in hunting related conservation organizations
• Animals hunted

Accomplishments:

• 50 years an ethical bowhunter (CO & TX) - elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, feral hogs, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, grouse and small game taken
• 42 years Bowhunter Education Instructor
• 38 years State/National Bowhunter Education Administrator
• 12 years board member of National Bowhunter Education Foundation
• 1999 Committee Chair - 1st National Bowhunter Education Standards
• 2002 - NBEF Bowhunter Education Coordinator of the Year
• 2019 - Initiated "Ashby's Bowhunting Foundation's "12 Factors to Success" as a supplement to the Bowhunter Education Manual

"This last weekend (Oct. 26th & 27th), Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) broke its previous record for a single weekend with 26 Hunts. (Previous record was 22.). A total of 126 Youth and their parents or accompanying adults attended these fun-filled and exciting hunts. The chart below shows the TPWD employees who were lead Huntmasters that weekend.  Additionally, the Lead Huntmasters had help from fellow TPWD colleagues. This is a super example of the partnership at work. TPWD Game Wardens, Blake Satterfield, and Mark Perez also spoke at the Dobbs Run Ranch. Lead Huntmasters are encouraged to invite their TPWD Wildlife Biologists and Game Wardens to speak to the hunters and parents.  Blake regularly assists me with Hunter Education at the Public Library in Rock Springs, where his wife is the librarian."

- TYHP Director, Chris MItchell

Photo: Chris took a nice bull last year in Colorado.  Way to go Chris!

Richard McMillan, mentored by Clay Roberts, took this dandy buck as part of the Inks Lake State Park Mentor Hunts.  All hunters took bucks during the November hunt as they had two full days of hunting, and the bucks were in full rut in the park. Hunters drawn on TPWD Mentor Hunts have little to no hunting experience, so they are treated to a Hunt Orientation by Will Byers, Hunt Coordinator and Assistant Lead Ranger at Inks Lake SP, . and a Deer Hunting 101 from Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, prior to their sighting-in, live-fire exercises and blind assignments/inspections.

Photo: Game Warden Wei-Wei Lin, (standing), along with game warden Armando Aguilar, and State Park police, Jake Holtman, were among the mentors and volunteers assisting with the sighting-in exercises. Special thanks to Inks Lake State Park staff, and regional game wardens and biologists. Thanks, too, to folks like Tom (State Park Host) and Brock Minton, S TX Regional Hunter Education Specialist, who have been assisting with sighting in and the hunt for many years.

Monica Bickerstaff, N TX Hunter Education Specialist, joined Lake Whitney Army Corps of Engineers personnel for yet another year’s successful Irving Police Athletic League (PAL) Urban Outdoors Mentored Hunt. Thirteen Irving youth ranging in age from 10-18 were accompanied by 12 PAL hunt and camp coaches (current and retired Irving PD officers and personnel) to participate in the hunt. The Corps invited the PAL group to travel from the DFW area to assist in their white-tailed deer and hog management efforts. The weekend is entirely free to the youth. The only cost they might incur is that of having their harvest processed by a professional processor once returning home.

This year’s hunt marked 11 years the PAL has received the invitation to assist Lake Whitney Corps with their wildlife management  efforts. The 2024 hunt resulted in a total of 15 animals - 11 deer and 4 hogs – being harvested with crossbows. The young hunters attended TPWD’s Hunter Education course taught by PAL coaches and crossbow practices in the weeks leading up to the hunt.

Bass Pro Shops - Grapevine

Jose Garcia - Irving, is at it again --back at Bass Pro Shops - Grapevine! This was his last class of the year for Garcia and he taught 35 students plus parents. Garcia hangs the hunter education banner so all Bass Pro visitors can easily see the connection between the store and the state's Hunter Education Program -- a WIN-WIN. He also ensures that all are recognized for graduating from his courses, including stuffing them into a stairwell! Way to go, Jose, you are a quintessential instructor in North Texas!

SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Outreach Events

Area Chief, Cheryl LeJune -Tomball is at it again -- doing many outreach events in Southeast Texas, plus enjoying the fruits of her labor with a hunt of her own where she took a nice buck. Her grandson, Tristan Cole, BSA Troop 1014, Cypress, took his first deer. Congratulations to both! 

In early November, Cheryl and Tristan teamed up at the Celebration of Nature and the Outdoors event in Magnolia. LeJune said, "It was a very nice event with many TPWD exhibitors from various state parks and Outdoor Family as well as Texas Wildlife Association, National Forest Service and other local, state and national groups. We got to meet many students from the area taking Wildlife Management in school, soon to be Hunter Education-certified!"

VFW Hosts Annual Course in Rosenberg

VFW Post 3903 hosted their 2nd Annual Hunter Education course led by Area Chief Kitty Haynes (R) - Richmond, with assistance from Donna Cooley (L), and from Jamie Haynes - Richmond and Dane Gare - Houston (both not in photo). This course was a way for the Hunter Education Community to recognize Veteran's contribution to the country, but also to their longtime support of the Hunter Education community. Training youngsters in firearm safety and use has always been something to celebrate within the Veteran community as well!  It was held just prior to Veteran's Day, celebrated soon after. "Thanks for your service!"

First Baptist Church in Spring Hosts SPANISH COURSE

Area Chief, Ivan Benavides, Sr. and his son, Ivan Jr. - Pasadena, held a Spanish Hunter Education Course at the First Baptist Church for 41 students in early November. "This class filled up quite fast, from 20 to 40 people within a week's time," said Benavides. Benavides family has been instrumental in breaking down barriers in Hunter Education, and Ivan assisted TPWD with a revision of the Spanish Hunter Education Program brochure -- now available for anyone to use to recruit Spanish-speaking hunters in Texas.

Rio Grande Valley Team Strikes Again - Arbor Day Celebration

Hunter Education Outreach is a huge part of the efforts of Area Chief, Fernando "Fernie" Rocha - Edinburg (In photo showing family how an action works) and his instructor wife, Dolores "Loree", as well as fellow instructor, Ignacio "Nacho" Perez - McAllen. These dynamic team members, plus several others in the Rio Grande Valley, lead the charge when it comes to teaching basic STUDENT and INSTRUCTOR Courses, attending OUTREACH events such as three this fall in McAllen, Edinburg and surrounding State Parks such as Resaca De La Palma, and leading YOUTH HUNTS such as for the Texas Youth Hunting Program.  They DO IT ALL!  Keep up the great work!

Instructor, Don Discoe - Austin, said, "The photo shows the targets that I have them use to help with proper shot selection, understanding where to pinpoint the shot at the vital area of a white-tailed deer. We practice with the Student Air Rifle Program Embark ® air rifles at 10 meters which also shows the relative distances to deer at 50 - 100 and 200 yards."  He added, " All instructors need to get trained as a SAR instructor, if nothing else, then to use the air rifles in hunter education classroom and situations where small bore rifles are not possible." Targets are available through the Hunter Education Supply Order process.

Kid's Outdoor Zone

Don Discoe, who uses the live-fire targets featured above in his training, teaches for the Kid's Outdoor Zone (KOZ) -- a faith-based worldwide organization begun in Austin and now headquartered in Smithville. KOZ Founder and Director, T.J. Greaney, a hunter education and youth hunt organizer, is releasing a new book, stating, "It's going to be here soon! The newest Coyote series, The Coyote's Virtues. 33 Virtues Every Young Man Should Know."  He added, "Every boy needs to understand who he is and what it takes to be a man of strength and honor. Be watching for the launch!"  KOZ incorporates Hunter Education, Archery, Student Air Rifle Program, Youth Hunts, Summer Camps, and much more as part of their teachings.

Applications Now Open for Target Range Phase 1 Planning Grants

The Target Range Program provides funding for the phase I – Planning Grant – with a maximum of $250,000 for the cost associated with the planning of the target range projects. Reimbursable grants can be up to 90% of eligible project cost.

Applications are submitted to TPWD as a phase I – Planning Grant and are to fund the professional services associated with the planning phase necessary to begin a construction project using federal funds. Eligible projects costs include plans/specifications, environmental/cultural permits, and other professional fees associated with the planning of the proposed eligible construction project.  Applicants who successfully complete the planning grant will be given priority for a future Construction Grant dependent on available funding.   

All planning costs must be based on target range elements eligible for grant funding which may include indoor/outdoor public target and/or archery ranges, fencing, gates, equipment, restrooms, parking areas, and ADA accessibility features. TPWD administers the Target Range Program that is funded in Texas under the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This federally funded program receives its funding from a portion of the excise taxes generated with the purchase of specific hunting and shooting equipment. 

Applications opened on November 1, 2024, with a deadline of February 3, 2025 at 5:00pm CST. Additional information can be found HERE!

Please contact Immanuel Salas at Immanuel.Salas@tpwd.texas.gov for info.