2025 - A New Year to Ponder

First, I wish you and yours a very SAFE, happy and prosperous new year!  Second, please order supplies and set up a course early in the new year, preferably prior to the spring turkey season. Third, I would like each of you to expect much CHANGE in the coming year!

There will be a new hunter education manager, and a new "shooting sports coordinator", not to mention the looming retirements of several regional staff members. Over the next few years, the Texas Hunter Education Program will take on a whole new look -- and you will be poised to move forward to tackle new and different challenges such as the rapid changes in technology. Good news is what you provide is real learning -- outdoors -- away from indoor technologies and traps. Hunting, target shooting and the outdoors provide tangible escapes in today's world, especially to urban audiences. I hope each of you embrace the new changes and challenges!

Over the holidays, I randomly watched Pearl Harbor, and there was a line in the movie that made me smile, "There is nothing stronger than the heart of a VOLUNTEER!"  I'm proud or our accomplishments and our programs -- which are most certainly led by and through the actions of VOLUNTEERS. I thank God for every one of you who dedicate your valuable time to teach, lead hunts, conduct outreach events and serve 1) Hunter Education, 2) Youth & Adult Hunting Programs (TWA Partnership), and 3) Target Shooting Sports and related organizations (e.g. SAR, NASP, 4-H Shooting Sports Partnership, TSRA, NSCA-NSSA, etc.), all which benefit Texas families and our great Outdoor Heritage. Please STAY INVOLVED!

Photo: I had the pleasure of serving as hunt guide for Karlyn (age 9) and her dad, Jason Brown (L), at a Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) Hunt on the Dos Arroyos Ranch in December.  Longtime friend & colleague, AgriLife Extension Partner, Larry Hysmith, served as 'Huntmaster'. What a great hunt! (See Texas Youth Hunting Program article below.)  Blessings to you and your families in 2025!

Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator

Hunter Education Staff were invited to conduct training at the Law Enforcement Training Center near Hamilton in early December. A BIG THANKS to Cheryl LeJune, Area Chief - Tomball, and Heidi Rao, SE Hunter Education Specialist, for traveling from southeast Texas to cover "Policies & Procedures" alongside Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, who presented "Program" information (Texas and national - IHEA-USA). Thanks, too, to Kevin Vo, Hunter Education Administrative Assistant, Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist, and Brock Minton, S TX Specialist, who also came a long way from Corpus Christi. Cadets were certified as Hunter and Bowhunter Education Instructors. They also were introduced to Hunting Incident Investigations & Game Warden-Volunteer Interview procedures.

Alan Cain - New Wildlife Director

Craig Bonds, TPWD Chief Operating Officer, said about new hire, Alan Cain, "Following bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech (Wildlife Management) and Texas A&M Kingsville (Range and Wildlife Management), respectively, and a short stint as a Research Associate at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in Kingsville, Alan began his career with TPWD’s Wildlife Division as a Private Lands Assistance biologist in March 2000. Alan progressed through roles of greater complexity and responsibility, including wildlife biologist and District Leader in South Texas, almost thirteen years as the White-tailed Deer Program Leader, and the most recent year-and-a-half as the Big Game Program Director"

Bonds further stated, "Alan has a proven track record as a leader who can strengthen relationships and build trust with private landowners, enabling our agency to manage public resources in a predominantly private lands state. This will be accomplished on a strong foundation of applied science and with the collaboration of engaged public, non-profit, and private partners. Alan will be a valuable addition to the agency’s senior leadership team and lead a talented team of wildlife professionals inside TPWD to help fulfill our agency’s mission. Please join me in welcoming Alan Cain to his new role."

Bonds added, "Finally, I acknowledge and express my sincere appreciation to Meredith Longoria for her exemplary fulfillment of the Interim Wildlife Division Director role since John Silovsky’s retirement this past fall."

PRESS RELEASE HERE

2024 was a year chalked full of courses, events and accomplishments -- contributing to the steady, upward growth of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) programs. Hunter Education, along with its sister programs, reaches hundreds of thousands of Texans with meaningful learning -- FUN, knowledge, skills and attitudes that provide for a richer, higher quality of life. As long as participants embrace safe, legal and ethical practices taught in Hunter Education, Texas is a much better place. At the heart of such programs are individuals, most of whom are VOLUNTEERS, that dedicate themselves to Resource, Responsibility, Respect and Restraint -- the "4 Rs" that form the pillars of our outdoor education efforts. In Hunter Education the aim is to also teach the "4C's" - being Careful, Confident, Courteous and Considerate. Remember these as you teach your courses, beginning in 2025! Photo: Area Chief, Charles Markus - Helotes, and Hunter Education Instructor, Jason Stewart - Highlands, enjoyed processing their deer at last year's Instructor Conference.

Deer Hunting 101 Instructors

David Rios – Area Chief HE Instructor and Senior TPWD Biologist (See photo of David assisting hunter, Ruby Ayala, with her sighting-in exercises); Brock Minton – S TX Hunter Ed Specialist; Hunter Education Instructors and SW Texas College Wildlife Instructors, Daniel Tidwell and Dean Wiemers - Uvalde; Hunter Education Instructors and TPWD Wildlife Biologists, Reese Pennell (LaSalle County) and Chico Barrera (Kleberg County); and TPWD Wildlife Biologist, Sergio Gonzalez (Uvalde County).

Deer Hunting 101 Hunters

Ruby Ayala (shown here with her first ever deer taken) – TPWD Wildlife Biologist (Webb County); South Texas College Wildlife Students, Alexis Moses, Iliana Santos-Cabrales, Victor Garcia, Jorge Salinas and Gianna Ademek. Ruby, Alexis, and Iliana accomplished their first big game harvest and will be recognized at the Texas Big Game Awards banquet in Kingsville this Summer. Congratulations to all hunters for taking their basic hunter education experience to a much higher level through the Hunting 101 Program.  It puts the safe, legal and ethical practices learned in basic hunter education to work!

TYHP Youth Hunt - Dos Arroyos Ranch

The Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) was created to expand opportunities for youth hunters, especially on private ranches.  Over 1200 young hunters (and growing) and their parents/guardians take advantage of TYHP, annually, and are served by a vast network of trained "huntmasters" and volunteers (e.g. range masters, cooks, guides, hunter education instructors and individuals) at over 220 hunts set up and conducted by the Huntmasters and their recruits.

Larry Hysmith, Texas AgriLife Extension - College Station, longtime leader of natural resources and 4-H Shooting Sports, has partnered with TPWD for over 30 years, and the partnership continues to grow.  The purpose of the sub-grant is to let Extension staff integrate Hunter Education, and its many facets, within its own agency which operates in each of the counties of Texas. Larry and his graduate and temporary staff conduct Hunter Education student and instructor courses, and train hundreds of 4-H Shooting Sports Volunteers and Master Volunteers each year. Programs also include the new Student Air Rifle Program, Becoming an Outdoor Woman and Hunter Education Outreach programs.  Here Larry leads the Dos Arroyos TYHP Hunt featured above as 'Lead Huntmaster' -- coordinating and organizing the hunt with its many facets. Below, Larry leads a 2024 Texas 4-H Summer Camp, certifying students in hunter education.

TARGET SHOOTING SPORTS

TPWD has employed a mobile sporting clays trailer and range since 1995, reaching thousands each year with an introductory shooting and/or competition experience through programs such as "WHIZ-Bang and Ag Clays (FFA).  Charlie Wilson - Cuero, was the original 'pied piper', and he was followed by one of his proteges, Morgan Harbison, formerly the Central TX Hunter Education Specialist.  Morgan moved on to the Park Police Cadet Academy (see article above) in October. Hunter Education is currently looking for someone to take his place in College Station, plus integrate shotgun experiences with other target shooting sports & opportunities such as the new Student Air Rifle Program in schools.

SAVE THE DATES

May 2-4, CAMP ARANZAZU, Rockport

The Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association (THEIA) is, once again, sponsoring the annual Hunter Education INSTRUCTOR CONFERENCE & AWARD CEREMONY.

There will much training on hand for instructors to hone their teaching knowledge and skills. There will also be training in topics like bird watching and angler education (salt water fishing) from instructors like Hunter Ed Coordinator, Steve Hall, and Area Chief Hunter Education Instructor, Junior Munoz, from nearby Aransas NWR.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. - TPWD Executive Director

AWARDS and INCENTIVES:  Instructors will be recognized for excellent service in 2024 as well as Incentive for long-term service to the Texas Hunter Education Service.

Photo:  Last year's recipient of the INSTRUCTOR of the YEAR was Cheryl LeJune - Tomball, who exemplifies excellent service at all levels -- basic courses, instructor courses, programs like BOW and SAR and hunter education outreach.

Texas to Grow the SAR Program

With a date of October 2025, Texas is planning its first Student Air Rifle Program (SAR) State Tournament.  TPWD has trained over 400 individuals as Basic Air Riflery Instructors. Admittedly, most of those trained have been hunter education instructors and individuals using the program and equipment for live-fire exercises in courses and at fairs, festivals, state parks and other outreach opportunities. "However, just like with the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP)," said Steve Hall, Hunter Education & SAR Coordinator and Vice President on the SAR Board," SAR is best used in schools and within PE curricula alongside NASP!"  Hunter Education Staff and other BARITs (BAR Instructor TRAINERS) will be training teachers around the state this year, with an emphasis on recruiting teams for the first state tournament. Hall reflected, "When we began the NASP tournament in 2004 alongside the Texas Field Archery Association annual tournament, it really got us going on building a program that now serves over 80,000 shooters in Texas schools and millions of arrows shot in gyms throughout the school year."

Photo: Heidi Rao, SE TX Hunter Education Specialist, (R) coordinated a Student Air Rifle (SAR) program exhibit at TAPHERD Conference in Galveston in early December. "We spoke to many PE and outdoor educators to introduce them to SAR," said Area Chief and TAPHERD exhibitor/volunteer, Cheryl LeJune. Pictured (L to R) are Scott Lightle - Area Chief and BARIT - Katy, Cheryl LeJune - Area Chief and BARIT - Tomball, Hannah Muegge, TSRA Board Member and BARIT - Boling, and Heidi Rao - Houston.

UPCOMING BARI TRAINING

Basic Air Riflery Instructor (BARI)

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 9am-4pm

Long Acres Ranch; 2335 Williams Way Blvd; Richmond TX 77469

No Cost for Training, REGISTER HERE

(BARI Certification upon completion!)

Mark Miller (R), 35 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife, celebrates with fellow TPWD staff including Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator, and fellow IT staff member, Rick Parsons (L) who retired during COVID, but worked many years with Mark on the Hunter, Angler, Boater Education (HABES) System.  HABES was the first database available to Hunter Education Staff - storing course, student and instructor data since 1972. They also were instrumental in the development of the current Online Registration System (ORS) in 2017, serving as liaisons between TPWD law enforcement, revenue, financial and Hunter Education staffs and the ORS developer. THANKS and Congrats, Mark and Rick, for service to Hunter Education! Enjoy retirement and don't forget our invitation to become a VOLUNTEER Hunter Education instructor in retirement! 

95-Year-Old Continues to Hunt

Doris Voges - New Braunfels, has hunted for over 85 years, and will continue to do so for more years to come. Doris graced the cover of the Nov. 27th New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung newspaper, holding her 100-year-old rifle and a photo of her with two bucks on the cover of the Herald from November 17, 1959.  Every year, she hunts deer and has averaged a couple each year. She introduced her late husband to hunting, though he was an avid angler. She introduced her two kids to hunting, and according to Nick, her son, "Mom was very instrumental in my learning and love for the outdoors and hunting and all the other outside activities."

Jack Ralph - New Braunfels (Retired - Texas Parks and Wildlife and former hunting lease companion) sent in a copy of the article about Doris and suggested she'd be a "Terrific Ambassador for Hunting in Texas!"  I definitely agree, Jack, and will pass this article on to our TPWD Communications Division staff, so they can possibly contact her and feature her in our media and/or marketing efforts!

Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator

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.