Changing Lives - One at a Time

In January, I was once again privileged to serve as a national instructor for the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLFT) Program. Held at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), federal and state fish and wildlife agency professionals from throughout the United States attend the week-long training to become more familiar with hunting and hunter's role in conservation. Qualifying professionals are those who know little about hunting, but who deal with hunters within their agency mission and/or job duties. They gain hunter education certification and learn about hunting demographics, conservation history and the dollars generated through Pittman Robertson excise taxes collected from hunters and target shooters. They also learn about how to hunt - trying it themselves - as part of a full experience.  While the goal is not necessarily to turn them into hunters, it helps them better understand and empathize with an activity that is a "way of life' for many of us. It gives them first-hand knowledge and skills and changes their attitudes to a high degree. For some participants, it changes their lives immediately. For an instructor, it is extremely rewarding to see the transition that takes place from day 1 to day 5.

I experienced that feeling with participant 'Maddie' (photo) who went from zero to a hundred. We deemed her the "cheerleader" on day 1 due to her exuberance, excitement and outgoing personality. She was a delight in the classroom. However, it was while coaching and guiding her on a pheasant hunt, where I witnessed a very personal shift, one that took her from, "What's this all about? to making hunting a lifelong pursuit. She opened up during her hunt that her dad, who had just passed, "Would be proud if he could see her now..."  I reminded her, "He IS proud watching down on her!"  (Queue the 'choked throat' when I uttered that.)

"One person at a time" -- quite an investment, but quite a program!  I've witnessed it several dozen times while being involved as an instructor for CLFT.  Not only are we improving the profession, we are improving people's lives. Hunting does that!

Steve Hall - Hunter Education Coordinator

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.

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

AWARDS and INCENTIVES: Instructors will be recognized for excellent service in 2024 and for long-term service (top incentive awards) to the Texas Hunter Education Program. 

Photo: John Polasek, College Station, was recently honored as the 2024 IHEA-USA Instructor of the Year for Texas and will be honored, once again, in front of his peers during the upcoming 2025 Awards Ceremony.

LINK To REGISTER:

https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/2025-texas-hunter-education-instructors-annual-conference

There were 30+ Hunter & Bowhunter Education Instructors who attended the annual Southeast Texas Hunter Education Instructor Meeting in January.  The location was the Mariott Hotel & Convention Center in The Woodlands.  Each year, the Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) allows Heidi Rao, S TX Hunter Education Specialist, to bring Hunter Education and its Volunteers to the HSCF Annual Convention and Worldwide Expo. Each attendee receives a day pass to enjoy the show after the meeting. Joe Betar, HSCF Executive Director, opened the meeting with a heartfelt story about his love for the outdoors and passion for hunting, which led him to his career. We greatly appreciate the partnership - and, if you missed it, plan to attend next year's gathering!

John Poole (photo), Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) Executive Director, stopped by to say 'hello' and introduce himself and talk about TSRA.  Hannah Muegge, TSRA 2nd Vice President, and SAR Basic Air Rifle Instructor Trainer (BARIT) introduced the Student Air Rifle Program to attendees.  Briana Nicklow, Texas Youth Hunting Program East TX Field Operations Coordinator, gave updates and successes with TYHP, and many of the attendees are also TYHP Huntmasters.  Rob Neilson, President of Ashby Bowhunting Foundation, introduced the program which is the authority on "Maximizing Arrow & Broadhead Terminal Performance."

Over 250 high school students, from Houston and surrounding school districts, who are seeking careers in wildlife management, conservation, law enforcement, and the outdoors attended the annual Houston Safari Club Foundation's Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) on Friday of the Convention. YWCE is designed to educate youth on the importance of wildlife conservation and the role of hunters, outfitters, conservation groups and governments in sustained use of wildlife around the world.  Heidi Rao, SE Texas Hunter Education Specialist, presented “Youth Hunting Opportunities in Texas” and was available to answer questions and offer contacts and connections to these future leaders in our field. Briana Nicklow, TYHP East Texas Field Operations Coordinator, (L) and Tracey Prothro, City of Baytown Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, (R) also presented, and took the time to join Rao for a 'selfie' following their sessions.

YWCE Chair, Susan Kalich, recognized TPWD's Heidi Rao and Gary Rose with appreciation awards for their support of YWCE. Heidi has represented TPWD and Hunter Education every year since the beginning. Gary is a private biologist and the sponsor of the Dan L Duncan Scholarship. To date, HSCF has awarded 697 scholarships totaling $3.2 million dollars to outstanding students majoring in the fields of range management, wildlife management, biology, and related conservation fields of study. Recipients of this prestigious and competitive scholarship must meet stringent academic and performance requirements to be considered as candidates. Congratulations, Heidi and Gary, for your hard work over the years!

At the 22nd Annual "Superhunt" held at Cave Creek near Fredericksburg and sponored by the Cave Creek Wildlife Management Association, Chris Mitchell, Director of the Texas Youth Hunting Program, said, "In two weekends in January alone, a total of 40 hunts were held, setting a record for hunts over one weekend (22)." Chris visited both the Superhunt and the Harper Wildlife Management Association Hunt (see below) to thank the volunteers and landowners for their efforts in bolstering hunting opportunities in Texas.  He also taught a hunter education course (see photo above) the Friday prior the weekend. Former TPWD Executive Director, Andy Sansom, with the Hershey Ranch, is shown here receiving a TYHP Appreciation Certificate, along his wife Nona.  The Hershey Ranch and Hunter Education Instructor, Ryan Spencer, sponsor many TYHP hunts and host several hunters and their parents during the Superhunt, too. This is just one example of the generosity of private landowners in hosting and sustaining hunting opportunities for youth, women and adults.

Photo:  In his typically motivating and energetic manner, TYHP Huntmaster and Hunter Education Instructor, Dave Baxter, Houston, pumps up the youth hunters and parents Friday night prior to the weekend,"Be punctual, respectful, reliable, responsible, do your best each day"...Wow -- what a great message, Dave --Thanks for all you do!

"THANK YOU for your valuable assistance and hard work to make Super Hunt 22 a success! Our final harvest totals were: 37 white-tailed deer (27 doe/10 spikes), 1 axis deer, 1 hog and 1 bobcat! The tallest spike was 9" tall and harvested by Bryce Galvan. The "heaviest doe" was 70.4 lbs. and taken by Gunner Evans. They each received a $25 gift card from Los Cazadores." - Doug DuBois, Jr., TYHP Lead Huntmaster.

The 9th Annual Harper Wildlife Management Association Youth Hunt, in memory of Jacob Krebs, was led by Hunter Education Instructor, Will Krebs - Fredericksburg, and "his posse" of huntmasters, hunter education instructors, volunteers and landowners, the same weekend as the Superhunt, just down the road from Fredericksburg. The hunters (see photo below) learned everything from CWD and enjoyed archery, shooting and other activities, but also cleaned lots of deer, hog and even a turkey or two.  The strength of big hunts like the Harper hunt are the partnership with the state wildlife management associations, the number of landowners willing to host hunts on their ranches, the Texas Youth Hunting Program and huntmaster training, approach, hunter education program and the hearts and passion of volunteers like Jacob Krebs and his dad, Will Krebs.

We met Lisa McCurdy and her children, although they had never participated in outdoor activities like hunting, they showed interest in the outdoors and what we do. After a brief discussion we let them know we would be holding a Hunter Education class in the near future. They signed up and all received their certifications. Shortly after, we started the process of getting Falyn signed up for our “RPR All Girls Hunt” with lead huntmaster Kevin Jackson. Weeks later, Huntmaster, Matthew Stall and I met them at a shooting range, and we quickly got Falyn dialed in and comfortable shooting although she had never shot a high powered rifle before. Photo: Matt Stall would also accompany them as their guide/Huntmaster on the hunt where Falyn proudly harvested her first deer with her mom there to witness it.

Conner Cloutet and his father, Johnathan show off their success during day two of the youth hunt at Welder Wildlife Refuge. Along with the 6-pointer, Conner also shot at doe. Young hunter, Abigail and her dad, Johnny Migl, along with guides, Taylor Zamora, Amber Brown, and Ty Higginbotham, took a 4-point buck, doe and hog. Koen and Kurt Stancik and guides, Ty Higginbotham and John Failla, harvested a doe and hog. Kevin Osborne and his father, Kevin, along with guide, Phil Woods, shot a doe. Alex and Roy Rodriguez with guide, John Failla, took one doe and a 6-point buck.

"On Sunday, January 5th, Game Wardens from the Rockport and Corpus Christi Districts held the 4th Annual Youth Duck Hunt for kids from the Rockport-Fulton area. Our goal with this hunt is to introduce local kids to the resources they have in their own backyard, provide a good time for all with safe and legal hunting, and hopefully spark something in them that will carry on for years to come. Though many of these hunts are duck-dependent on how well we do, we still try to create great and lasting memories for the kids. This year was the largest group we have had since we started doing the hunt, and we hope to continue growing as the years progress."  - Justin Solis, Aransas County Game Warden

Handgun Hunting 101 - January

Milstead Ranch – Uvalde, TX

The course covered handgun safety, ammunition selection for hunting, marksmanship, field shooting positions, live-fire exercise to determine effective range, long-range target shooting (700 yards) and concluded with a deer hunt where each student harvested a deer.  All made perfect shots at distances ranging from 25 to 50 yards. No misses, no wounding loss. We presented a Certificate of Appreciation to landowner, Lee Milstead (photo) - David Rios - Uvalde

Dove 101 Workshop and Hunt - El Paso

- a TPWD Women Employees - R3 Initiative

Randy Spradlin, W TX Hunter Education Specialist, who organized the workshop and hunt said, "The weather curtailed the hunt, as snow and ice limited travel for some of the women. Trans-Pecos R3 Coordinator Olivia Gray (Fort Davis) pulled Lydia Pagel (Interpreter - Franklin Mountains State Park) and Krysta Demere (Biologist - Fort Stockton) for the hunt. Thanks to Joe Hereque (Fort Hancock) for hosting the hunt at his dairy, and TPWD Game Warden Captain, Ray Spears, for the use of the conference room at the Region I, District I office."

Photo L to R: Lydia Pagel, Krysta Demere, and Olivia Gray

"Resting from the  El Paso trip was short lived with a trip to SHOT Show in Las Vegas.  Day one brought a great surprise running into TPWD Proud Partner, Judy Rhodes (L) with DIVAS - Women's Outdoor Worldwide and Hunter Education Instructor, Julie Clark - Lampasas, a DIVA Member and owner, Austin Gun Club owner." - Randy

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!)

Support for TYHP

Tentative dates for the Texas Wildlife Association Sportsman’s Celebration Banquets

1. Alpine – Thurs, Jul 24
2. Victoria – Fri, Aug 1
3. San Angelo – TBD
4. Amarillo – Fri, Aug 22
5. College Station – Thurs, Sept 4
6. Lufkin – Sat, Sept 13
7. Kingsville – Sat, Sept 27
8. New Braunfels - Thurs, Jun 19

To volunteer, contact:

Nicole Vonkrosigk - 719-645-1007; nvonkrosigk@texas-wildlife.org

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.