Dreams Come True Annual IHEA-USA Heritage Hunt · 2018. 12. 5. · your plot is used at an optimal...

For Distribution in Canada, El Salvador, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa and the United States of America.

Volume 17, No. 4Winter 2017

Dreams Come TrueAnnual IHEA-USA

Heritage HuntWhy We Need to TeachChildren to HuntLessons Learned—Back to the Basics

www.IHEA-USA.org This issue made possible by Winter 2017 • Hunter & Shooting Sports Education Journal 3

The International Hunter Education Association – UnitedStates of America (IHEA-USA) is an organization involvingsome 55,000 instructors across the United States ofAmerica. The IHEA-USA is affiliated with the Association ofFish and Wildlife Agencies.

The Hunter & Shooting Sports Education Journal is theofficial publication of the International Hunter EducationAssociation-United States of America. It is published fourtimes annually (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) and distrib-uted to more than 55,000 administrators and volunteerinstructors in Canada, El Salvador, Mexico, New Zealand,Peru, South Africa and the United States of America, that areresponsible for education programs that total 650,000 newhunters annually. The purpose of the publication is toincrease the skill and effectiveness of hunter education inadministrators and instructors so they can improve theenthusiasm, safety, ethics and proficiency of their students asthey embark on lifetime enjoyment of hunting and theshooting sports.

The articles and stories contained herein are theopinions of the authors and not necessarily those of theIHEA-USA, its personnel or publishers. Material containedherein cannot be copied or reproduced in any form withoutthe express permission of the IHEA-USA.

Neither the IHEA-USA, nor its Publisher, sponsors, oradvisors assume any responsibility or liability for the accu-racy of the information and/or articles published herein.Under no circumstance will the IHEA-USA, nor its Publisher,its sponsors or advisors be liable for any form of loss,damage or expense arising or resulting from reliance uponthe information contained herein, whether the same isbased upon strict liability, tort or otherwise.

Send all advertising materials to:Focus Group, Inc.

2201 SW 152nd St., Suite #3Burien, WA 98166206-281-8520

Publisher: Focus Group, Inc.Brian Thurston

Editor: Susie KieferGraphic Design & Production:

Craig Robinson • Wireless GroupInternational Hunter Education Association-

United States of AmericaMission Statement:

Continuing the heritage of huntingworldwide by developing safe, responsible,knowledgeable and involved hunters.

40064705

This issue of the Journalmade possible by:

Departments

20 Dreams Come True atthe Annual IHEA-USAHeritage HuntBy Steve Hall, TX Hunter Education Coordinator

The AFWA NorthAmerican TrapperEducation ProgramBy Bryant White, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Program Manager of Trapping Policyand Furbearer Research

24

4 President’s Corner: Planning Your BackyardConservation

By Melissa Neely, President IHEA-USA

6 Executive Director’s Comments:IHEA-USA Third-Party Review Process in Place!

By Brad Heidel, Executive Director IHEA-USA

10 USFWS Update: Pennsylvania Game CommissionHuman Dimensions Research Highlights

Co-written by Christina Milloy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and CorenJagnow, Pennsylvania Game Commission

14 NSSF Notes: 2017 Rimfire Challenge WorldChampionship Winners Announced

By Jennifer L.S. Pearsall, NSSF Director, Public Relations28 Gallery of Guns Champions of Hunter Education By Joe Arterburn

35 Lesson Learned—Back to the Basics By Keith Byers, Hunting and Shooting Related Consultants LLC

Features Cover Photo Courtesy of Collene KieferVol. 17 No.4 – Winter 2017

A s we relax into the quiescent ofwinter, our thoughts turn fromhunt and harvest towards a time

of reflection and planning. Some of youmay plan your curriculum for next year’shunter education class, next year’s hunt,or if you are like me, you are workingon your land management plans. As abiologist and land manager, winter isthe perfect time to set pen to paper anddevelop these plans. As educators to students of the

outdoors, we are skilled at teachingsafety and ethics and strive to lead byexample in all things related. Yet ourgoal is also to pass on the tradition ofhunting, which includes respect for thehabitats that sustain the flocks, coveys,and herds that we harvest from. As

hunters and shooters, we are conserva-tionists. As a conservationist, it is timefor us to think about how we candevelop a plan for our own lands forconservation in our backyards. Thecontinuity of habitats between state andprivate is crucial for the success ofspecies given their different needsseasonally and the large home range inwhich many of them live. The planningneed not be difficult. Aldo Leopold said,“Acts of creation are normally reservedfor gods and poets, but humbler folksmay circumvent this restriction if theyknow how to plant a pine for example,one need be neither a god or poet; oneonly need a good shovel.” Planning foryour project doesn’t need to be labori-ous, complex, or expensive.

The first step is observation. Observethe animals and markings on your prop-erty and take inventory of what is thereor isn’t there that you’d like to see. Takea walk on your property at differenttimes of the day as not all animals areactive at the same hours. This will allowyou to build a more comprehensive listof what is in abundance. Record thetime, weather, species, and number ofindividuals that you see. Look for signsof their presence as well. Tracks, markson trees, or dens are all signs of animals.If you are unsure of what the tracks are,take a photo with an item, such as aquarter, for scale. If you are unsure ofthe animal, record information such assize, using comparison to an animal youare familiar with, color, distinguishing

4 Hunter & Shooting Sports Education Journal • Winter 2017 This issue made possible by www.IHEA-USA.org

By Melissa Neely, President IHEA-USA

President’s Corner

Planning Your Backyard Conservation


markings, the way it carries its tail, orother traits that stand out which will helpidentify the animal. Next, observe theplants on your property. Do you havemostly woods, fields, or manicuredlawn? What do those habitats look like?Are they contiguous, composed of only afew species or rich in diversity? Take asoil sample and have it tested for the typeof soil (clay, loam, sand, or a mixture ofeach) as this will limit the types of plantsthat can grow on your land.Once you have a working inventory,

think about your goals for your prop-erty. Maybe you’d like to plant nativeseed plants for birds to eliminate theneed for a summer bird feeder. Birdfeeders are great to watch birds, but notso fun when they bring in bears. Maybeyou’d like to create a food plot for deerand game birds that is beneficial year’round. If so, you’ll want to pick out theright type of native cover seed for yoursoil conditions; prepare a plantingschedule, including crop rotation, toallow for proper nutrient cycling; set upmowing schedules that won’t harmgrassland nesting birds or young fawns;and create buffers for animals to feelsafe to travel to the nearest woodlot soyour plot is used at an optimal rate. Just grabbing a bag of “food plot seed”off a shelf can create frustration if itisn’t the right blend for your area oradequate for the goals of your plan.Goals and objectives should be specificwith realistic timelines for plants togrow and wildlife to learn the newresources on your property. Also,remember that what you plan for onyour property influences populations at a broad scale as everything isconnected. The geese who use yourneighbor’s pond may feed in your field.The real key to success is twofold.

First, remember to have patience withthe process. An oak stand will takeyears to grow and most plants do notreally produce fully until their second orthird year. Have fun and do not worryabout perfection. Keep a journal of whatactions you take, how wildlife inventoryadjusts, and the success of your actions.Sometimes it takes several attempts tofind the right balance of what is neededon your property to help with popula-tion goals. Second, don’t be afraid to

reach out for assistance, prepared withthe inventory and goals you’ve alreadydeveloped. There are many organiza-tions who are happy to help with theplanning process from your local statebiologist, university cooperative exten-sions, soil and water conservationdistrict, or forester to regional federaltechnicians with the U.S. ForestService, Bureau of Land Management,U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or

Bureau of Land Management. Successwith your property’s habitat manage-ment is all part of the matrix to achievegoals as a biologist that we set on a stateand national level for population levels,diversity, and habitat connectedness.So, get your pens out and start planning,so that when the ground thaws you areready to get your shovels dirty andincrease your local populations forharvest well into the future.n

Standards: Why Are TheyImportant?

I n order to ensure that our studentsare given clear and precise instruc-tion, it becomes necessary to align

instruction with standards. IHEA-USAstandards to be precise.Standards ensure better accountabil-

ity—holding both instructors and ouronline vendors responsible for what isbeing taught in their courses is key. Thepractice of aligning learning to standardsalso helps ensure that a higher level oflearning and retention is attained by ourstudents, and guides instructors andvendors in the process of course devel-opment and assessment, helping to keepthem on track.Standards-based instruction helps

guide the planning, implementation, andassessment of student learning. The useof standards to streamline instructionensures that teaching practices deliber-ately focus on agreed-upon learningtargets. Expectations for student learningare mapped out with each prescribedstandard.Instructors and vendors follow stan-

dards-based teaching to ensure that theirstudents meet the demands targeted.Following a standards-based model forclassroom and online assessment andinstruction is an approach instructors andvendors use to track student perform-ance and plan focused instruction tomeet the specific needs of students.

The Third-Party Review ProcessIt is with great excitement that I am

able to tell you that IHEA-USA now hasour Third-Party Review process inplace! It has taken the efforts of many tosee this process through and ensure thatnot only are the standards in place, butalso that these standards are beingincorporated in the courses provided toour students. Thank you to all who havebeen involved in this process!There are many reasons behind a

third-party review process. First wouldbe to remove any bias in the evaluationof the courses provided. Second wouldbe to ensure the consistency of the eval-uation, and third would be to ensure thereview is done in a timely manner.Currently, this process will review and

certify the online hunter education

By Brad Heidel, Executive Director IHEA-USA, [email protected]

Executive Director’s Comments

IHEA-USA Third-Party ReviewProcess in Place!

(See Executive Director’s Commentson page 8)


vendors that are being used across theUnited States. Love online learning orhate it, it is not going away. For almost allstates and many students, the onlinelearning opportunity has been beneficial;but we are not going to debate that today.With this being said, your organization isgoing to ensure IHEA-USA standards forboth content and delivery are met by ourpartners and online vendors!

IHEA-USA certification of thesecourses benefit the vendors, states, andmost importantly, the students. Theonline vendors benefit from certificationwith ability to ensure their customers(the states) that their course has met thestandards that were developed by theirpeers. The certification immediatelyopens the door for a state to start aconversation with the online vendor whohas been certified by the IHEA-USA.For states it relieves them from having

to do the work of reviewing every coursethat is presented to them. It truly makesit very easy for a state administrator todetermine which course vendors theywill work with and virtually ensuresreciprocity. The students who choose touse the IHEA-USA-certified onlineoptions available will benefit the most.These students will know they aretaking a course that has met the currentstandards developed by the 50 stateswhich will help ensure their certificationwill reach across state lines. Studentswill also have the ability to choose thecourse which will best suit their needs.Their course and standards will addressall the areas that need to be addressed tohelp them become safe, responsible,knowledgeable, and informed hunters. Again, we are very excited to be able

to perform this service for our volunteerinstructors, students, vendors, and indi-vidual state administrators. Be on thelookout to see which online courses willsoon be IHEA-USA certified for bothcontent and delivery!Be sure to get someone out shooting

and hunting that has never huntedbefore, and have a safe hunt.n

Send Us Your Stories!One of the main goals of the Journal is

to provide a platform for the exchangeof ideas and teaching experience that canhelp improve the education process of themore than 650,000 new hunters annually.In order to fulfill that goal we

need the input of instructors in thefield. Please submit your stories and/orphotos about teaching techniques thatwork for you, thoughts about the state ofour hunting heritage today, anecdotalstories about “it happened to me” in class,visual training aids, etc... don’t worry aboutspelling or grammar.

Every submission that is chosen forprint receives a gift from supportingmanufacturers.

Send your submission to Susie Kieferat [email protected].

No computer? You can mail your submis-sion to: IHEA-USA Journal, PO Box 432,Wellington, CO 80549.

(Executive Director’s Comments,continued from page 6)

T he Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) Program and theHunter Education subprograms

are well-known for funding wildliferesearch and restoration projects, as wellas hunter education. Yet important humandimensions research is also funded that

can contribute to our understanding ofhunters, and is especially important in thedevelopment of state recruitment/reten-tion/reactivation (R3) efforts. Considersome of the latest research findings andlessons learned conducted by thePennsylvania Game Commission (PGC):

GoHuntPA:Lessons LearnedFrom a TargetedOutreachCampaign

Hunting license sales peaked inPennsylvania (PA) in 1982 with a totalof 1,311,234 licenses sold beforedeclining. PGC started to study licensechurn, and discovered that between2009-2013, 42% of hunters purchased alicense five out of five years, and 11%purchased four out of five years.However, 23% purchased one licenseevery five years, and another 25%purchased two or three licenses everyfive years. In 2011, PGC conducted alapsed hunter survey to determine whatfactors were affecting hunters’ decisionnot to purchase a license. Contributingfactors included:- Amount of personal free time- Not enough places to hunt- Not enough access- Work/family obligations- Not enough game- Not enough trophy game - Cost of licensesThey also asked if lapsed hunters

intended to purchase a license in thecoming year.Given this information, PGC

embarked on a targeted outreachcommunications campaign that would1) target infrequent hunting participants,and 2) connect with hunter identity andmotivate lapsed hunters to reactivate.Test market research was conducted,and a goal of increasing annual licensesales by 1.5% was set with the target ofone million licenses sold annually by2018. GoHuntPA.org was launched infall 2014 and included the website (withresources for purchasing a license, find-ing where to hunt, and tips of what to doafter a hunt), online displays, a mobile

Co-written by Christina Milloy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Coren Jagnow,Pennsylvania Game Commission

USFWS Update

Pennsylvania Game Commission HumanDimensions Research Highlights

Photo Courtesy of Hal Korber, Pennsylvania Game Commission



app, and billboards. What happenedafter the campaign? License salesdeclined by -0.96% in 2014 and another-0.92% in 2015. Would these declineshave been worse without the campaign?It is impossible to know.

Four Lessons the PGC Learned byConducting the GoHuntPACampaign:1) There is no way to measure the

impact of the campaign versus whatwould have happened without it. It’simportant to plan ahead for evaluationand adaptive management. More specif-ically-targeted campaigns with controlgroups allow for better evaluation;2) 60% of the test market said they

were considering buying a license, butplanned behavior did not equal actualbehavior;3) The campaign failed to reverse

license sales trends as projected; and4) The campaign did not reduce any

of the barriers for lapsed hunters

Shooting Range Permit Buyers: Are They Future Hunters?PGC owns and operates 29 public

shooting ranges. Most are unstaffed, andall have rifle ranges between 100-300yards; 16 ranges also have an attachedhandgun range. Regulations require thatrecreational shooters possess a validrange permit or hunting license to usethese facilities. Shooting range permitswere introduced in 2011 and cost $30per year (a resident hunting licensecosts $20 per year.)Who are the range permit holders in

PA? 86% are PA residents, and 88% aremale. 45.3% are ages 25-44 and 31.9%are ages 45-64. These individualsalready own and are familiar withfirearms, know the location of state gamelands, and know how a permit works. IsHunter Education a barrier to this audi-ence buying a hunting license? Twofocus groups of range permit holderswere conducted by Pennsylvania StateUniversity in 2016. They asked about:- Experience purchasing a permit andwhy they chose to use PGC ranges

- Hunter/Trapper Education- Were they aware a resident huntinglicense was cheaper?

- Did they have any interest in hunting?

The Results:- PGC shooting ranges were seen as an alternative to private ranges.Participants were not individualslooking for a gateway to hunting, but people looking for convenienceand shooting opportunity.

- Individuals identified as shooters, not hunters. Most had neverpurchased a hunting license, and also felt the permit was easier andmore convenient to purchase than ahunting license.

- Was hunter education a barrier? Yes and no. Yes because most would rather pay the extra $10 for the permit than take a hunter education course. No because theywere not interested in becominghunters. The reasons given for notwanting to hunt included: not being comfortable with so many otherhunters; not wanting to kill ananimal; and a perceived decline ingame populations.

Female Hunter Focus GroupsOn behalf of PGC, PennState

Harrisburg’s Center for Survey Researchconducted focus groups of femalehunters in February 2017. While manyof the key findings were specific to PA,other findings would be of interest toother state hunter education programsincluding:

Motivation for hunting: Female huntersreported that food was a main motiva-tion for hunting, and also a love ofnature and being outdoors.

Hunter education: A little over half ofthe participants took hunter educationin-person when they were children andthe rest as adults. Most felt the contentof the hunter education course wasgood, but the lecture format was boring.

Marketing to female hunters: Femalehunters surveyed overwhelminglydisliked pink camo. All participantsexpressed frustration with women’shunting clothing (high cost, lack ofselection, and unrealistic fit). Mostparticipants agreed that women’s huntswould be a great way to get morewomen involved in hunting.

Challenges being a female hunter:Participants noted a number of chal-lenges, including going to the bathroom,


difficulty dragging an animal out of thewoods, issues with equipment sizingand functionality, and unequal treatment(especially by their male counterparts.)

How to get more women into hunting:Participants suggested ways to get morewomen to hunt including utilizingsocial media to create women-onlyhunting forums, do better advertising ofwomen-only hunting events, considerwomen-only hunter safety or skills

courses, and introduce hunting or gunsafety in schools to get girls involvedand interested at a young age.

Hunting license purchases: Participantsin one focus groupreceived a description ofthe federal WildlifeRestoration (Pittman-Robertson) allocation. Allbut one of the femalehunters agreed that itwould be a motivatingfactor to purchase a hunt-ing license every year,even if they knew theycould not go hunting, andthat PGC should commu-nicate this better to moti-vate people to buy huntinglicenses.

Suggestions to PGC from female hunters:- Decrease regulations, especially onsmaller antlered deer, as a better wayof managing the population

- Offer a family discount for huntinglicenses

- Extend seasons to give more time

to hunt- Make private land hunting permitsmore accessible

- Separate the deer season to have individual buck and doe seasons

- Offer a no-point restriction for first-time deer hunters, similar to thementored youth licenseThis article was co-written by

Christina Milloy (U.S. Fish and WildlifeService) and by Coren Jagnow(Pennsylvania Game Commission).Christina Milloy is a Fish and

Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service’s Wildlife and SportFish Restoration Program. She is theNational Lead for the WildlifeRestoration Program and HunterEducation. Contact Christina via emailat [email protected] or call herat 703-862-5761.Coren Jagnow is the Chief of

Research and Education Division andHuman Dimensions Specialist with thePennsylvania Game Commission’sHunter Education Program. Contact:[email protected] 717-787-1434.n

Photo Courtesy of USFWS

O n a weekend inmid-October,350 competitors

ranging in age from sevento 70 converged on thegrounds of Cavern CoveCompetition Range inWoodville, Alabama, totake part in NSSF’s 2017Rimfire Challenge WorldChampionship. The two-day match ended withKolby Pavlock of Kuna,Idaho, taking the topChampionship title for thethird consecutive year. Hefirst won the title in 2015as a Junior, and this yearhe took top honors shoot-ing Limited Class withiron sights.

Competitors tackled 14 stages, sevenfor .22-caliber rifle and seven for .22-caliber handgun. Five side matchesadded to the excitement and challenge,while providing additional opportuni-ties for prizes. In a testament to thepowerful and positive influence theRimfire Challenge has had on youngshooters and family involvement, four

of the top 10 match finishers came fromthe Junior category.“It is incredibly gratifying to see so

many mothers, fathers, and other adultfamily members so invested in theirchildren’s success at the RimfireChallenge,” said Tisma Juett, NSSFManager, Recruitment and Retention.“This is what the future of the shooting

sports looks like, right here, right now,and we encourage everyone with a stakein our heritage to embrace these youngshooters so that they can do the samesomeday with their own children.”Professional competitive shooter

Julie Golob attended the event andintroduced her daughter to her firstRimfire Challenge shooting match.

By Jennifer L.S. Pearsall, NSSF Director, Public Relations

NSSF Notes

2017 Rimfire Challenge WorldChampionship Winners Announced


Rimfire Challenge World Championship Top TenName Division Categories Match Final Time1. Kolby Pavlock LTD Men 123.37

2. KC Eusebio OPEN Men 126.16

3. Cole Busch OPEN Jr. Men 134.23

4. Chase Orr OPEN Jr. Men 136.47

5. Cole Busch LTD Jr. Men 136.86

6. Matheu Langston OPEN Jr. Men 137.76

7. Trenton Mitsuoka OPEN Men 142.46

8. Canaan Birchett OPEN Men 143.39

9. Ron Oliver OPEN Men 144.06

10. Chris Sechiatano LTD Men 146.7


“Best. Day. Ever. She was safe. She hadso much fun.” Golob posted to herFacebook fan page. “I couldn’t be anymore proud.” The NSSF Rimfire Challenge is a

family-friendly activity designed toteach new shooters how to get started incompetitive shooting. The program’sfocus is having fun while being safe onthe range.NSSF, the trade association for the

firearms industry and host of the 2017Rimfire Challenge World Championship,extended its congratulations to all the

shooters who attended the match. It alsothanked the match’s sponsors, includingTandemkross, Advanced TechnologyInternational, Majestic Arms, O.F.Mossberg & Sons, and Allchin Gun Parts,whose support made possible the successof this year’s World Championship.The day after the World Championship

concluded, the National Shooting SportsFoundation announced that the NSSFRimfire Challenge will be transitionedto a new organization: the RimfireChallenge Shooting Association. Thetransition takes place Jan. 1, 2018.

Originally developed by Sturm, Ruger& Co.’s Ken Jorgenson, along withauthor and TV personality Michael Baneand the late Nelson Dymond, a long-time and well-known shooting matchdirector who held a strong passion forrimfire firearms, the program was firstknown as the Ruger Rimfire Challenge.NSSF took over the administration ofthe program in 2014, changing its nameto the NSSF Rimfire Challenge. Thenew organization will be led once againby Ken Jorgensen and Michael Bane.Designed to introduce new shooters

to the shooting sports in an exciting,family-friendly format, RimfireChallenge matches focus on competi-tion with .22-caliber rifles and pistols.Matches are open to shooters of all agesand shooting experience levels, withevents conducted at ranges nationwideand an annual World Championshiptaking place each October.“It’s truly a great thing to see this

program return home to the people whohad this wonderful idea to begin with,”said Tisma Juett, NSSF Manager,Recruitment and Retention. “The NSSFis proud to have been a part of growinga shooting sport that has proven to besuch a wonderful activity for mothersand fathers, sisters and brothers, neigh-bors and friends in which to participate.We wish Ken and Michael muchsuccess and look forward to many morefirearms owners joining the shootingsports with them.”“I am excited to once again be

involved in the day-to-day operation ofthe Rimfire Challenge events,” saidJorgenson. “The concept originallycreated by Nelson and implemented aspart of the Ruger Rimfire Challenge isas valid today as it was in the beginning.We will work to continue that vision andgrow the rimfire competition opportuni-ties for shooters of all skill levels.”“I could not be happier to once again

be a part of the Rimfire Challenge!”Bane added. “It is a wonderful sport, away to bring whole families into thecompetition. Ken and I are committedto bringing the Rimfire Challenge to thenext level. It’s going to be fun!”Details on the new Rimfire Challenge

Shooting Association forthcoming. Visitwww.nssf.org for more on NSSF.n

Attention: Instructors! Got yours yet?The 2017 edition of Hunter’s Handbook

magazine is now at state and provincialwarehouses and ready for instructor distribution to students. The magazine isthe official student publication of theIHEA-USA. This “how-to” guide takes thestudent beyond mandatory general safetyguidelines, offering selection and use information regarding a variety of hunting-related products, with a special emphasis

on safety in the field. The publication also contains the studentand instructor entry form for the IHEA-USA 2018 Heritage Hunt.

If you have not received your copies, contact your state orprovincial coordinator to arrange shipment. The publication isfree of charge. If you prefer to contact us directly, we will pass theinformation on to your coordinator. Send an e-mail [email protected] or call her at 206-281-8520.Please provide your name, phone number, shipping address andthe number of copies you require for student distribution.

HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO DOIn each issue of Hunter’s Handbook, there is a Quick Action Card that students

fill out to get more information on products they are interested in. This also earnsthem a chance to win an all-expense paid hunting trip of a lifetime, and manyother exciting prizes.

We ask that you have thestudents fill out the card andturn it in to you at the end ofthe class. From that point yousimply put the entries in anenvelope and mail them to:

Hunters HandbookPO Box 912Seahurst, WA 98062-0912

EVERY SINGLE card in the envelope then becomes an entry ticket for you towin the Yamaha ATV.

That’s it! Your students get a great publication, a chance to win fabulous prizes(student names picked for prizes are also won by instructors and state administrators!)AND you are entered to win this world-class ATV.

ATTENTION ALL INSTRUCTORS:WIN A BRAND-NEW

KODIAK 700EPS ATV!The 2017 edition of Hunter’s Handbook is now making its way through thesystem for you to distribute to your hunter education students. For 26 years,the Handbook has been the official student publication of IHEA-USA.Hunter’s Handbook is an ideal collateral training tool for students to takehome and further their knowledge about how products and techniques canenhance their experience in the field.

Cut along dotted line.

✁

Individual ANNUAL or LIFETIMEMembership Information

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________

City:____________________________________________

Province/State: ____________________________________

Postal Code: ______________________________________

Phone: ( ) ____________________________________

Fax: ( ) ______________________________________

E-Mail: __________________________________________

I prefer (check one): nn E-Mail nn Paper correspondence

Each ANNUAL $30 IHEA-USAIndividual Membership* includes:

1. IHEA-USA Membership Card.2. IHEA-USA “Member” Pin.3. IHEA-USA “Member” Decal.4. IHEA-USA Membership Patch.5. IHEA-USA Responsible Hunting static cling Window Decal.6. Special early bird invitations to IHEA-USA events (www.ihea.com).7. Exclusive “Member Only” opportunities to purchasesignificantly discounted merchandise and closeouts offered byhunting and firearms manufacturers and distributors(www.ihea.com).

8. Liability Insurance-Individual memberships of the IHEA-USAare provided with Volunteer Liability Insurance up to $1,000,000per occurrence. This policy provides protection for a bodily injury ora property damage liability claim arising out of the performance ofthe registered volunteers’ duties. Applicable to USA Only.

In addition to the benefits listed above, each newIHEA-USA Lifetime $450 *Membership will include:

• $100 Cabela's Gift Certificate• Recognition on the IHEA-USA website as a Lifetime member.• Certificate signed by the Executive Director of the IHEA-USA.• Continuing the Heritage #2 Print (16" X 20")• Getting Ready for the Hunt Print (16" X 20")• “Lifetime Member” Lapel Pin• Cabela's brand Duffel Bag (29"L X 16"W X 14"H)embroidered with "Lifetime Member"

Membership rewards are subject to change.

Lifetime OR AnnualMembership

Annual Individual Membership Fee ..............................$ 30.00 OR LifetimeMembership Fee ................$ 450.00 LifetimeMembership Payment Plan(3 Consecutive Mo. Installments)........$ 150.00

..........................Total Payment ..$______

Method of Payment (US funds only):nn Check/Money Order nn American Express nn Master Card nn Visa

Card Number: __________________________________________Expiration Date: ________________

Name on Card: ______________________________________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________________________________________________

Mail to: IHEA-USA • 800 East 73rd Ave., Unit 2, Denver, CO 80229Website: www.IHEA-USA.org • Phone: (303) 430-7233 • E-Mail: [email protected]

Greetings fellow Hunter Education InstructorAs one of the over 55,000+ Hunter Education Instructors (one of the largest volunteer corps in the

USA) we are asking you to formally join IHEA-USA, the voice of hunter education across the country. Your annual $30 IHEA-USA membership not only assures that all hunter education instructors have

a voice, but also ensures the consistency and relevance of the classes you teach, and also includesthese great benefits:

*Liability Insurance: Individual memberships are provided with Volunteer Liability Insurance upto $1,000,000 per occurrence. This policy provides protection for a bodily injury or a property damageliability claim arising out of the performance of the registered volunteers’ duties.

*Exclusive “Instructor only” opportunities: Purchase significantly discounted merchandise andcloseouts offered by hunting and firearms manufacturers and distributors. Discounts include name-brand optics, tree stands, knives, firearms, archery equipment, laser pointers, and more. Up to 60%off! One purchase will more than pay for your membership.

*IHEA-USA Membership Card*IHEA-USA “Member” Pin*IHEA-USA “Member” Decal*IHEA-USA Membership Patch*IHEA-USA window decal

*Award-Winning IHEA-USA Hunter & Shooting Sports Education Journal quarterly. The Journalis packed with articles on new instructional techniques, improving your shot, helping wounded vets,the latest equipment, survival techniques, hunting clubs, and more. For only $30 annually, you get much more than what you paid for. Lifetime memberships are also

available and include all the annual membership items, but in addition include a $100 Cabela’s giftcard, a nice Cabela’s brand duffel bag, and other great items. Please support IHEA-USA’s mission to continue the heritage of hunting worldwide by developing

safe, responsible, knowledgeable, and involved hunters. Become part of the hunter education community that keeps giving back to the wonderful menand women out there volunteering their time to pass down our cherished hunting/trapping traditions.Sincerely, Brad Heidel, Executive Director, IHEA-USA

Each NEW Instructor Annual Member and eachNew Instructor Life Member will have theirnames entered into a drawing for one of thefollowing prizes:

1. Ruger American 300 Win Mag rifle(#16912) (**see note below)

2. Alpen Optics package: One (1) 10x42 Model#385 Pro Binocular; one (1) Model #725N,15-45x60 Waterproof Spotting Kit (includesscope, table-top tripod, car window mountand hard case); and one (1) Kodiak RifleScope Model #2045, 3-9x40, wide angle.

3. Mathews Genesis Bow

The prize drawing will take place on April 5,2018, and the winners will be notified by emailor phone. Prize winners’ names will be postedon the IHEA-USA web page.

** Federal firearms requirements required forthis item, and any FFL dealer fees will be theresponsibility of the winner.

“WIN the HUNT of aLIFETIME!…it says inHunter’s Handbook,published annually byFocus Group, Inc., anddistributed to huntereducation (safety)students throughoutNorth America byprogram staffs andinstructors, in just aboutevery state and Canadianprovince, as well as inother countries.

T he “Heritage Hunt,” as it has cometo be named, is sponsored by theInternational Hunter Education

Association-USA (www.ihea-usa.org),an organization that represents all 50state programs, and Focus Group, Inc.The lucky winners represent the nearly55,000 instructors, most of whom arevolunteers, and the 650,000+ huntereducation students that are trained annu-ally throughout North America. BradHeidel, IHEA-USA Executive Director,continually reminds people that the goalof his organization is to support state fishand wildlife agencies and their huntereducation programs, develop huntereducation standards, and to promote themission “to teach safe, responsible,knowledgeable, and involved huntingand shooting practices.”Over 27 million students have

completed hunter education since thefirst mandatory program in New York in1949. The historic program is consid-ered a “rite of passage” for hunters, andhas reduced hunting incidents by wellover 2/3 since its inception—not tomention improving overall complianceto hunting regulations, and enhancingthe behaviors and image of hunters andhunting. Heidel continued, “your huntereducation certification has opened thedoor to a world of wonderful experi-ences outdoors with friends and family.”Students and instructors submit a

FREE entry form (stitched withinHunter’s Handbook) or enter online atwww.huntershandbook.com/enter-towin. They answer a few survey ques-tions about their hunting lifestyle andactivities and request entry into the all-expense-paid Heritage Hunt drawing.

Dreams Come True at the Annual IHEA-USAHeritage Hunt By Steve Hall, TX Hunter Education Coordinator


Heritage Hunt participants: (back row) Hixon ranch guides Landon Gulick, Brock Minton (TX Parks & Wildlife), Eddie Price, Mike Hehman(ranch manager), and Blake Martin join hunter education instructors and students/parents selected for the IHEA-USA Heritage Hunt;(front row/orange) Mike McDonald (WA), Dorothy Pezzi (FL), Mitchell and Blake Anderson (ID), and Michael and Paul Fraley (MI), JohnPezzi (FL) (not pictured: Damion and Jimmy Byers, NC).

“It’s a Dream Come True!” Hunter Education Instructor

Dorothy “Dotty” Pezzi,Pompano Beach, FL

“I thought it was a very strange voicemessage,” said Dorothy “Dotty” Pezzi,2017 hunter education instructor winnerfrom Florida, “but I saved Brian’smessage (Brian Thurston, Focus Group,Inc. president who started the HeritageHunt) on my phone, because I still can’tbelieve it!” as she motioned with herphone to listen to his message, “it’s adream come true!” Dotty teaches withher husband, John, near Fort Lauderdaleat an indoor range. With permissionfrom Focus Group, she donated her huntto her teaching partner and paid her ownexpenses so she could “tag along” on theDream Hunt. “He hasn’t got to enjoysuch hunts as much as me, and he workshard, so I wanted him to be the Hunter!”

“Watching the Kids Light Up!”Tim Hixon, Hixon Land & Cattle

Ranch, Cotulla, TX

The Hixon Land & Cattle Ranch nearCotulla, Texas, once again hosted the2017 hunt, something the ranch owners,Tim and Karen Hixon, both formercommissioners of Texas Parks andWildlife Department, strongly believe in.“I like watching the kids light up,” saidTim Hixon. Their son, ‘Timo’ Hixon,now four-time host of the Heritage Hunt,and Mrs. Hixon agreed. “We’ve enjoyedit and are happy to be involved in hostingsuch opportunities. Folks just don’t getenough of these types of experiences!”The Hixons also host many WoundedWarrior Hunts and their favorite, aprogram Mr. Hixon helped start in Texas,the Texas Youth Hunting Program(tyhp.org). “We’ve hosted lot of huntsover ten years, and hope to keep provid-ing more opportunities for groups thatpromote safe hunting!”Mike Hehman, hunt manager, has

worked for the Hixons for a decade. Hetakes real pride in knowing that he andhis staff have significantly improved thequality of habitat and deer on the ranch.He addressed the hunters the Fridaynight before the first big hunt. “It is

important to look at deer numbers, age,and genetics when managing the herd—along with continually improving thehabitat through various practices.” He

added, “I hope each of you have a greattime this weekend, but know that youalso are helping us with our managementgoals on the ranch!”


The Pezzis, FL, and Fraleys, MI, introduce themselves to Timo Hixon (right), ranch owner,and Mike Hehman (left), ranch manager, as they arrive at the Hixon Ranch near Cotulla,Texas between San Antonio and Laredo in South Texas.

Special thanks to the Hixon family—Tim, Karen, and Timo; ranch managerMike Hehman; hunt guides BlakeMartin, Eddie Price, Landon Gulick,Doss Summers, and Dale Herrington;Hixon ranch staff Gabe, Trey, Siboney,Andrew “A.J.,” and Biancha Chapa;Veronica Martin, Robert Vasquez, andChef Bubba Laughinghouse; CarecoTV’svideographer, John Doolen; andTPWD’s hunter ed staff, Brock Minton. Thanks too to the 2017 Heritage Hunt

product sponsors including: BirchwoodCasey (targets and accessories); BuckKnives (101 Hunter knives); Cabela’s(hunt clothing); CarecoTV (TV produc-tion); Federal Premium/Vista Outdoor(ammunition); Hunter’s Handbook(Heritage Hunt); LaCrosse (boots);Lansky (sharpening sets); MilwaukeeTool (heated jackets); Otis (huntingsystems/firearm cleaning equipment);Vortex Optics (binoculars); YETI(tumblers); and EZ Gutter (gutting tool)n


Instructor Michael McDonald fromArlington, WA, practiced hard and broughthis own rifle on the hunt. “Wanting tomake sure I don’t miss,” he said.

Guide Landon Gulick, Bigfoot, TX, measuresthe antlers on Michael McDonald’s nicebuck. Gulick took score, weight, and agedata as part of the Hixon Ranch WildlifeManagement Plan—to improve the healthand quality of habitat and wildlife on theranch, including trophy whitetails.

Dorothy ‘Dotty’ and John Pezzi, PompanoBeach, FL get ready for an interview withCarecoTV’s John Doolen. Dotty leads ahealth services team for the state’s healthdepartment, and John has worked over 20 years as a long hauler, transportinggasoline and oil. John did not take a deer,though he watched a nice buck three separate times. “He just did not presentme a good shot, and it wasn’t to be!” Pezzi did take a coyote, and the couple saw bobcats, green jays, and a variety ofwildlife in the South Texas brush country.“Everything that sticks, pricks, and bitesyou—huh?” echoed John, after hearing itfrom the host.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’sSouth Texas Hunter Education Specialist,Brock Minton, teaches shotgun skills onthe Hixon’s sporting clays course betweenthe morning and afternoon hunts as partof the Heritage Hunt.

Paul and Michael Fraley from Houghton,MI, enjoyed the South Texas weather andwere elated with Michael taking his firstdeer, a nice buck. Paul said, “Hunting inthe Upper Peninsula, Michigan, is waydifferent than what we have experiencedhere!” Michael added, “Yeah—I’m sure gladI was selected!”

Mitchell and Blake Anderson from Rigby,ID, were all smiles after Blake took his firstbuck. Blake said, “I was just hoping to becalm enough to shoot, but boy, was thatexciting!” Mitchell chimed in, “I was watching the deer and ‘sheeblatt’—it wentdown instantly!”

I t might come as a surprise to manyin the field of conservation educa-tion to hear to that the number of

individuals participating in state-regu-lated trapping programs (let’s just callthem “trappers”) is increasing while, tothe dismay of just about everyone inconservation, hunter numbers continueto decline. Hunters, trappers, and anglersare the “on the ground” conservationistsof agencies and it is mostly their licenseand permit dollars, their survey infor-mation, and many of their observationsfrom the field that help agenciesmanage fish and wildlife. We all knowthat. But despite the fantastic effortsbeing put forth to recruit and retainhunters, we are struggling to do it.Surprisingly however, a national surveyof trappers conducted by the Associationof Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA)found that the number of trappers hadactually increased nationwide from2004 to 2015 by about 20%, with some

states seeing as much as a 30% increase.(See the survey results at: www.fish-wildlife.org/files/2016_Summary_of_Trapping_Report_Final_Draft.pdf.) Thiscame as a surprise, considering what weknow about hunter numbers. It is encouraging that many states still

have folks that are interested in thischallenging pursuit. Likely, this numberof trappers is influenced by the value offur pelts, bones, and meat, as well as thegrowing number of nuisance wildlife.But what we don’t really know iswhether this increase is the result ofnew folks taking up trapping, or folkswho had dropped out and are comingback. Either way, the number is up andwe need to educate these trappers,whether they are new trappers taking ona new outdoor pursuit or old trapperscoming back—a lot has changed withtraps and trapping techniques. No matterwho sets it, one trap set in the wrongplace can cause agencies problems that

most would rather avoid. About 180,000 trapping licenses

were sold during 2014, up from about150,000 in 2004. The folks who buythese licenses are similar to hunters:most are male, middle aged, andCaucasian, and they trap for some of thesame reasons hunters hunt. But what do we know about trapper

education? Just as the increase in trappernumbers is surprising, some of what weknow about trapper education mightcome as a surprise as well. In the surveymentioned above, AFWA asked stateagencies about trapping regulations andtrapper education programs. What wefound is that about 70% of states have atrapper education program, with about50% of those programs being adminis-tered by the state agency and the other50% administered by a state/local trapperassociation. It is a great partnershipbetween state agencies and local trapperassociations to offer trapper education.


The AFWA North American Trapper EducationProgram: An underutilized resource for a growingnumber of trappers By Bryant White, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies,

Program Manager of Trapping Policy and Furbearer Research

John Olson of the WI DNR instructs a trapper education course.Photo Courtesy of WI DNR

We also found that trapper education ismandatory in 60% of states. Most ofthese states that require trapper educationrequire it of first-time trappers, but somestates require it of all trappers. Whiletrapping is among the most technique-driven method of harvests that statesregulate, 61% of current trappers reportthey have not taken a trapper educationcourse. We also have learned that trappereducation partition rates vary across thecountry, with the highest (79%) of trappers in the Northeast having takentrapper education, and lowest rates ofparticipation in the South (20%).As we all know, that differs signifi-

cantly from hunter education numbers.And we also know that hunter educationhas made hunting safer and better foreverybody involved. Wouldn’t the samehappen for trapping? One of the things AFWA has done to

try and make it even easier for states toprovide trapper education is the devel-opment of the North American TrapperEducation Program. This program wasdeveloped in conjunction with theIHEA-USA, national trapper associa-tions, and wildlife professionals. Part ofthe goal of the AFWA’s trapper education

program is to make it easy for agenciesto provide trapper education and to stan-dardize trapper education across thecountry, similar to what has been donewith hunter education, and make trap-ping better for everyone. While trappinglaws and regulations certainly vary fromjurisdiction to jurisdiction, many thingsare the same: ethics, trap types, settingtechniques, use of baits and lures, etc.The North American Trapper EducationProgram has content-based chapterswith each chapter having a particularlearning objective(s). Ethics are stressedthroughout. There is even a trappereducation booklet that agencies are freeto print and modify to meet their partic-ular needs. The course is also availableonline at www.conservationlearning.organd it is absolutely free. Well, it’s freefor users. AFWA foots the bill to hostthe site that manages the program, butthe program is totally free to anyone.Some states have even modified thisonline course to create a state-specificcourse. We encourage states to do thatas well, and we at AFWA are willing towork with states to make that happen. So, part of my simple goal in writing

this article is to encourage every state

that has a regulated trapping program tomake sure that your hunter, trapper, andoutdoor education instructors knowabout the AFWA National TrapperEducation Program. If hunter educationhas improved hunting, trapper educationshould improve trapping…oh, and wehave been working on that in many otherways too. (See our ad about BMPs inthis edition of the IHEA-USA Journal).If you are involved with hunter, trap-

per, or other outdoor education in yourstate, please consider utilizing thisresource. To date, it has been underuti-lized, but there are a growing number oftrappers out there who could benefitfrom the lessons it teaches. Agenciesthemselves could benefit from thelessons it teaches as well, because onetrap set in the wrong place can create alot of headaches for managers andadministrators alike. And ideally, withthe use of this program, trapping cancontinue to be improved as an importantpart of modern wildlife management.For more information on the AFWANorth American Trapper EducationProgram, contact Bryant White [email protected]



M y name is BrentBuech, and I am anIowa Hunter Safety

Instructor. I would like to sharea story from this past spring inthe turkey woods with you.A few years ago, a close

friend and an experiencedoutdoorsman, Tanner Dell, andI decided to start introducingyouth, who were interested, tothe sport of turkey hunting. Thispast year we decided to take Ty,a young man from my church.Ty also participates in YHEC,Youth Hunter EducationChallenge, in which he excelledin the previous summer. YHECteaches youngsters how to be asafe and successful hunter, so Iknew that I had picked the rightperson to take on the hunt.In the weeks prior to the

season opener, I would go on early-morning scouting trips. I would contin-ually drive past a public hunting area,and each time I noticed turkeys feedingin the field south of the timber. Afterdiscussing the option with Ty andTanner, we decided that would be thespot to hunt opening morning. With theseason quickly approaching, we had tofamiliarize Ty with the gun and red dotsight, so out came the paper targets. Byhaving a practice shooting session onthe farm, we were able to decide on aneffective shooting range, safe shootingzones, and other things that Ty remem-bered from the Hunter’s Safety Course.Before we knew it, the alarm went off

on April 8th. While eating a donut anddriving to the parking lot, we discussedshooting hours and when it was appro-priate to wear blaze orange, which iswalking to and from the hunting spot.During the walk from the parking lot toour hunting spot, we encountered asteep banked creek. This turned out tobe a teaching opportunity. We were ableto show Ty how to cross the creek in the

safest way possible by handing theunloaded gun across the creek, similarto a fence crossing situation. Thesetypes of teaching while in the field areones that he will always remember. Isay this because some of the lessons thatare taught in the classroom can beforgotten in the field due to the excite-ment of the hunt.Shortly after crossing the creek, we

arrived at our spot on the edge of thefood plot that still had standing corn init and was located to the north of thetimber. After putting out two hen decoysand one three-quarter strut jake decoyfifteen yards from the spot, we wereready for the Toms to appear. Just beforethe sun popped up over the horizon, weheard our first gobble. This made oursleepy hunter perk up, to say the least.Our first visitor of the morning was araccoon that made his way from thetimber to the standing corn.The next thing to do was some calling.

By doing some yelps on the diaphragmcall, and some cuts and purrs, Ty got tolearn many calling techniques. Shortly

after letting out the calls, we had anencounter with a group of hen turkeys.This made all of us excited includingTanner, who was being our camera man.Then, to our left appeared three beauti-ful strutters on top of the hill in the foodplot. With a couple more mouth call cuts,we had one of those stutters on a string.Before I knew it, that big old bird wastwenty yards in front of us, and Ty madethe camouflage Mossberg bark. As thetom continued to do the flop, Ty handedme the gun and retrieved his bird with asmile on his face. After showing off thegobbler to the camera, we had it taggedand were leaving with a bird in handand orange hats on our heads.On the drive home that day, I realized

how important and fun it is to take ayouth hunter on a hunting trip. I know Iwill be continuing to take youth onhunting trips, and I hope I have encour-aged you to do the same.That concludes my springtime story,

and remember, if you have the chance totake a child hunting, please do so andmake it a learning experience.n

Youth Spotlight—Make It a Learning ExperienceBy Brent Buech


T his is the third and finalinstallment honoring 2017Gallery of Guns Champions

of Hunter Education. Each year,Gallery of Guns recognizes theoutstanding efforts of dedicatedhunter education instructors.Though only six are chosen for

the award each year, there aremany many more deserving ofrecognition and our thanks for thethousands of hours they volunteerto teach hunting safety, ethics, andthe myriad of things that go intoperpetuating our hunting traditions.Each of our Gallery of Guns

Champions of Hunter Educationwinners will receive a 270-caliberRuger American Rifle fromGalleryofGuns.comBill Bennett, director of

marketing for Davidson’s andGalleryofGuns.com, said they arehonored each year to recognize theChampions of Hunter Education,who assure our hunting heritage ispassed to other generations. “Without IHEA instructors, the

heritage of hunting could be jeopard-ized,” Bennett said. “Hunter educationis such an important part of developingethical and responsible hunters forfuture generations.”Here then are Champions of Hunter

Education.

Leonard C. Hart Jr. Stafford, Virginia“Leonard Hart is a tireless and innova-

tive hunter education instructor who isdedicated to safe and ethical hunting. Heis especially devoted to introducingyoung folks and women to hunting andother outdoor activities,” said James M.Clarke in nominating Hart for this award.

Hart became a hunter ed instructor inAugust of 2005 and by the end of 2016had logged 3,396 hours of volunteeredservice, averaging more than 300 hoursper year in a little more than 11 years,said Clarke, a fellow hunter ed instruc-tor on Hart’s team. In that time, Clarkesaid Hart has trained 3,734 students.For his part, Hart said he became a

hunter ed instructor because “I wantedto give back to the hunting communityand do whatever I could to make surehunting is around for future generationsand help introduce others to this greatexperience.”Hart, a senior systems analyst for

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., said

he is able to balance his passion forhunter education and work because ofhis employer. “I am lucky to work for acompany that offers vacation daysallowing me to take time off for huntereducation and other activities dealingwith this sport,” he said. “The moreimportant question is ‘balancing familylife and hunter education.’ I’m veryblessed to have a spouse who under-stands how important this is to me whilesupporting me in doing this.”Hart is a Virginia Master hunter

education instructor and is also a charterand life member of the Virginia HunterEducation Association. He’s also acertified International Bowhunter

Gallery of Guns Champions of Hunter EducationBy Joe Arterburn

Leonard C. Hart Jr.


Education Program, Treestand Safetyand NRA instructor.Hunter education has numerous

important impacts on students, Hartsaid, including “getting them outside toenjoy the wonderful outdoors, learninghow to do things the right way, learningself-confidence, introducing them tothis wonderful sport, and helping like-minded people.But Hart also trains the trainers,

including Clarke, who Hart recruitedfour years ago. “I can attest that he is anaggressive and compelling hunter edinstructor recruiter,” Clarke said. “Hecoordinates hunter ed activities in threecounties and on Quantico Marine CorpsBase. He has developed an impressivegroup of 38 hunter education instruc-tors. Leonard is a key trainer of otherinstructors.”But that is not all. Hart also, in conjunc-

tion with the Virginia Department ofGame and Inland Fisheries, heads theAdvanced Training Rifle and PistolTeam that trains other instructors. Hartwas also asked to be on a select group

tasked with developing a new AdvancedTraining Teaching Skills curriculum forvolunteer instructors. “As an informa-tion technology professional, Leonardwas instrumental in creating innovativeslide presentations for these courses,”Clarke said. The courses are consideredso important that completion of theTeaching Skills set now constitutes oneof two options for advanced coursesrequired to became a master hunter edinstructor in Virginia, Clarke said.Hart also leads Hunter Skills

Weekends each year to introduce fami-lies to various aspects of hunting andputs together a team of instructors tohelp run an air rifle competition at aBaptist Church Wild Game Dinner andOutdoor Activities Day, which annuallydraws more than 600 participants. Since2009, Hart has helped run the range atthe Virginia National Archery in theSchools Program State Championshipand helped with the InternationalBowhunting Organization event. Healso helps run the annual VirginiaHunter Education Challenge, in which

middle- and high-school students acrossthe state compete in rifle, shotgun,archery, and outdoor skills.He is also lead instructor at his Izaak

Walton League of America chapter andorganized an Outdoor Skills Day forfamilies. He also helps organize theannual Friends of the NRA Banquet.Hart keeps a personal connection with

his students as shown by his reactionwhen, after a 2016 IBEP bowhuntingeducation course, he was approached bya 15-year-old student with his single-parent mother, who asked about huntingon the Quantico base. Hunters must be18 to hunt alone on the base, so Hartagreed to be his sponsor and took himon seven hunting trips this past season.Ever the recruiter, Hart is mentoring thestudent as a junior hunter educationinstructor.So why do all this? What does Hart

want his students to learn? “Safety,ethics, and that the biggest joy of hunt-ing is not the trophy but enjoying theoutdoors and knowing there are peopleout there to help them,” he said.


James DavisPasadena, TexasSince becoming a Texas Parks and

Wildlife Department certified huntereducation instructor in 1995 andbowhunter education instructor in 2006,James Davis has certified 3,113 studentsin hunter education; certified 31 newhunter ed instructors; attended 87instructor workshops; taught more than2,020 hours in the hunter ed program;and, in 2009, was inducted into theTexas Hunter Education Hall of Fame.“While working full-time (Davis) was

able to rearrange his work schedule anytime he was asked to volunteer andprovide a service to the communitythrough hunter and bowhunter educationclasses, outreach events, and workshopopportunities,” said Texas HunterEducation Program Administrator SteveHall in nominating Davis.Davis offers monthly classes and

teaches multiple times during the busyfall season, Hall said, and he became aHunter Education Area Chief Instructor

in 2004, and aBowhunter EducationArea Chief Instructor in2016, so he can train newhunter and bowhuntereducation instructors.When Davis retired

from the PipefittersLocal Union 211 in2002, “he quickly tran-sitioned to a full-timevolunteer,” Hall said.Being retired makes

it “easy” to balance hisvolunteerism, Davis said,and when asked why hededicates so much to it,he replied, “I enjoyteaching the kids.”Hall said Davis began

teaching at the largestblackpowder store andshooting range in Texas,introducing students tomuzzleloading by offering tours of thefacility during breaks,and teaching studentsduring live firing exer-cises. When that facilityclosed, Davis “immedi-

ately visited local community centersand city facilities to develop new part-nerships so he could continue teachinghunter and bowhunter educationclasses,” Hall said.Davis began teaching at different city

buildings and brought awareness ofhunter and bowhunter educationprograms through education and “anextremely professional representationof TPWD,” Hall said. “Because of hisprofessional demeanor and the reputa-tion he builds, he is able to open doorsfor other programs to utilize these samefacilities, including the TPWD boatereducation and angler educationprograms.”Davis has also volunteered for the

NRA Youth Hunter Education Challengeand travels across Texas recruitingyouths and instructors, and works withfacilities and shooting ranges to hostlocal, regional, and state competitions.He also helps secure scholarships so topyoung competitors can attend nationalcompetitions.

He is also an active member of theTexas Hunter Education InstructorAssociation and for the past 10 yearshas worked with SCI-Houston and theHouston Safari Club to offer a hunter-education class, which has grown sosuccessfully that two classes are nowoffered each year.“James is always first to step up and

volunteer with large events and expossuch as TPWD’s week-long involve-ment during the Houston LivestockShow and Rodeo,” Hall said. And Davisworks at many other large outdoorexpos, promoting hunter and bowhuntereducation and recruiting instructors ashe goes; and he’s been involved withTake Me Outdoors Houston as an activeparticipant at workshops.“His main motivation,” Hall said, “is

to better educate himself so he can passalong the knowledge and newly-acquired skills to his students.”“Each time I place a call-out to volun-

teers for assistance with any event,ranging from an expo to a wildlife presentation to a hands-on shootingexperience, James is always the veryfirst volunteer to sign up,” Hall said.“He has never let me down on a shortnotice when I am in a pinch for volun-teers. He has an impeccable record withthe public and is admired by otherinstructors for his dedication and service. I receive calls to request James,specifically, to teach a class or coordi-nate an event.“Even when he is recovering from

health issues or, recently, a few brokenbones, nothing slows him down fromgetting the volunteering job done. He isa man of his word and James is some-one I can consistently rely upon toexceed expectations and continue thehunting heritage.”Hunter education is important to

students, Davis said, because it “teachesthem safety and respect for wildlife andthe environment.”In return, Davis hopes his students

learn “how to be safe, respect theirfirearm, and everyone around them.”And when asked why hunter educa-

tion is important to him, Davis said hewants to “ensure hunting is carried on toour young in a safe, fun, and respectfulmanner. I really love what I do.”n

James Davis


W e know as hunters—a minor-ity in our society—that it isimportant to pay attention to

our image, to be mindful of how non-hunters view us as a whole. It’s notalways easy to reconcile this, though,because we are also a group that largelyrejects and finds silly the notion of polit-ical correctness. One aspect of what we do as hunters

that has been watered down increasinglyover the years is that, when we aresuccessful, we take a life. We kill. I kill.While it is essential that we each indi-vidually and introspectively face andaccept this fact, it isn’t necessarily an

easy thing to say. And so we euphemize.Instead of acknowledging that I killedand bearing that accountability, whetheremotional or psychological or social orwhatever, we may find it easier to usedifferent words. There are commonly-used substitutes that reveal a callus andalmost disdainful attitude toward thecreature’s life: blasted, hammered,wasted, whacked, smoked…the euphe-mism I hear most often, though, isharvest. Late last year I asked a question on a

hunting group’s Facebook page aboutwhat terminology members of thatgroup use. The responses were varied,

and despite my hope that a trendwould emerge, it seems that no oneexpression is greatly preferred. I confess that the use of the word

harvest in this context is a petpeeve of mine. It too readily diluteswhat we really do, too easilycleanses our hands of the blood ofan animal that we did, in fact, kill.Even when for valid reasons weopt not to be so blunt about it, wecan still choose better words. Inresponse to a question about how ahunt went, for example, I mightsay I filled my tag, or I shot an elk,or I got a nice deer, or I took a cow(although for many of us it wouldbe more truthful to use the wordmissed in these replies). To callkilling “harvesting” sounds evenmore inane if it’s part of a question.Modify the age-old query to “Didyou harvest your deer?” andyou’re gonna get looked at funny.That just doesn’t sound right. I can’t condemn the term across

the board, though. When WildlifeManagers, biologists, rangers, orothers whom we have chargedwith the task of managing ourwildlife are doing their job, theyrightfully view animal species interms of herds or populations andpay close attention to things like

habitat, carrying capacity, and so forth.Their aim is to ensure that the rightnumbers of animals can be found in theright places and that they are healthy. Inthis macro view, wildlife is, in fact, aresource to be balanced and managed,and the concept of hunter harvest as amanagement tool—as a measure-ment—is appropriate. It makes sense totalk about “last year’s elk harvest” in thecontext of how much the overall elkpopulation decreased due to hunteractivity. If you say that you want to tellme about the moose you harvested lastyear though, I may wonder where youfound a moose garden.n

Let’s Talk About Your Moose GardenBy Jeff Anderson, Colorado Hunter Education Instructor

Today we don’t hunt, trap, or fish, we…harvest! What does thatmean? When I was young and went hunting, trapping, and fishing,I took along something—gun, traps, rod and reel, that would hope-fully kill an animal. I did not bring along a spade or a rake. Myaim was to kill it, take its life away, not pull it out of the ground.To read the hunting and fishing literature today is like reading agarden magazine. —John W. Laundré


B rowning has introduced a riflethat many are calling a “semi-custom production rifle.” What

gives the X-Bolt Pro this classificationis the level of specialized finishingtouches and higher-end constructionthat is above the already top-tier X-Boltfamily of hunting rifles.The new Browning X-Bolt Pro has

many features that set it apart from theaverage production rifle. Most notably,the stock is a second-generation designthat is constructed using a full 360°carbon fiber wrap with a compressedfoam core. The stock is extremely light-weight, rigid, and includes texturedgripping panels, a palm swell and iscoated with Cerakote Burnt Bronze

finish for added protection.The receiver of the rifle is corrosion-

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a lightweight sporter contour andfeatures a new proprietary lappingprocess that provides consistent, supe-rior accuracy, reduced fouling, andeasier bore cleaning. The barrel lappingalso allows customers to avoid the needfor a time-consuming break-in process.The muzzle of the barrel is threaded toaccept the included muzzle brake orthread protector cap. This rifle is readyto go, right from the box.

The X-Bolt Pro has a classy lookingspiral fluted bolt and enlarged flutedbolt knob that aids in sure operation.Like the stock, the barrel, bolt, and bolthandle are coated with the CerakoteBurnt Bronze finish that looks great andmutes the color of the gun for betterconcealability from keen eyes.

Other Features:– Feather trigger– Free-floated barrel– Bolt unlock button– 60° bolt lift– Rotary magazine– Tang safety– Inflex recoil pad– Sling swivel studsFor more information on Browning

products, please visit their website atwww.browning.com.n

New Products: Browning Steps up the Gamewith the New X-Bolt Pro Rifle

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For a complete Instructor Resource catalog go to www.IHEA-USA.org, call (303) 430-7233or write to: IHEA-USA • 800 East 73rd Ave., Unit 2 • Denver, CO 80229

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Matching lapel pin includedif available.


T he outdoor industry advocatesfor outreach, especially to thenext generation. We all take it as

accepted wisdom that teaching outdoorskills is beneficial, but that’s not aconcept easily accepted by some. Ifyou’ve never experienced a sunrisefrom a blind or watched the sun sinkunder the horizon while you’re workingto get in just one more good cast, it’ssomething hard to imagine.In fact, many of us have a hard time

actually verbalizing why teachingoutdoor skills—especially hunting—arebeneficial. To that end, Clinical ForensicPsychologist Dr. John Huber is morethan willing to offer six reasons why it’sbeneficial to teach children to hunt.

Gun SafetyKnowing how to safely shoot and

handle firearms is an essential skill forpeople to learn. By teaching your chil-dren to hunt, you’ll be teaching themskills that will teach them to respectguns, not fear them.

Gaining ConfidenceLearning about wild game, their

patterns and habits (natural science),taking that knowledge, applying it,adding shooting skills and patience, allthe things that must come together toget that first buck. That amount ofempowerment and accomplishment isnot easily duplicated. Teaching lifeskills about preparation, hard work, anddetermination.

ResponsibilityHunting teaches respect for laws as

they gain knowledge about game andland management. Establishing a strongcharacter to make a good citizen. I willnever forget watching my 11-year olddaughter watching a beautiful 14-pointbuck walk within 40 feet of her as shewatched that buck through her nightscope. Listening to her ask if she couldtake the shot, then watching her justfocus on that animal as it walked away.It was still before first light and I toldher that she had to wait. She watched as

it finally disappeared into the brush some350 yards away, still too early to shoot.Teaching etiquette and sportsmanshipcan pay big dividends later in life.

Promoting a Healthy LifestyleGetting outdoors, away from the

Internet, hiking through the woods in20-degree weather with frost on theground hours before daylight is not forthe faint of heart. Experience that willteach our children they can overcomemany obstacles in life. It definitely givesa reason to get off the couch if youknow that in a few months you will beon the game trail.

Parent/Child BondingThe bonding experience between a

parent and their child as they take on atask that few in modern times will learn.The attachment and mutual respect thatcan only come from an experience suchas hunting. Creating memories andtraditions that will be shared andexplored for generations.

Teaching Conservation Hands-OnUnderstanding the circle of life, how

nature works without a textbook. Thereis nothing like watching a fawn and itsmother in an open field looking out forpredators, then watching that fawn yearafter year grow and develop, eventuallyhaving offspring of its own.

About Dr. John HuberTexas-based Dr. John Huber

(www.mainstreammentalhealth.org) isthe chairman for Mainstream MentalHealth, a non-profit organization thatbrings lasting and positive change to thelives of individuals that suffer frommental health issues. A mental healthprofessional for over twenty years, Dr.Huber is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist,and he is a practitioner with privilegesat two long-term acute care hospitals. Inaddition, Dr. John Huber is a professorand teaches undergraduate and graduatepsychology at Texas State University.n

Why We Need to Teach Children to HuntBy Dr. John Huber

Photo Courtesy of Wade Seely

N ot long ago I was asked to do ashort Firearm Safety/HunterEducation program for my

church’s youth. We had a tragedyhappen in our community when a smallchild came in contact with a firearm andshot themselves by accident, resultingin death. My pastor approached me andasked would I be willing to speak withour youth about firearm safety. Ofcourse I agreed and began to think aboutwhat I needed to cover in the one-hourallotted time I was given during theirVacation Bible School time. Over the course of a two-week

period, I thought about what I needed tocover in the short class. I have been aHunter Education Instructor and haveinstructed hundreds of classes duringmy 31 years as a Conservation Ranger(Game Warden) in the state of Georgia,so I was very familiar with all aspects offirearm and hunter safety. After a greatamount of thought I knew I wanted tomake the greatest impact I could onthese young minds. With only an hourof time, I came up with the idea that itwas probably best to go back to theBasics. The Ten Commandments of

Firearm Safety!After I got my class materi-

als and props set up, my firstquestion to the class was,“How many people in herehas shot a firearm?” Everyoneraised his or her hand. Mysecond question was, “Whatdo you think is the mostimportant firearm safetyrule?” The answers were,“Keep the safety on, keepyour finger off the trigger,keep the gun unloaded, and afew others. At that point Icame to the realization thatwhile all these answers weregood, they were not exactlywhat I was looking for. A few days after the class I

began thinking about how theclass went, and I wondered how manyhunters out there also have gotten awayfrom the Basics of Firearm Safety whenhunting. In our classes we teach theserules to new hunters, but we also needto look for opportunities to remindexperienced hunters about the basicsthey may not have thought about foryears. How many out there don’t thinkabout, ignore, or have forgotten aboutthe Ten Commandments of FirearmSafety and what they mean? There areevidently a few, because we still havehunting incidents/accidents in everystate each year. Most of these inci-dents/accidents could have beenprevented if the hunter would havepracticed the rules in the TenCommandments of Firearm Safety.With that said, let’s take a stroll downHunter Education memory lane and goback to the Basics and analyze the TenCommandments of Firearm Safety.

Watch that muzzle! Keep it pointedin a safe direction at all times.This is the most important of all the

Commandments. If you have control

over the muzzle of your firearm, youhave control over your firearm andwhere it shoots. Even if it happens todischarge accidentally, if you alwaysmaintain control of the muzzle, you arestill in control of what direction theprojectile will travel from the barrel.

Treat every firearm with therespect due a loaded gun.

It might be loaded, even if youthink it isn’t.

When you think about this, this isonly common sense. If you treat everyfirearm as if it were loaded, whether it’sloaded or not, you are committing your-self to being the best at handling afirearm. How many times have weheard the story about the person that gotshot or someone doing the shootingwith an “unloaded firearm,” only tomake the statement later, “I didn’t knowit was loaded.” I once watched a police-man pick up a .357-caliber revolver thathe stated was not loaded. He was think-ing about purchasing the firearm and heplaced it inches from his face as heslowly squeezed the trigger whilewatching the gap between the cylinderand the forcing cone. Luckily we wereoutside and he had the barrel pointed upwhen the firearm went “boom!”

Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it.

Know the identifying features ofthe game you hunt.

Make sure you have an adequatebackstop—don’t shoot at a flat,

hard surface or water.A violation of this rule can be devas-

tating. When you have a hunter takingaim on another hunter or outdoorperson, the results are usually tragic. Itis imperative that all hunters completelyidentify their target before they squeeze

Lesson Learned—Back to the BasicsBy Keith Byers, Hunting and Shooting Related Consultants LLC



the trigger. They can’t be 99.9% sure—they must be 100% sure that is a deer orturkey or whatever game animal theyare hunting. If you are hunting uplandgame and you lose sight of your huntingpartners, a quail or pheasant is not worththe risk of possibly shooting someone.Moral of the story: if in any doubt at all,do not shoot!

Keep your finger outside thetrigger guard until ready to shoot.This is the best way to prevent an

accidental discharge.

Bottom line, keep your finger off thetrigger until you are ready to shoot. Thatway if you trip or stumble while carry-ing your firearm, you will not pull thetrigger accidently.

Check your barrel and ammunition.Make sure the barrel and action

are clear of obstructions and carryonly the proper ammunition for

your firearm.Even a partial obstruction in the

barrel of a firearm can cause an explo-sion. Always keep your firearms clean,especially the barrel and action. Inspectand clean your firearms after each use.Always use the proper caliber or gaugeammunition—that’s why the gun manu-facturers stamp it on the barrel. Just soyou will know!

Unload firearms when not in use.Leave actions open; carry firearmsin cases and unloaded to and from

the shooting area.

It always amazed me, the vehiclesthat I used to stop when I worked as aGame Warden, and the individuals thattransported loaded firearms. I remem-ber one night getting into a high-speedchase with a vehicle where the personsinside were night-hunting deer. About amile into the chase, the vehicle abruptlystopped. My partner and I ordered twomales and two females out of the vehi-cle. I noted the females were crying.After searching the vehicle, we found

why they stopped and why the femaleswere crying. The .30-06 caliber riflethey were using fired accidently insidethe cab of the truck. The bullet had traveled through the floor and punc-tured the right front tire. Moral of thestory, don’t carry a loaded firearm inyour vehicle and don’t do stupid stuff.

Point a firearm only at somethingyou intend to shoot. Avoid all

horseplay with a gun.This, my fellow hunters and firearm

owners, is a no-brainer! When you pickup a firearm, you have the power of lifeand death in your hands. This is not tobe taken lightly. You don’t play aroundwith firearms and you only point it at atarget or the game you intend on taking.I cringe at the thought of how manytimes I as a Game Warden was probablylooked at through the scope of some-one’s firearm. Not to take a shot at mebut to identify who I was, or better said,to confirm who I was. Each time youuse your scope as a set of binoculars toidentify something you have seen isdangerous. If it turns out to be human,you just pointed a loaded firearm atsomeone. Tip: go buy and use a set ofbinoculars!

Don’t run, jump, or climb with aloaded firearm. Unload a firearm

before you climb a fence or tree, orjump a ditch. Pull a firearm toward

you by the butt, not the muzzle.Always unload your firearm and

make it safe if you see yourself gettinginto a hazardous situation. It has alwaysamazed me the number of hunters outthere that when they get out of theirvehicle in the morning to go deer hunt-ing, this is usually before daylight, iftheir firearm is not already loaded theywill load it before going to their stand. Iftheir firearm will hold 30 rounds ofammunition, they will load with all 30rounds including putting one in thechamber. My question has always been:Why? You are about to go walking inthe woods, in the dark. You can’t shootanything along the way because it isdark. However, thousands of hunters

every season still stumble through thewoods in the dark with a loaded firearm,creating a very unsafe situation. I haveposed the question to Hunter Educationclasses over the years and have receivedseveral interesting answers such asSasquatch, ghosts, boogers, bears, hogs,and the plain “I am just scared of thedark.”

Store firearms and ammunitionseparately and safely. Store each insecured locations beyond the reach

of children and careless adults.

This is a very good rule, especially ifyou have small children around andthose careless adults that do not need tobe around firearms. It is also a good ideathat everyone that knows how to handlea firearm needs to be able to pick upthose firearms that are in your house tocheck it and see if it is loaded, and alsoto be able to unload it and make it safe.Encourage non-hunters to attend one ofyour classes so they will understand allthese rules and feel safer in a huntinghousehold.

Avoid alcoholic beverages beforeor during shooting. Also avoid

mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.

Hunting and shooting requires aquick and clear mind. We usually thinkof illegal drugs when the word drug isused. But this means all drugs. Eventhose you have a prescription for orover-the-counter medications that arecapable of affecting your ability tomake a quick, clear decision. If you aresick enough to be on these types ofmedications, you’re probably better offnot participating in either hunting orshooting.We have just gone through the Ten

Commandments of Firearm Safety. Thisis the backbone of the Hunter Educationand Firearm Safety programs. When itcomes down to it, it is getting back tothe Basics. If you as a hunter or firearmowner live by and practice these rules,gun and hunting incidents/accidentswill become a thing of the past.n

Huntego CleanShotDiscount for instructors on CleanShot,

the first “shoot-through” bore-cleaningdevice.Discounts are now available for hunter

education instructors from HuntegoCleanShot on their high-velocity, highlyeffective bore-cleaning device that fieldcleans your gun’s bore in an instant.“A clean gun is a safe gun,” said

founder and CEO Curt Whitworth.“Safe and responsible hunting is theframework of our hunting heritage. Weare delighted to support the tireless

efforts of volunteer instructors through-out the hunter education system.”The first-of-its-kind patented technol-

ogy power scrubs, traps particles, andwipes your bore clean with the firing ofa CleanShot round—the only productthat can make that claim. Simply load aCleanShot cartridge and safely fire atthe range or in the field—removingfouling, plastics, and other contami-nants in less than a second.Manufactured with the same

processes and standards as currentammunition, CleanShot is currentlyavailable in 12-gauge, though Huntego

plans to release 20- and 28-gauge and410-bore. They are also developingloads in 9mm and 5.56. CleanShot’scommitment to the invention and inno-vation of gun bore cleaning solutions ischanging the game forever. Hunter education instructors can get

the CleanShot discount by visitinghttps://huntegoltd.com/ and using thediscount code IHEA1718 at checkout.

Instructor Discount Corner

Hunter Education Instructors have the opportunity to purchase many items at a discounted rate on the "Special Offers" section of the IHEA-USA website! Foryour exclusive access go to: www.ihea-usa.com/instructors/special-offers-for-instructors. Just click on the company hyperlink you are interested in and,when prompted, enter "gohunt" as your password. The password has no space and is all lowercase.

Instructor Access for IHEA-USA WebsiteFor more information go to: www.ihea-usa.com/instructors/special-offers-for-instructors

Purchase these fine products and more!

Walker’sWalker’s, maker of famous

hearing-protection products,knows using ear protectionwhile hunting in the field isjust as important as it is on ashooting range, and in aneffort to prevent irreversiblehearing loss, they’re work-ing to get the word outthrough the IHEA-USA.In addition to sponsoring

this Winter issue of theJournal, GSM offers hunter educationinstructors generous discounts on theirproducts. Instructors may not realize thelifelong impact they have on students

when they teach proper earprotection and are in the primeposition to emphasize the impor-tance of it.“Most hunters wear hearing

protection while sighting-in guns,but not when they are hunting,”said Ben X. Smith of GSMOutdoors. “It might be becausethey feel only taking one shotwon’t have any impact on theirhearing, but continued exposureto muzzle blast year after year(especially hunting in an

enclosed blind) can really do irre-versible damage.”There are better choices than ear

plugs or muffs that just block all sound.

Hearing commands and conversation ata shooting range improves the safetyand enjoyment of the experience. Theability to hear while hunting in the fieldis essential for safety as well as success-ful hunting. Walker’s offers electronicproducts that deliver crisp, clear sound,but instantly compress loud noises suchas gun shots, to prevent hearingdamage.Two excellent choices from Walkers

are the Silencer Ear Buds and RazorPatriot Slim Electronic Muffs. For moreinformation on these and other hearingprotection products, visit online atgsmoutdoors.com/walkers. While there,check out other great GSM Outdoorsproducts for hunters.



I HEA-Mexico celebrated its 10thanniversary in Morelia, Mexico,and the Texas Hunter Education

Program recognized Edgar Wenzel,IHEA-Mexico president and found-ing member, for his leadershipthrough 10 years of growth. “Edgarwas one of 22 participants in theHunter Education training we heldin 2007 at Chaparral WildlifeManagement Area, Artesia Wells,Texas, to share the IHEA standardswith FEMECA, Mexico’s HuntingFederation,” said Steve Hall, TexasHunter Education Coordinator. “Inaddition, Edgar was instrumental increating IHEA-World and serves asthe organization’s vice president.”Patty Wenzel opened the confer-

ence sessions with a presentationthat demonstrated the interactiveand participatory approach we needin hunter education classes to createthe best learning environment forstudents. Instructor manual high-lights were reviewed and IHEA-Mexico founding members wererecognized. Terry Erwin, retiredTexas Hunter Education Coordinator,was recognized as IHEA-Mexico’smentor for coordinating IHEAtraining with Mexico. HubertThummler, Mexico’s HuntingFederation (FEMECA), and MariaAraujo, Texas Parks and Wildlife,were remembered for hatching theFEMECA-IHEA partnership ideaduring a panel discussion at the2007 SCI convention. David Montoya and Jorge

Villarreal led in the number ofstudents certified this past year andreceived hunting knives thatKalkomey Enterprises sponsoredfor the top instructors. Villarreal, found-ing member and secretary of IHEA-Mexico, has certified 3,940 students, thehighest number of any instructor inMexico. Villarreal also helps communi-ties develop wildlife management plansand organize patrols for wildlife law

enforcement. “This multi-prong approachhelps us move communities fromsubsistence hunting to sustainable use,”said Villarreal, manager of the NuevoLeon Flora and Fauna Advisory Council.The hunter education course in

Mexico is free for children and women,

and instructors like Manuel Marco,Club Safari México, offer freeclasses to people of limitedresources. Involving mothers in theclasses is a priority for the chapteras a strategy to recruit the entirefamily, not just a father and son. IHEA-Mexico is the leading force

to fight efforts to ban hunting inMexico, including a bill introducedin the senate. “Poaching is the anti-hunters’ favorite justification fortheir opposition,” said Wenzel, “sowe are educating people on thedifference between poaching andhunting, and on ethics, laws, andfield skills so they can proudly joinour hunting community.” OtherLatin American countries facesimilar anti-hunting attitudes andWenzel has offered to train huntereducation instructors in theirrespective countries to help build ahunting constituency throughoutthe region. Since 2011, Texas and Mexico

have held joint advanced work-shops for instructors, thanks to aproposal by Omar Treviño, IHEA-Mexico founding member and vicepresident and Club CazadoresMonterrey Hunting Commissionpresident. This year’s workshoptopic was the management ofChihuahuan Desert Big Game andnext year’s is waterfowl hunting.“We named Omar our honoraryTexas Area Chief in Mexico forcoordinating Mexico’s participa-tion in the joint workshop.” saidHall. “Our Texas Hunter EducationInstructor Association also madehim a lifetime member.”In addition to Kalkomey, IHEA-

Mexico would like to thank Cabela’s,Duck Unlimited, SCI, SCI-Austin,Texas Youth Hunting Program, andTexas Hunter Education Program fortheir support. IHEA-Mexico’s nextconference will be held in Guadalajara,Jalisco.n

IHEA-Mexico Celebrates 10 YearsBy María I. Araujo, International Affairs Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Edgar Wenzel received a Texas Hunter EducationRecognition Award and Patty Wenzel was recog-nized for her keynote presentation on teaching techniques at the IHEA-Mexico conference.

Terry Erwin, retired Texas Hunter EducationCoordinator, was recognized as the mentor of IHEA-Mexico at the organization’s conference.

Courtesy of Edgar Wenzel

Courtesy of Manuel Marco

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