This article came from the TWA Magazine and we wanted to share it with all of our members. Thank you for supporting the Youth Hunting Program!
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Wildlife 2007 (San Antonio) gave TWA members a small glimpse of the Texas Youth Hunting Program and an opportunity to visit with some of its volunteers. During the statewide Texas Big Game Awards Banquet (Burnet), attendees heard a short program update and listened to one of our youth hunters.

Update on the 2006-2007 TYHP Hunting Season:

Remained on track with its present goal: preserving Texas’ hunting heritage by exposing youths to quality, affordable, mentored, educational and fun youth hunts.

Remained focused on Phase II, the TYHP Outreach Expansion Program. This phase, which is fully endorsed by TYHP partners, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and your TWA, seeks to involve other organizations with youth hunting. Statewide, the program has partnered with more than 50 separate organizations to develop future hunters and to promote the hunting tradition.

Conducted 170 youth hunts thus far for the 2006-2007 Hunting Season. Huntmasters and other organizations conducting hunts with limited TYHP support made this possible. Since its inception, the program has conducted more than 1,000 youth hunts and has taken over 10,000 youths hunting. Counting the youth hunters, their accompanying adults, and program volunteers, approximately 30,000 participants have experienced safe, educational and ethical hunting through the program.

Continued to provide statewide coverage by conducting hunts from the Canadian River to Brownsville, and from El Paso to Texarkana.

Conducted or will conduct Huntmaster Workshops around the state to sustain the volunteer base vital to the program’s success.  Huntmaster training teams conducted these workshops. Continued to refine the TYHP website (www.tyhp.org) to automate the program, which has allowed for growth as well as cost savings. The program is in the process of upgrading the website and the automation procedures for selecting hunters.  

Continued to Phase III, TYHP Outreach Expansion beyond Texas, as funding and time constraints allow. In addition to exporting the program to Colorado in 2003, continued to implement a multi-year training plan with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during 2005-07 for exportation to their state. Through a Shikar-Safari grant made possible by the efforts of Stan Studer Jr., TYHP has assisted in establishing the administration for Florida, trained staff and 50 volunteers, conducted a “Train-The-Trainer” workshop in Florida. To date, Florida has conducted 13 youth hunts.  TYHP continued to train personnel and assist the Republic of Mexico with development of their youth hunting initiatives and wildlife education programs.

Coordinated with representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, New Mexico, and Okalahoma about exporting the program to their states. 

Continued the University Outreach Expansion Program with Stephen F. Austin State University, Tarleton State University and Texas A&M University—Kingsville.

Refined the successful pilot program that TYHP previously implemented to increase Hispanic participation in hunting. Received a major TPWD two-year Co-op grant for these target populations. This expansion program is named “H2Harmony.”

Dedicated approximately 30,000 volunteer hours to the future of hunting.

Upgraded the Huntmaster manual and updated previously trained Huntmasters.

Promoted hunting by providing instruction at schools, learning centers and parks and recreation activities as well as teacher workshops. 

Conducted two “Super Hunts” in partnership with the Gillespie County Cave Creek and Cherry Springs Wildlife Management Associations. These hunts came from our partnership with the Texas Organization of Wildlife Management Associations (TOWMA). Both WMAs have been recognized as TPWD Lone Star Land Stewards, in part for their support of youth hunting.

Conducted hunts for physically challenged youths at the Faulkner, Holt, N & K, Robert’s YMCA, Franklin Family, Stasney’s Cook and Rocker B ranches, as well as other ranch locations.

Utilized the Youth-Only Rio Grande Turkey Season, initiated by TYHP Huntmasters and received National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Grants to assist with the program.

Continue to collect TYHP Study Surveys to better analyze the program and make adjustments if needed. 

Conducted an Area Coordinators’ Meeting that addressed means to make the program more cost effective and efficient.

Received an additional $5,000 of fiscal-year-end funds from the Wildlife Division of TPWD.  

Received grants from the G. Rollie White Foundation, Corpus Christi Rotary Club, National Rifle Association, Houston Safari Club, Verizon and our major youth hunting partners such as Austin Woods and Waters Club.

Received support for youth hunting from 80 company and individual partnerships.

Implemented the Texas Youth Hunting Partners Program, which allows businesses, organizations or individuals to provide scholarships for youth.

Conducted six Wounded Warrior hunts for military personnel recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center.

Assisted the Texas Child Protection Service to amend their policy to allow foster children to hunt.

Developed a new youth hunter scholarship program, which requires participants to make contact to seek sponsorship for hunting fees.

Assisted the Houston Independent School District in formalizing a policy to allow their students to participate in hunting and wildlife activities.

Conducted an Advanced Huntmaster Workshop designed to involve more youth in upland game bird hunting.

Words from the Next Generation of Hunters:

Each year at the Convention, we hear from a youth hunter and listen to his/her thoughts about the program. This year, our brave young speaker, Nathan Tinsley, addressed the more than 1,000 luncheon attendees. Nathan is in the 8th Grade at Cunningham Middle School in Houston. He has hunted with TYHP as a result of the TYHP Outreach Expansion Program.

Nathan’s TYHP hunts have been conducted in partnership with the Christian Outdoor Coalition, which were conducted under the guidance of its Director and long-time Huntmaster, John Miller.  Nathan was accompanied at the convention by his mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

TYHP Youth Speech

Good afternoon, my name is Nathan Tinsley, and I am 12 years old. I am from the Houston area, where I live with my mom who is a single parent. I got involved about 2½ years ago when I was asked if I wanted to go on a deer hunt. At that time, I knew nothing about the outdoors or hunting.  The word “hunting” was not even in my vocabulary.  

I was invited to the Wade Watkins Ranch by Houston area Huntmaster, Mr. John Miller.  On my first trip, I harvested a deer. I still remember my first shot; it was a shot I had never dreamed about since I live in the concrete streets of Houston.

The landowner, Mr. Watkins, was with me in the blind and I still can’t believe I hit the deer. The whole weekend was a new experience for me. I had never done any of the activities that I participated in on that weekend. I learned how to skin a deer and what to do with it afterwards because I really liked the deer sausage my grandma made for breakfast. 

Since my first experience, I have gone on another deer hunt, a waterfowl hunt and a dove hunt. Two weeks ago, I went with Mr. C.G. [Houston-area Huntmaster Cecario Guerrero] on a leadership and conservation camp at the Double H Ranch in New Mexico where we worked on a project to help restore wildlife and its natural habitat. The Texas Youth Hunting Program has made an impact and a difference in my life. 

I would like to thank all of the landowners who make it possible for us, the youth, to live a dream. A special thanks also to all of the Huntmasters, volunteers, TWA, and TYHP staff. In my life, you have made a difference, and you have educated a youth from the concrete streets of Houston.

Other Happenings:

Other volunteers ran the TYHP booth and distributed youth hunt albums to our landowners who provided youth hunts and operated the Laser Shot Booth. Thanks to these volunteers who helped us have another superb convention.

During the convention, TWA hosted some special guests, Sergeant First-lass Gregory Stabe, his wife, Donna, and son, Gregory, Jr. Gregg, who was wounded in Afghanistan while serving our country, attended one of TWA’s first “Wounded Warrior Hunts” and now serves as the Army’s Wounded Warrior Hunting Coordinator.

A tremendous thank you goes to our ardent TWA members, who demonstrate their support of TYHP through their generous participation in the auctions. The funds generated during the convention, along with TPWD support, will insure this program will be around to have a positive impact on our youth and the future of hunting.

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