Texas 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program in 2012-2013

The 2012-2013 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program, known as WHEP, finished another good year.  

This year offered two Practice Contests, one each in Kerrville and Centerville, which served as training grounds for youth and adult leaders alike.  These contests are abbreviated versions of a typical contest that give insight into the operation and set up of a contest.  In addition, the official answers and explanations to each contest event are provided immediately following an activity.  These are not only explained but discussed with all participants encouraged to ask questions.  Look for Practice Contests for the coming year on November 23rd in Grayson County and January 18th in Brazos County.

A special WHEP session is also scheduled during the 4-H Teen Retreat at the Texas 4-H Center on January 10-12.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo WHEP Contest was presented in fair weather this year, which is always a 50/50 chance in coastal Texas March.  The contest will take place again in 2014 on March 8th.

This year's State WHEP Contest was held at the Texas 4-H Office in College Station utilizing the Urban section of the manual and testing the knowledge of the participants' urban wildlife management skills.  The 2014 State Contest is scheduled for June 14-15 in Brazos County.

The results of the 2013 contest are as follows (see complete participant results on the WHEP webpage):

Junior Division
1st Individual - Reid Aschenbeck, Washington County
2nd Individual - Cade Weiss, Washington County
3rd Individual - Logan Schwartz, Washington County 
1st Team - Washington County

Intermediate Division
1st Individual - Hayden Mathews, Comal County
2nd Individual - Davis Mathews, Comal County
3rd Individual - Deidra Davis, Comal County
1st Team - Comal County
2nd Team - Denton County
3rd Team - Washington County

Senior Division
1st Individual - Reagan Ashley, Cameron County
2nd Individual - D.J. Franklin, Waller County
3rd Individual - Catherin Franklin, Waller County
1st Team - Waller County
2nd Team - Cameron County
3rd Team - Washington County

The National WHEP Invitational is attended by the top placing Senior team from each state.  The Waller County Team (pictured above) of Coach Harvey Laas, Catherin Franklin, D.J. Franklin, Joseph Franklin, and Sam Franklin, represented Texas 4-H in the 2013 Invitational in Indiana.  This team honored Texas 4-H by bringing home 2nd Place Overall!

4-H Shooting Sports Coach Trainings This Fall

There are several opportunities coming up soon to attend a 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Training and receive certification in a single discipline to become a local coach for your 4-H Shooting Sports project. 
 
District 12 Training - September 28-29 - Cotulla
South Region Training - October12-13 - Victoria 
District 9 Training - November 9-10 - Conroe

All trainings whether 'District' or 'Regional' are open to anyone within the state who is enrolled currently as a  4-H volunteer with a current background check.

Registration for all trainings is on 4-H Connect through a personal profile;  https://texas.4honline.com.

All 4-H Shooting Sports projects, even those projects based at home only, require a Coach trained and certified through 4-H.  The mandatory certification training is offered through the State 4-H Office and the District Extension Offices around the state.  Each discipline (archery, pistol, rifle, shotgun) within a local project requires a 4-H Coach certified in that discipline.  In other words, a certified pistol coach cannot become the shotgun coach without first attending another training in the Shotgun discipline.

Other specific firearm coach trainings/certifications take place on a less regular basis such as Muzzle Loading Coach Training and Hunting & Wildlife Coach Training.  With less demand on these certifications, the trainings are held less often.  These training offerings will be posted soon and announced on this blog.

The document linked here will provide more information and answer frequently asked questions about Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches.

Youth Hunter Education Challenge

The 2013 Northeast Region Youth Hunter Education Challenge will take place on October 5^th at the Arlington Sportsman's Club in Mansfield area.  Registration deadline is September 15^th using the registration form on this link. 

The Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is a one day competition testing the participants’ skills of marksmanship, hunter safety and responsibility knowledge, and wildlife identification.  The Challenge takes each participant through six events throughout the day; .22 caliber rifle, muzzle loading rifle, shotgun, archery, wildlife identification and hunter skills trail, and hunter responsibility exam.  Medals will be awarded in each event.  

Rules can be found at http://yhec.nra.org/documents/pdf/hunterservices/yhec/rules.pdf. 

Additional information on this event can be found by clicking these links: Information and Releases.

YSSA ANNOUNCES 2014 GRANT PROGRAM

The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) is conducting its seventh National Youth Shooting Sports Program Needs Assessment this fall to identify youth shooting sports programs that are being limited in growth by their need for additional equipment and supplies. County Extension Agents and 4-H project leaders and club managers are welcomed and encouraged to submit an application for YSSA support by October 11, 2013.

YSSA offers shooting sports equipment and ammunition available on loan or distribution on a permanent basis to selected youth shooting sports programs.

Go to www.youthshootingsa.com for complete information. Be sure to read through the online application.

2013 Outdoor Challenge

This summer's Outdoor Challenge was another big hit with participant numbers nearly doubling.  The event was hosted again by the Texas 4-H Center on Lake Brownwood.  The event challenged two person teams in tests of skills in climbing, wildlife identification, biologist skills, wildlife knowledge, swimming, shooting sports, outdoor first aid/wilderness survival, knot tying, and kayaking.  To learn more about this activity, check out the Outdoor Challenge Handbook which is revised each year prior to the event.  Browse the Outdoor Challenge webpage to learn more, stay up to date, and view the 2013 Results.

Next year's event planning is in progress with a new location and possible new challenges.  Keep your skills honed!

2013 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational - Texas Wins Again

Since 2000 and the inception of the 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational, Texas 4-Hers have brought home the 5' tall traveling trophy for overall champions all but one year.  The 2013 Texas Team continued those efforts in June by bringing the trophy home one more year from this year's event.  The 2013 Texas Team was comprised of 43 4-Hers, including alternates, representing 25 counties in the state.  The effort continues to become more and more of a challenge each year.  Texas had a couple of competitive states close on their heels this year.

The Texas Team is nominated each year by an application and selection process measuring not only their participation levels in 4-H Shooting Sports events and activities but also their involvement in 4-H in general, their involvement in their communities, and their ability to answer tough pertinent questions related to youth development.  Participation in a 4-H Shooting Sports Project is mandatory however.  Applications for the 2014 Texas Team will be released this fall.

The 5' traveling trophy will be making its way across the state stopping in each of the Texas Team members' counties for a week or two stay.  Be on the lookout for it in your area.

First Annual State Fair of Texas WHEP Contest

The first annual State Fair of Texas Wildlife Habitat Education Program Contest will be held October 7, 2013 on the State Fair Grounds in Dallas, Texas.  This contest is referred to by the State Fair as their Wildlife Contest.  The entry information is now available for this contest along with details concerning the procedures of the contest.  Entry must be made through a local county Extension office and made by midnight on August 25th.  Entry procedures can be found on the State Fair website; http://www.bigtex.com/sft/LiveStock/documents/NewYthSpecialRules12013.pdf.


Also review additional information about the contest on http://www.bigtex.com/sft/LiveStock/Contests.asp.  Hope to see you in Dallas in October.