By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
Texas youth who are interested in learning how to hunt may now apply for safe, engaging and educational introductory hunting experiences through the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP).
TYHP is a joint effort by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association.
The goal is to provide memorable experiences that expose youth to nature, conservation and responsible and safe hunting.
“The Texas Youth Hunting Program is designed to get young people nine to 17 years old outdoors,” Chris Mitchell, TYHP director, said. “It’s an extension of the Hunter Education program in that we require every participant to complete Hunter Education in order to go on one of our hunts.”
TYHP released its calendar of hunts for the 2023-2024 hunting season in early July and will continue to add new hunts as they become available.
“They do come with a parent. Our most often used hunt model is a three-day model where they arrive on Friday. They register, and they get set up in their lodging—whether that’s setting up a tent or using facilities on the ranch where we’re hunting,” Mitchell said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network.
Youth hunters then set up a range to make sure their equipment is ready, and a safety briefing is held to ensure everyone has a safe first hunt.
The first hunt is typically then held on Saturday morning.
“After the first hunt, there will be breakfast followed by education, and then another hunt that evening, and then another meal after the second hunt. Then, they go to bed after a fireside event on Saturday night and have one more hunt on Sunday,” Mitchell said. “Everyone is back on the road to their homes about noon on Sunday.”
In addition to teaching youth how to safely hunt, leaders and volunteers show young hunters and their parent or guardian how to safely handle and process their harvest.
“A big barrier to anyone getting into hunting is what to do after the shot,” Mitchell said. “So, our volunteers will teach people how to field dress, skin and quarter whatever it is that they have harvested. We teach them how to take care of that meal responsibly so it doesn’t go to waste.”
TYHP offers hunts across Texas for a variety of wild game, including white-tailed deer, feral hogs and aoudad (barbary sheep).
Some of the hunts also offer an opportunity to fish.
“There may be other species that are offered like coyotes, varmints and that sort-of thing, but then there are some very special hunts that we do,” Mitchell said. “We do an alligator hunt at Lake Texana in Jackson County. We’ve recently added an elk hunt in West Texas. That’s an adventure hunt.”
Adventure hunts are for more experienced, and older, hunters. In the case of the elk hunt, it requires hunters who can pack out whatever they harvest.
“You’ve got to be a little older and a little more mature to go on that type of hunt,” Mitchell said. “We’ve asked the people that apple for that hunt to have also completed another hunter education opportunity called Hunter Education 101. It’s just advanced hunter education.”
Youth who are interested in attending a TYHP hunt are encouraged to take their Hunter Education course as soon as possible.
Youth may apply without having Hunter Education but should complete the course before the hunt.
Youth are selected for hunts based on their experience. Priority is given to those who have not attended a TYHP hunt before.
The TYHP schedule is available here.
The goal is to help the next generation find a passion and respect for hunting, wildlife and conservation.
“We’re trying to continue the hunting heritage in the state and around the country for that matter,” Mitchell said. “There’s a big effort now nationwide in recruiting, reactivating and retaining hunters, and this is our part of doing that.”
Landowners
TYHP also helps landowners achieve their wildlife management goals when they allow the program to host a hunt on their property.
“Some of these landowners have extended hunting seasons for the purpose of getting surplus animals off of their habitat, and when your biologist is telling you, ‘You need to take 50 deer off of your property,’ that’s just a lot of work,” Mitchell said. “We can help bring five or six kids in. If they take one or two animals, then you’re a third of your way toward your goal of getting a large number of animals off your property.”
Last year, 205 landowners helped TYHP run 230 hunts.
“Some of these landowners are opening their gates more than once to us and to the young people of the state, and most of them are private landowners,” Mitchell said.
Texas landowners may volunteer to host a hunt on their property on the TYHP website.
Landowners who host TYHP hunts are provided liability insurance.
“The landowners and their properties are indemnified with the insurance, held harmless and don’t have to worry about the liability, and that’s a big selling point,” Mitchell said.
Volunteers
TYHP is also seeking HuntMasters and volunteers to help run the hunts.
“We’re always looking for another volunteer who would like to become a HuntMaster or just attend a couple of hours of orientation in order to be a guide or to be a cook because we also need people to do that,” Mitchell said. “There’s something for everyone out there. We have three more HuntMaster training classes scheduled, and actually we’re working on a fourth in the Valley near Weslaco, which we’re excited to expand our reach in that area.”
Guides are also needed.
“You don’t have to be a HuntMaster in order to be a guide. You just need to be familiar with whatever species it is that we’re pursuing on that particular hunt, whether it’s white-tails, turkeys, javelina or whatever it is,” Mitchell said. “As long as you’re comfortable in helping a new hunter and their parent identify and make the right choice, then you can help us out as a guide, and you can attend training online.”
Mitchell said volunteering for these positions not only helps the youth and the person they bring hunting with them, but it can also be enjoyable for the volunteers.
“It doesn’t really matter how you participate, whether you’re a hunter, a parent or a volunteer, there’s tons to learn on a TYHP hunt,” Mitchell said.
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