By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
Texas teens who are interested in learning how to hunt or honing their skills under the guidance of trained volunteers may now apply for hunts through the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP).
“We are a program that takes 9-17 year-olds who have completed hunter education on safe, educational, mentored hunts throughout the state of Texas,” Chris Mitchell, TYHP director, said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network.
There are hunts for javelina, alligator, white-tailed deer, hogs, turkey, exotics and small game.
“As I tell landowners, we will hunt whatever they will let us, and whatever is legal,” Mitchell said. “That runs the gamut from dove and duck to feral hog, white-tail and mule deer hunts.”
Eligible youth who are selected for a hunt must bring a parent or guardian along with them for the engaging outdoor experience.
“The hunt is educational really from the beginning all the way to the end, and it starts with hunter education and risk mitigation,” Mitchell said. “This way, everyone who comes has at least an introductory understanding of hunting safety and what to do after the shot, whether that shot comes from a rifle, a shotgun or archery equipment. We do hunts using all kinds of methods.”
While on a hunt, youth will learn how to field dress, skin, quarter game and get it on ice so it’s preserved and clean.
Interested youth can apply for hunts on the TYHP website.
“They click on our calendar, and they can look at what hunts are available,” Mitchell said. “We started posting hunts on the first of July. I encourage people to check back regularly because hunts are added almost daily.”
By the time dove and white-tailed deer hunting seasons roll around this fall, there will be more than 100 hunts posted.
Last season, TYHP hosted 225 hunts for Texas youth.
“We are trying to grow the next generation of hunters in Texas,” Mitchell said. “Some people with a lot of foresight many years ago, in the eighties, noticed that license sales for hunting and fishing were going down. Anglers and hunters pay for conservation. So, if we don’t have people buying hunting and fishing licenses, we will not have Parks and Wildlife Management areas. We are trying to grow the next generation of people that are going to continue to buy hunting and fishing licenses so that we have places to hunt and fish and do all great things outdoors.”
Mitchell said youth who are new to the youth hunting program will be given priority when hunts are arranged, but hunters who have been on TYHP hunts are still invited to apply.
“If you have never hunted with us, you will have a priority for selection over someone who applies for the same hunt who has already been on a hunt with us, but we have hunters that have been on many hunts with us because they’re flexible, and if we have a cancellation, they can fill in,” Mitchell said.
TYHP also hosts adventure hunts for youth hunters who are more experienced. This year, there is an elk hunt in September.
“Because the conditions of the hunt require more physical conditions like being able to walk, stalk and shoot long-range, you can’t just take a nine-year-old who has never hunted,” Mitchell said.
Adults who are interested in volunteering for a TYHP hunt may apply on the TYHP website.
“Our hunts are run largely by a very talented and generous volunteer force, but we’re always looking to add to that because any time we add a new ranch or we add more kids, we have to add the other components of the hunt,” Mitchell said. “If I get a new ranch, I have to have more kids, and I have to have more volunteers to run that hunt.”
There is an online training for interested volunteers for the youth hunting program. It takes 30-45 minutes and prepares the volunteer to guide a hunt or cook on a hunt.
For those interested in becoming a Huntmaster, there are several Huntmaster trainings scheduled between now and September.
Landowners who are willing to host a TYHP hunt on their land are also needed.
“We come with a lot of advantages for a landowner,” Mitchell said. “First of all, we have a professional volunteer force that is certified, mentored and background-checked. That’s the type of person that comes to run one of your hunts.”
TYHP also provides liability insurance for landowners.
“The landowner doesn’t have to worry about an incident on a TYHP hunt, largely because our volunteer force doesn’t let bad things happen, but if an accident occurs, they don’t have to worry about being the subject of a lawsuit because we have liability insurance that covers them and the animals that are on their ranch should something be taken that’s not supposed to be taken. Fortunately, it’s very, very rare,” Mitchell said.
Youth interested in attending a TYHP hunt must successfully complete hunter education. Details on the required course are available at tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education.