David Hammonds, Northeast Regional YHEC Director, brings us the following report and photo from last month’s successful event:

The First Annual Northeast Regional Texas Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) was held on October 10, 2009 at the Arlington Sportsman’s Club (ASC) in Mansfield, Texas. The Cabela’s Fort Worth Store joined with ASC in sponsoring the NRA YHEC Program. 

Four individual senior participants and 12 individual junior participants competed in 5 scored events: Archery, Shotgun, .22 Rimfire Rifle, Wildlife ID, and a Hunter Skills Trail. The 5 scored events were staffed by 18 volunteers, including Texas Hunter Education Instructors (THEIA), Scout Leaders, and/or ASC, TSRA, NRA members. The three shooting events were held in the morning and the two responsibility events took place in the afternoon. There was also a muzzleloader family fun shoot following the afternoon schedule with more than 19 family members participating.

ASC President Richard Matsler, President-elect Matt Jones, and Tracy Doty, Special Events Coordinator for the Cabela’s Fort Worth store, presented the awards with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners receiving gold, silver and bronze medals and 4th and 5th place winners receiving ribbons.

Many of the volunteers said, “Sign me up to work this program next year. This is fun, and I’ll work any area where I'm needed.”

Some participants were overheard saying, “This is a blast!”, “I scored the max in Archery!” and “I want to do this again.”

Mr. Hammonds has started the planning for next year’s Northeast Regional Texas YHEC, and would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors and family members for making YHEC so successful and fun.