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Texas Agriculture Archive

March 17, 2006

TYHP seeks new hunting
grounds in Central Texas

Directors with the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) are looking for a few generous landowners willing to open up their land to a lifetime of memories for a few good kids.

Begun 12 years ago to increase the numbers of youths participating in wildlife and hunting activities and to promote the hunting heritage in Texas, the program has since grown to become one of the largest hunting safety programs for children ages 8-17 in the Lone Star State. There are more than 200 hunts and 6,000 participants each year.

"That's why we're hoping we can find more places to take kids hunting," said Jerry Warden, one of the program's founders.

"Only through the work and resources of volunteers can TYHP provide thousands of safe, educational and memorable hunting experiences," he said. "Our entire program is based on volunteer landowners who open their ranch gates for youth hunters, and other volunteers who plan and run hunts. TYHP can provide everything for successful hunts—except hunting opportunities and dedicated personnel."

TYHP provides insurance coverage and meets with landowners to determine what specifics are required of groups entering the property. Once the specifics are agreed, the hunt is then scheduled and groups are brought out.

Groups typically consist of a dozen or so children, each accompanied by a parent, and the staff of volunteers. They usually stay from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, varying hunts with safety and educational activities throughout the day.

Little is required of the landowners themselves, Warden said. "All we really need is the place to enjoy the outdoors, something many of these children have never experienced before. And we pride ourselves in leaving the place better than we found it."

Much of the hunting land in use thus far has either been in Far South Texas or the Hill Country. Central Texas properties, however, have been somewhat limited.

And that's where so many of the participants come from each year.

"We work on keeping the entire weekend in the outdoors," he said. "No televisions, no Game Boys and no Walkmans."

And when everything is said and done, Warden said he believes the youth participants not only walk away with a new appreciation for the outdoors, but they have a greater respect for land ownership and responsible stewardship of resources—something he said makes them better informed voters when they are faced with such issues in the future.

"So many of our kids today aren't given that exposure any more. Even when we don't harvest anything, the time together is what the children value most."

Those interested in learning more about the program or volunteering their land are encouraged to visit the Texas Youth Hunting Program Web site at www.tyhp.org or contact Warden at 1(800) 460-5494 or j-warden@texas-wildlife.org.