Landowner Letter

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Texas Wildlife Association’s Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP). We believe that we have one of the best hunting programs available. We have generations of young Texans who are missing out on hunting due to the difficulty in locating a place where they can learn how to hunt. It is the goal of TYHP to provide every youth in the state who wants to go hunting a safe and educational hunt. It is our hope that these hunts will foster hunting and provide a solid, memorable experience to draw from when our former members vote on wildlife or hunting legislation. Most of our hunters are average young Texans who need a place to hunt. Generally speaking, after a youth and his/her accompanying adult have participated in the program, they are safer, more educated, and more ethical hunters. Most of the time our participants do not realize that they are being educated; they just think the activities are fun!

For the landowner, we provide up to $2 million of commercial liability insurance protection as well as other forms of coverage. Our policy is based on the safety incorporated into our program.

AS A MINIMUM THE YOUTH MUST HUNT:

• be between 9 - 17 years of age
• have completed Hunter Education
• have a valid hunting license with appropriate tags if necessary
• be accompanied by his or her "own" adult. During the actual hunt, the hunter must be accompanied by an experience hunter (generally the youth’s "own" adult, normally a parent, who has satisfied TYHP requirements including a Hunt Guide orientation for your hunt)
• have executed required TYHP liability release which will include the Landowner
  

We also execute an agreement between yourself and TYHP to provide you with additional security and peace of mind. Since this is your hunt, you make the rules that will be an appendix to the agreement. Feel free to include any rule that does not affect the safety, legality or ethics of the hunt. It is the agreement that initiates the insurance for your hunt.

It is easy to get started; just pick up the phone and give us a call at 1-800-460-5494 or (210) 930-2177. A call, an orientation visit to your property, and an agreement are about all it takes. (If you desire, this could be your total involvement in the hunt. We must admit that there are major benefits to both yourself and the youths the more you are involved.) At this point, we are ready to plan and conduct the hunt.

YOU MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING OF INTEREST AS YOU CONSIDER A YOUTH HUNT:

• You determine the length of the hunt; we prefer to gather late Friday evening and depart around noon Sunday after a thorough cleaning of your facilities
• A typical hunt starts with a safety and hunt orientation, review of game laws, wildlife management and identification, firearms/ammunition inspection and a Hunt Guide orientation. All hunts include firing ranges to insure the youths know how to properly handle and effectively use their firearms or archery equipment and some "hands on" hunter education/wildlife activity. Depending on the game, we usually hunt in the mornings and evenings. One evening, we like to have a hunting/wildlife related program around a campfire or fireplace if possible
• The number of participants (youths, adults, and volunteers) is determined in part by the amount of lodging and food preparation facilities (these are not required, but are desired), and the number of safe hunting areas. If necessary, we will camp
• With your concurrence, we try to involve local game wardens and biologists
• We can furnish just about everything for the hunt
• Our hunter education and safety requirements are stringent
• Youths will only handle firearms in the presence of a supervising adult
• Before shooting, both the hunter and guide must agree that it is a proper animal, there is a good possibility of a kill, it is legal, and it is ethical
• Youths are required to fully process their game
• Youths are required to perform camp chores and clean-up
• If you have the facilities, time permits, and you concur, the youths may fish (normally using catch and release)
• Vehicle traffic will be kept to a minimum
• Youths will normally hunt from a stationary position (blinds or in the field)
• Firearms will only be loaded at the range or when the youth is in a hunting position (actions will remain open the rest of the time)
• We stress the "two person rule" with all activities
• Many of our hunts are for antlerless game. We take the time to make the best identification possible including passing questionable shots and having all parties agree on the sex of the game before shooting. We want you to be happy
• We hunt just about any legal animal from rabbits, squirrels, game birds, varmints, hogs, deer, exotics, etc. Antlerless and wildlife management hunts are both welcomed and expected
• Alcohol is prohibited and tobacco products are not to be used around the youths (proper disposal is required; we will adhere to your smoking policy)
• We reserve the right to remove any hunting party due to unsafe, unethical, or flagrant behavior
• We reserve the right to cancel or terminate the hunt due to unsafe conditions (generally dangerous weather)
• We will make every effort to insure your rules are obeyed
• You assume the role in the hunt you desire (from simply donating the hunt with no further involvement to total involvement---we will even train you to be your own Huntmaster)
• If you desire, we will provide you tax documentation reflecting the donation of the hunt
• We will do our best to insure that all have a great and memorable experience
• We take measures to make the hunt as easy on you as possible
• We need adequate time to plan, schedule, and coordinate your hunt
• We will clean up before departure; again we want you to be pleased 

This should give you a good idea as to what to expect from a TYHP Hunt. If you have questions or are ready to schedule a hunt give us a call. For this program to be successful, we must have landowners, volunteers, and young hunters. We must have a trained and certified Huntmaster before scheduling your hunt and are doing our best to keep things in balance. Please call us at 800-460-5494.

Thanks!

To return to the Texas Youth Hunting Program main page, click here.

For information on Hunter Education, click here.

For information on becoming a member of the Texas Wildlife Association, click here.