From the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

-- A free Hunter Education New Instructor Training Workshop  will be held May 15  in Whitney. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will conduct the workshop from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. at the US Army Corp of Engineers Lake Whitney Offices at 285 CR 3602, Clifton.

TPWD will be training new applicants and currently certified instructors in skills trail, live firing exercises and home study procedures.

The training puts fun and exciting activities into the learning experience. Students will benefit by going through actual hunting simulations and by making their own decisions regarding responsible actions using "shoot-don't-shoot" scenarios.

Before residents  attend this workshop, they must go  online to  the tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/instruct.phtml website and review the introduction and the first four chapters of the instructor training manual. Those attending will sign an acknowledgement and release that they have completed the pre-workshop assignment as part of  the training.

Every Texas hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education course.  The hunter education program's goals are to reduce hunting-related accidents and violations, promote safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunting and enhance hunting traditions and values.

Hunter education provides instruction in Texas hunting regulations, wildlife management and identification, conservation, ethics, firearm and hunting safety and responsibility and outdoor skills.

To register, contact  Robert Ramirez, TPWD Hunter Education Specialist, at (972) 263-1219 or robert.ramirez@tpwd.state.tx.us.