Wildlife


Wildlife is all around us regardless of where we live and how wild or not the world around us seems. Only a matter of observation will open a person’s eyes, along with their other senses, to the natural world of the living creatures among us. The 4-H Wildlife Project can offer opportunities for youth development beginning with observation skills leading to a lifelong ethic of stewardship for our natural resources. The 4-H Natural Resources Program provides trainings and events for youth and adults to develop and enhance the knowledge and skills necessary for an adventure in wildlife.

Training

Register for all trainings and events on 4-H Connect.

A variety of adult leader trainings are scheduled throughout the 4-H year that will provide excellent background and knowledge enhancement for anyone leading a wildlife project. 

  • Wildlife Project Leader Training-TBD
  • Hunting & Wildlife Leader Training–2013 Detailed Information Document – PDF
    February 2-3, 2013–College Station, TX
    Hunting & Wildlife Shooting Sports Discipline, no other disciplines offered.
    Registration on 4-H Connect
    Registration Open December 1-30, 2012, $50/Coach, Leader or Assistant Coach Candidate. $0/Extension Employee
    Late Registration December 31, 2012-January 6, 2013, $75

Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) adult leader trainings offer opportunities to gain in depth information into the WHEP project and learn ways to enhance a 4-H Wildlife project.  Please see the WHEP website for more information about the WHEP project and related activities.

  • WHEP Project Leader Trainings-TBD
  • WHEP Practice Contest- Fort Boggy State Park, Centerville, TX
    Date: February 9, 2013
    Registration December 1, 2012- January 20, 2013 on 4-H Connect
    $12/Participant (Adult or Youth)
  • Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo WHEP Contest-T&M Ranch, Richmond, TX
    March 9, 2013
    Registration via HLSR Registration through your County Extension Office
    Registration dates and cost TBA with HLSR Event Information
    Contest ecoregion will be Prairie Brushland
  • State WHEP Contest-Brazos County, TX
    June 15-16, 2013
    Registration Open April 15-May 19, 2013—$15/Participant
    Late Registration May 20-26, 2013—$30/Participant
    Contest ecoregion will be Urban/Southeast Mixed

Don’t forget that fish and other aquatic creatures are wildlife as well.  Please see the Sportfishing website for more information about the Sportfishing project and related activities.

  • Sportfishing Project Leader  Training – TBD
  • Family Fishing Weekends – TBD
  • Sportfishing Quizbowl – TBD

Assistant Leader Training

The 4-H Natural Resources Program offers Assistant Leader training in the Sportfishing Project, the Wildlife Project, and the Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Project. Assistant Leader training is for those youth who will assist an Adult Volunteer Leader or County Extension Employee with leadership of a Sportfishing, Wildlife, or WHEP project in their county. This is a great opportunity for enthusiastic senior 4-H’ers who are passionate about Natural Resources to develop leadership skills, expand their knowledge, and share that knowledge with others. To become an Assistant Leader, youth should register for and attend the appropriate project area leader training. An Assistant Leader candidate must be accompanied to training either by a previously trained adult or an adult participating in the same training. Youth must be 14 years of age or older by September 1 of current 4-H year to be eligible for training. An Assistant Leader can be upgraded to full Adult Sportfishing, Wildlife, or WHEP Leader with no additional training once a youth has aged out of the 4-H program and has been approved as a 4-H Adult Volunteer Leader (minimum 18 years of age, minimum 21 years of age to chaperone youth on overnight activities).

Wildlife Challenge

The Wildlife Challenge, held annually at Texas 4-H Roundup, covers material found within five 4-H Natural Resources projects; Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP), Hunting & Wildlife Shooting Sports Discipline, Entomology, Forestry, and Sportfishing. Contestants will have the opportunity to explore all five of these projects while preparing for the contest. Contestants will compete as a county team of 3 or 4 or as individuals. Contestants will compete within intermediate and senior age divisions. The contest consists of three parts: Species Identification, Decision Making, and a Knowledge and Skills Quiz. Each part will be completed individually by each contestant and scores compiled to determine team placings. Each part may cover any or all of the specified information within the five 4-H Natural Resources project areas resources available below. Registration for this event is completed online via Roundup Registration on 4-H Connect. Any actively enrolled Intermediate or Senior 4-H member is eligible to participate (with county/club approval). No qualification is required.

  • Roundup Wildlife Challenge Description & Learning Resources – PDF
  • Roundup  Wildlife Challenge-Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
    June 13, 2013
    Registration on 4-H Connect via general Roundup Registration
    Registration Open April 10-May 10, 2013—$TBA/Participant
    Late Registration May 11-24, 2013—$TBA/Participant

Related Activities & Events

  • Roundup Wildlife Challenge-Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
    June 13, 2013
    Registration on 4-H Connect via general Roundup Registration
    Registration Open April 10-May 10, 2013—$TBA/Participant
    Late Registration May 11-24, 2013—$TBA/Participant
    See the Wildlife website  and the Roundup website for more information
  • Wildlife Challenge State Roundup Resource: NRA Hunter’s Guide – link
  • Outdoor Challenge Camp-Texas 4-H Conference Center, Brownwood, TX
    June 23-27, 2013
    Registration Open April 29-May 26, 2013—$TBD/Participant
    Late Registration May 27-June 2, 2013—$TBD/Participant
    See the Outdoor Challenge website for more information
  • Outdoor Challenge-Texas 4-H Conference Center, Brownwood, TX
    June 29-30, 2013
    Registration Open May 6-June 2, 2013—$TBD/Participant
    Late Registration June 3-9, 2013—$TBD/Participant
    See the Outdoor Challenge website for more information
  • Burdett & Son Outdoor Adventure Shop Summer Hunter Education Camp, 2013 dates TBD, youth ages 14-17, For information visit: http://www.burdettandson.com/ or 979-695-2807
  • Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society Wildlife Conservation Camp—July 14-20, 2013 at Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, TX

Resources

  • Wildlife Habitat Management Online Resource – PDF
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Wildlife Identification Guide – PDF

Contact Information

Mr. Larry Hysmith
Extension Program Specialist
4180 S Highway 6 S
College Station, TX 77845
Phone: 979-845-1214
Email: tx4hnaturalresources@tamu.edu

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