Compass & Pacing
At this station the contestants were handed out instructions with their starting position and the compass readings and pacing numbers to take them to their goal. Once they arrived at the indicated starting position they set off according to the compass for the number of paces listed, and then changed directions as instructed, etc. until they arrived at the area they thought was correct. Once there they recorded the information they found.

For your information, this is an example of a Compass and Pacing question: You need to find the stake that marks the south end of a vegetative line transect that is being used to monitor vegetative changes in this park. Using a compass and pacing, follow the directions to locate the stake so you can begin to collect data. Starting point #25, go 74 degrees for 153 feet, then go 152 degrees for 89 feet.

This is an important exercise that is regularly used in the wildlife career field. Wildlife professionals use compass coordinates in conjunction with pacing (the number ofsteps to take) so habitat or wildlife problems can be accurately located at a later time by themselves as well as others.

Wildlife Habitat & Management
Being able to recognize different types of habitat is an essential tool for wildlife management. The types of trees, locations of fields and the availability (or lack of) natural water sources need to be determined. So do the types of forbs, browse, grasses and native plants. Armed with this basic information a wildlife management program can be made up that will improve the natural habitat and possibly provide supplemental cover or food so wildlife will have a better place to live. These programs are frequently created to meet a land owners goals, such as  improving the deer herd or the wild turkey and quail populations, etc.. In some cases predators -- such as coyotes, wild hogs, foxes, mountain lions or raccoons -- are killing large numbers of newborn fawns or wild turkey and quail poults. Then a program can be developed that would increase the cover for these species of wild game and reduce the numbers of predators to a normal population. 

At this station the students were directed to several areas, each of which had a different habitat. They evaluated the habitat and then made recommendations that would result in more healthy deer, turkey, dove and quail populations.

For your information, this is an example of a Wildlife Management question:  List the management practices needed to improve the flagged area for each wildlife species considering the landowner's objective. Practices to choose from are:  animal damage, brush management, cropland management, food plots, grazing management, prescribed burning, provide and manage water, range planting, disking, and overseeding legumes.

Below, a student sits in the shade to complete his test questions at the Wildlife  Habitat & Management station.

Behind the scenes was a group of 100 helpers. They were wildlife biologists, park rangers, game wardens, volunteers, and wildlife professionals and everyone of them was hard at work to make this event the great success that is. Each of the 5 stations had from 6 to 10 helpers. They aided by passing out the tests for their event, they made sure there was water for the students to drink, and they helped direct traffic -- remember, we have almost 300 kids wandering around in the woods, who are on a time schedule and are not familiar with the area nor where they have to go to reach the next station. (I might add, that the helpers did an outstanding job, this event ran very smoothly and efficiently.)

The students changed stations 5 times. Each time they started toward their next station the test results were taken to the Headquarters building. There, a group of wildlife professionals were hard at work scoring the 271 tests that were generated each round. (If that sounds like a lot of work, I promise you it was.) The ladies below were up to the job.

At high noon everyone went to Station #6, lunch in the park. A tasty buffet was already set up to feed the 350 people at the event. 

NEXT ...(We meet George Martin, the gentleman who started this event. The Awards Ceremony. Lots of Pictures. And more.) GO

Bowfishing At The Hamilton County Fishing Event Bosque Bowhunters Assn. put on a bowfishing program at the annual Fishing Event in Hamilton, Texas. The event is to introduce youth, and anyone else interested, to fishing and the outdoors. The event is sponsored on by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. More ... Texas Parks & Wildlife Youth Shooting Sports Event 2000 -  Digital Pictures and the details about the Texas Parks & Wildlife Youth Shooting Sports Event  at the Pecan Creek Ranch in Hamilton, TX. Students came from the Texas towns of Hillsboro, Cranfiels Gap and Jonesboro. As guests of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the Duck and I again introduced High School kids to archery. 1999 Youth Shooting sports Event: pictures & news as the day's events develop. Digital Pictures taken and an update on the events at the  Texas Parks & Wildlife Youth Shooting Sports Event at the Aquilla Wildlife Management Area. Youth Shooting Sports Event - 1998 Sponsored by the Texas Parks & Wildlife and held at Aquilla Wildlife Management Area. We introduced High School kids to archery. Youth shooting Sports Event.