Five stations are set up for the students to take tests in Wildlife Plant Identification, Wildlife Techniques & Biological Facts, Wildlife Habitat & Management, Safety & Game Laws, and Compass & Pacing. 

The group received an orientation for the days events. Next they were divided into 5 groups and they moved out to one of the 5 stations. 

Safety & Game Laws
Here, Jim Gardner (Texas Hunter Safety Instructor and pilot for the Texas Farm Bureau) and Jerry Smith performed a skit where they used unsafe hunting practices and broke several game laws. In the picture below they are crossing through a fence carrying shotguns -- a definite safety hazard. Following the skit the students received a list of game laws and safety hazards and marked the ones they observed.

Wildlife Techniques & Biological Facts
Tables were set out with wildlife items and specimens such as various wildlife skulls, hides, wildlife tracking equipment, and more. The students filled out forms with their answers. The most missed item was the proper identification of a female Desert Bighorn Sheep.
Then they completed a sheet of Biological facts, a series of multiple choice questions like Bobwhite quail reach adult size at what age? (7 weeks, 14 weeks, 21 weeks, 28 weeks, none of the above.) Whitetail deer eat: (a. woody plants, forbs, grasses, all of the above.) Wild turkey poults can fly at: (5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days, turkey poults can not fly.)

Wildlife Plant Identification
Native plants that are preferred food, cover or shelter for game and non game wildlife were brought in from all over the state. Each plant was placed in the habitat and marked with pink flagging. The students were given test sheets with a list of plants and directed to every marked area.

They checked out the various plants and selected their answers from the list. Types of wildlife plants included side oats grama, switch grass, Illinois bundleflower,  engelmann daisy, skunk bush sumac and others.

Continued ...

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.