Texas Bighorn Society’s Youth Drawing Inspires

“All roundup attendees age 16 and younger will be entered into a free drawing for a lifetime Texas combo hunting and fishing license.”

THOSE WORDS CAUGHT my attention as I read through the Texas Bighorn Society’s e-newsletter announcing its 33rd Annual Roundup.

Thirty years ago, I won a lifetime hunting and fishing combo license from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

In 1992, TPWD launched an event called the Texas Wildlife Expo, and to kick it off, they held an essay contest for high school students on the topic of hunting.

I was a high school senior that year.

My goal was to become a wildlife journalist who would write and broadcast about hunting, fishing, and wildlife. I wrote about how hunting pointed me toward conservation as a youngster and how the model we use in North America has seen remarkable comebacks of many species.

And I won.

That got me an invite to the Texas Wildlife Expo, and my award was presented by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. I met numerous outdoor dignitaries and at age 19, joined my first-ever wildlife conservation group.

Seeing a desert bighorn mount and a sign that said, “Texas Bighorn Society” drew me in like a moth to a flame. Wild sheep were my favorite big game animals in North America.

As a boy, copies of Sports Afield, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and other publications were a nickel apiece at the local thrift store. Every few months, I would cash in change and buy them out.

My Dad and I would sit together and make scrapbooks of our favorite pictures. We would cut and paste the deer we wanted to hunt, ducks to call in, and animals we wanted to see.

Those memories came flooding back after rediscovering these scrapbooks in my Dad’s old storage shed after he passed away in 2014. After flipping through the first book, I was blown away by how many wild sheep adorned the pages.

There were desert bighorns, stone sheep, Dall sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorns, and urials. There were more sheep than any other animal. Turkeys were a close second, but sheep were tops by far.

I joined the Texas Bighorn Society (TBS) that day in 1992 and stayed a member for several years. A few years back, I rejoined.

Winning that essay and getting a lifetime hunting and fishing combo was a big boost for me. It helped propel me into a career where I am blessed to use my talents to raise awareness of wildlife conservation.

By the time you read this, the 33rd Annual Texas Bighorn Society Roundup will have passed, and that young person will have already been chosen and announced.

Chances are the winning kid won’t be an aspiring wildlife journalist. However, no question that getting the boost of winning such an amazing prize will leave a very positive impression of the hunting and fishing world.

As other interests come in life, that very license could be the thing that keeps drawing them into the wild. The fact that it comes from the Texas Bighorn Society is equally powerful. They will always remember it had to do with wild sheep, and that alone may inspire a future sheep conservation advocate.

As someone who mentors teens in wildlife conservation through our Higher Calling Wildlife outreach, I can attest that details such as that matter with kids. Having young people in the future who can advocate for sheep, other wildlife and the hunting lifestyle is crucial.

The Texas Bighorn Society is doing a great thing by inviting youth and giving them an opportunity at the literal prize of a lifetime.

I’m grateful TPWD did something similar back in 1992. I don’t know whether I would be in a position to write this if that essay contest had never happened.

Incentivizing young people to hunt, fish and become involved in conservation groups is important. It’s something we can even do as individuals.

Perhaps a lifetime license is out of your budget, but a hunting or fishing license for the year is something most of us can afford. You can also get them a TBS membership or a membership to CCA, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation or other groups you support.i

If you’re reading this and having a tough time economically, but would like to get your child or grandchild plugged into a conservation group, maybe I can help. If you have a kid age 17 or under who is interested in wild sheep, email me.

The first person who sends me a message with the kids name and age and interest in sheep will get a special package for that kid. I will also buy their TBS membership for the year and give them a special package from my Higher Calling Wildlife outreach.

Additionally, the next five people who message me with kids age 17 and under will get the same package, but with a twist. Give me their favorite outdoor interest or species. Examples would be redfish and fishing or ducks and hunting. I will buy them a membership in one of the corresponding conservation groups I support.

It will be for the first five only, but it’s my way of helping inspire some kids in at least a little bit of the way I was inspired 30 years ago.

Staying involved in the outdoors and conservation has meant so much to my life, I want to see young people of today get the same kind of boost.

 

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

 

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