Students Sharpen Hunting Skills at Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC)

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More than 100 young hunters, ages 10-18 from across the state, came together at the Woodworth Education Center and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Shooting Range Saturday to sharpen their skills and compete for awards in regional Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) events hosted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

The young hunters competed in a variety of events, including 3-D archery, .22 rifle shooting, muzzleloader, shotgun shooting, wildlife identification, safety trail, map/compass orienteering and a general knowledge test.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to watch our next generation of hunters compete and enhance their skills in a variety of critical outdoor activities,” said LDWF Secretary Madison D. Sheahan. “From what I saw and heard while visiting with them, it is clear these young hunters understand the importance of safety while enjoying the outdoors, respecting nature and following good conservation practices. I firmly believe this training will help them be good stewards of our Sportsman’s Paradise.”

YHEC, sponsored by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and affiliated with the LDWF Hunter Education Program, provides a fun environment for youth 18 and under to improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills. Through its simulated hunting situations, live-fire exercises, educational and responsibility events, YHEC builds upon the skills learned in basic Hunter Education courses and encourages safer, lifelong hunting habits.

Award winners from this weekend’s North/Central and South regional competitions include:

North/Central Regional in Woodworth

Overall Top Combined Scores for all events and YHEC test (receive paid trip to Nationals):

Juniors

1^st – Allen Walker

2^nd – John Dailey

3^rd – Jameson Gray

4^th – Blaise Dillard

5^th – Tyler Layssard

Seniors

1^st – Kent Rains

2^nd – Weston Airheart

3^rd – Casey Mallach

4^th – Noah Palmer

5^th – Ben Stokes

 

Academic Excellence Award for Top YHEC Test score:

Junior Winner – John Dailey

Senior Winner – Kent Rains

 

Top Muzzleloader (John Sturgis Bayou Muzzleloader Memorial Award):

Junior Winner – Blaise Dillard

Senior Winner – Kent Rains

 

“Smokin” Award in Honor of Kin Fulton (For participants excelling in sportsmanship and exhibiting courteous and kind behavior uplifting and encouraging team members):

Junior Male Winner – Allen Walker

Junior Female Winner – Julia Dailey

Senior Male Winner – Westin Airheart

Senior Female Winner – Karsyn Brandon

 

La. Sportsman Award in Honor of Bud Carpenter:

Junior Winner – Chloe Mains

Senior Winner – Tallon Soileau

 

La. Outdoorsman Award in Honor of Mike Burns:

Junior Winner – Lillian Church

Senior Winner – Dillon McCool

 

Individual Events Top 3

Archery:

Junior

Gold – Allen Walker

Silver – Tyler Layssard

Bronze – Baron Paul

Senior

Gold – Westin Airheart

Silver – Casey Mallach

Bronze – Noah Palmer

 

.22 Rifle:

Junior

Gold – Allen Walker

Silver – Tyler Layssard

Bronze – John Daily

Senior

Gold – Kent Rains

Silver – Casey Mallach

Bronze – Westin Airheart

 

Safety Trail:

Junior

Gold – Andrew Welch

Silver – John Daily

Bronze – Lillian Church

Senior

Gold – Kent Rains

Silver – Karsyn Brandon

Bronze – Westin Airheart

 

Shotgun:

Junior

Gold – Allen Walker

Silver – Baron Paul

Bronze – Jameson Gray

Senior

Gold – Noah Palmer

Silver – Casey Mallach

Bronze – Tallon Soileau

 

Orienteering:

Junior

Gold – William Mains

Silver – John Daily

Bronze – Liam Thiels

Senior

Gold – Kent Rains

Silver – Ben Stokes

Bronze – Westin Airheart

 

Muzzleloader:

Junior

Gold – Blaise Dillard

Silver – Tyler Layssard

Bronze – Maggie Stokes

Senior

Gold – Kent Rains

Silver – Karsyn Brandon

Bronze – Noah Palmer

 

Wildlife ID:

Junior

Gold – Liam Thiels

Silver – John Daily

Bronze – Jameson Gray

Senior

Gold – Kent Rains

Silver – Casey Mallach

Bronze – Westin Airheart

 

YHEC Test:

Junior

Gold – John Daily

Silver – Liam Thiels

Bronze – Lillian Church

Senior

Gold – Kent Rains

Silver – Noah Palmer

Bronze – Ben Stokes

 

South Regional in Terrebonne Parish

Overall Top Combined Scores for all events and YHEC test (receive paid trip to Nationals):

Juniors

1^st – Ehren Gros

2^nd – Sydnee Myhand

3^rd – Matthew Chaisson

4^th – Giuseppe Gorman

5^th – Logan Benoit

Seniors

1^st – Carter Neil

2^nd – Coben Trosclair

3^rd – Logan Andrus

4^th –Nathan Rider

5^th – Hunter Poche

 

Academic Excellence Award:

Junior

Gold – Ehren Gros

Silver – Sydnee Myhand

Bronze – Owen Lyons

Senior

Gold – Carter Neil

Silver – Coben Trosclair

Bronze – Nathan Rider

 

Individual Events Top 3

Archery:

Junior

Gold – Matthew Chaisson

Silver – Giuseppe Gorman

Bronze – Aiden Nugent

Senior

Gold – Coben Trosclair

Silver – Jack Reese

Bronze – Carter Neil

 

.22 Rifle:

Junior

Gold – Logan Benoit

Silver – Brie Tyler

Bronze – Andrew Toups

Senior

Gold – Hunter Poche

Silver – Carter Neil

Bronze – Nathan Rider

 

Safety Trail:

Junior

Gold – Ehren Gros

Silver – Audrey Pellegrin

Bronze – Matthew Chaisson

Senior

Gold – Joel Orgeron

Silver – Carter Neil

Bronze – Coben Trosclair

 

Shotgun:

Junior

Gold – Ehren Gros

Silver – Byron Peters

Bronze – Collin Henry

Senior

Gold – Carter Neil

Silver – Logan Andrus

Bronze – Kevin Kraemer

 

Orienteering:

Junior

Gold – Sydnee Myhand

Silver – Ehren Gros

Bronze – Cole Hebert

Senior

Gold – Nathan Rider

Silver – Logan Andrus

Bronze – Joel Orgeron

 

Muzzleloader:

Junior

Gold – Ehren Gros

Silver – Matthew Chaisson

Bronze – Logan Benoit

Senior

Gold – Coben Trosclair

Silver – Carter Neil

Bronze – Nathan Rider

 

Wildlife ID:

Junior

Gold – Ehren Gros

Silver – Matthew Chaisson

Bronze – Bryce Verret

Senior

Gold – Coben Trosclair

Silver – Carter Neil

Bronze – Logan Andrus

 

YHEC Test:

Junior

Gold – Logan Benoit

Silver – Ehren Gros

Bronze – Matthew Chaisson

Senior

Gold – Carter Neil

Silver – Coben Trosclair

Bronze – Nathan Rider

 

For more information on YHEC, go to https://yhec.nra.org/.