TexasHuntFish.com was invited earlier this year to attend a Texas Parks & Wildlife Youth Hunt at the Sundowner Ranch near Vance, Texas. The Texas Wildlife Association co-organized the event and the ranch owner, Mr. Earl Calkins, provided tremendous support and generosity.

Our hope was to capture on film the Texas Youth Hunting Program in action. The young hunters in the field, the volunteers that coordinate the significant logistics involved, and the landowner who takes advantage of such a wonderful program to cull his herds while providing a safe environment for parents and children to experiece the great Texas Outdoors!

Brett Valdez, former UT Offensive Lineman #66 and proud member of the National Championship Team came along for the trip to throw football and inspire the kids.

We had a great time. Brett and I actually planned on leaving Saturday night to drive to Uvalde for a management whitetail hunt but decided to stay at the Sundowner Ranch to enjoy the great food and share the contagious excitement of the children (and their parents). We didn't get to reschedule the management hunt but as we drove home we had no regrets.

There are three videos below; two of kids hunting including their miss and kill shots; and the third video is a variety of interviews with other kids as they returned to camp to show off their harvest. EVERY SINGLE YOUTH HUNTER SHOT AN ANIMAL.

Thank you to Mr. Earl Calkins, Sundowner Ranch; Col (R) Jerry Warden, Director, Texas Parks & Wildlife Youth Hunting Program; Cecario Guerrero, Houston Independent School District and TWA Senior Hunt Master; Dr. Ronald Johnson, Houston Community College Outreach Coordinator; Gene Richardson, Texas Farm Bureau; Texas Wildlife Association; and Mustang Cat Southeast Texas Caterpillar Dealer that leases the ranch and proactively supported making this opportunity a reality for 20+ youth. Finaly note, we don't know why but it seems the white balance on the video and photos is off. The weather went from overcast freezing cold and sleet to short sleeves hot and sunny. Maybe this had something to do with it? Below is the best we could do after many hours of editing.

Images and Files: View all 59 photos / videos here.