North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

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Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament

4,000 Youth, Nine District Tournaments, One State Championship

 

North Carolina’s Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament (YHEST) is a statewide competition for middle and high-school-age youth. Participants compete in multiple events including shotgun, archery, rifle, orienteering and a written hunting skills exam.

  • There were 217 teams that participated this year in the district tournaments (145 senior, 72 junior).
  • The first place champions from each district and individual event champions will advance to state competition.
  • The Virtual YHEST competition will take place statewide on Saturday, April 24, 2021

District Tournaments

2021 District Standings

2021 Junior DISTRICT YHEST Standings

2021 Junior DISTRICT YHEST Statewide Standings

2021 Senior DISTRICT YHEST Standings

2021 Senior DISTRICT YHEST Statewide Standings

 

Contact List:

District 1: Chase Luker
chase.luker@ncwildlife.org

District 2: Lee Scripture
lee.scripture@ncwildlife.org

District 3: BB Gillen
bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org

District 4: Kevin Crabtree
kevin.crabtree@ncwildlife.org

District 5: Casey Williams
casey.williams@ncwildlife.org

District 6: CP White
cp.white@ncwildlife.org

District 7: Josh Jernigan
josh.jernigan@ncwildlife.org

District 8: Wes Blair
wes.blair@ncwildlife.org

District 9: Mark Ray
mark.ray@ncwildlife.org

State Tournament

2021 State Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament

The Statewide tournament will be held on April 24, 2021.

Contact: Carissa Daniels

carissa.daniels@ncwildlife.org

National Tournament

In years past, any group or individual that competes in a district tournament is eligible to compete in the National Rifle Association’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge, a national youth hunter education skills tournament.

No national championship has been scheduled for 2019. The top three North Carolina teams in each division are eligible to compete in the Eastern Regional YHEC Tournament held in Breesport, N.Y. in July.

 

Rules and Mission

Mission:

Provide hunter education graduates an opportunity to go beyond the basics by developing their knowledge and skills in all areas of the hunting experience, which will result in a safer and more responsible sportsman.


Objectives:

  1. Promote the Hunter Education Program in North Carolina school system.
  2. Promote the safe sport of hunting and shooting.
  3. Provide a platform of rules to ensure maximum participation and fairness of competition.

 

The Hunter Education Tournament is presented for student/team competitions in shotgun, archery, small bore rifle and hunter skills. The purpose of the tournament is:

  • To partner with NC public schools, private schools and homeschool associations and provide Hunter Education to their students.
  • To promote public awareness of the Hunter Education Program in North Carolina.
  • To offer the young people of our state a positive experience in all disciplines of the shooting sport.
  • To help youth across the state experience and learn a variety of legal hunting methods, focusing on efficiency, operation and effectiveness. This can enable the student to evaluate the safest, most comfortable and effective equipment that can be used to hunt and/or target shoot.

 

Rules:

Download 2020 N.C. YHEST Official Rules (PDF)

Media Gallery

Forms

YHEST Coaches Survey Results

North Carolina Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament Coaches Survey

 

The information gathered from this survey will be used to guide decision making processes beginning with the 2019 WRC Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament season. As new rules and events are proposed this information will be taken into account along with any new information gained as new technology and methods become available to enhance our program and continue to keep it engaging and enjoyable for all involved.