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.
District 1: March 23, Eastern 4-H Center, Columbia.
District 2: March 9, New Hanover Law Enforcement Officer Range, Castle Hayne
District 3: March 16, Rose Hill Sporting Clays and Hunt Reserve, Nashville
District 4: March 16, Falcon Community Range, Falcon
District 5: March 2, Chatham County Wildlife Club, Bear Creek
District 6: March 23, Lentz Hunter Education Complex, Ellerbe
District 7: March 2, Hunting Creek Shooting Preserve, Harmony
District 8: March 16, Catawba Valley Wildlife Club, Vale
District 9: March 16, Polk County Gun Club, Columbus
Contact List:
District 1: Chase Luker chase.luker@ncwildlife.org
District 2: Becky Savage becky.savage@ncwildlife.org 910-241-9420
District 3: Carissa Daniels carissa.daniels@ncwildlife.org 336-455-0292
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
Contact: Carissa Daniels
carissa.daniels@ncwildlife.org
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.
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.
Teams from North Carolina may complete in one of the two events offered for the National Tournament.
NC teams planning on participating at the national level must notify Carissa Daniels no later than June 15th.
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:
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:
Rules:
Download 2024 N.C. YHEST Official Rules (PDF)
Flickr Gallery - 2019 Tournament