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 26, Eastern 4-H Center, Columbia.
District 2: March 12, New Hanover Law Enforcement Officer Range, Castle Hayne
District 3: March 19, Rose Hill Sporting Clays and Hunt Reserve, Nashville
District 4: March 19, Falcon Community Range, Falcon
District 5: March 5, Chatham County Wildlife Club, Bear Creek
District 6: March 26, Lentz Hunter Education Complex, Ellerbe
District 7: March 5, Hunting Creek Shooting Preserve, Harmony
District 8: March 19, Catawba Valley Wildlife Club, Vale
District 9: March 19, Polk County Gun Club, Columbus
2022 Junior DISTRICT YHEST Standings
2022 Junior DISTRICT YHEST Statewide Standings
2022 Senior DISTRICT YHEST Standings
2022 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
The 2021 State Youth Hunter Education Skills Statewide Tournament was held on April 24, 2021.
2022 State YHEST Awards
Senior Team Overall
Junior Team Overall
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.
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.
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 2022 N.C. YHEST Official Rules (PDF)
Flickr Gallery - 2019 Tournament
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.