Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Youth Hunter Education Challenge “Rapides Pioneers” competed in the Central Region “National” Championship on July 24-29 in Bentonville, AR.

NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) provides a fun environment for kids 18 and under to improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills. Through its simulated hunting situations, live fire exercises, educational and responsibility events, YHEC helps build upon skills learned in basic hunter education courses and encourages safer, lifelong hunting habits. YHEC is designed to promote safe and responsible lifelong hunting.

YHEC Team members competed in several events including Safety Trail, Shotgun, Rifle and Responsibility Exam.

Rapides Pioneers Jr. Team was made up of (pictured below L-R) Tyler Layssard, Jack Dailey, Tye Tarver, Baron Paul and Jameson Gray.

Team Awards were as follows:
1st – Safety Trail
2nd -Shotgun
2nd -Responsibility Exam
3rd – Rifle
3rd – Overall

The following YHEC Members won Individual Awards:

Tyler Layssard-1st Safety Trail & 3rd Responsibility Exam

Jameson Gray placed 3rd Shotgun

Tye Tarver placed 3rd Safety Trail

Sheriff Mark Wood and RPSO would like to congratulate all of our Rapides Pioneers and look forward to a great year next year.

We would also like to say a very special THANK YOU to Kim Cedars, YHEC Coach and Coordinator, for her outstanding devotion and commitment to the youth of Rapides Parish as well as all of the parents of the competitors who are always there to lend help and support.

If you have children that may be interested in participating in YHEC, please call Kim Cedars, RPSO Training Center at 318-442-9229.