New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007
Public contact: Customer service (888) 248-6866
karl.moffatt@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG. 11, 2015:

LAS CRUCES TEEN TAKES FIRST PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH HUNTER EDUCATION CHALLENGE

RATON – Raton played host to 339 contestants and coaches from 16 states for the International Youth Hunter Education Challenge at the National Rifle Association Whittington Center July 27-31.

Team Bullseye of Las Cruces brought home top awards from the competition with Lawrence Richardson, 14, of Las Cruces, earning first place in the junior division.

Richardson, a freshman at Mayfield High School and a member of team Bullseye, bested more than 120 contestants to win his division with high scores in multiple events. Bullseye’s junior team also took first place overall in orienteering while team member Kelsey Graves earned first place in wildlife identification.

New Mexico teams sent 32 competitors and 11 coaches to the competition that included tests under simulated hunting conditions in archery, rifle, muzzleloader and shotgun use, wildlife identification, orienteering, hunter safety and responsibility.

The event drew hundreds of contestants, coaches, volunteers and their families from around the country to the Raton area. To learn more about the program, please visit yhec.nra.org/.

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