Toggle Menu

About the IHEA

The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) – USA is the professional hunter education association affiliated with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the 50 state fish and hunter education programs. The programs employ 45,000 instructors, many of whom are volunteers, that teach hunting and shooting safety and responsibilities throughout the United States.

Hunter Education courses train and certify more than 500,000 students annually. Since 1949, nearly 40 million students have completed hunter education courses that cover firearm safety, bowhunting, wildlife management, field care of game, responsible hunting, landowner relations, wildlife identification, and much more.

Hunting is a safe activity, and, because of hunter education, it is even safer! Over the last 50 years hunting related injury rates have decreased dramatically, even as populations of deer, wild turkey, elk, geese, and other species of game have risen to record numbers.

Hunters have raised billions of dollars for wildlife conservation in North America and championed the cause of wildlife restoration programs for many generations. Today, hunters continue to be the most effective political voice supporting legislation to protect wild things and wild places for future generations. Sign up for a hunter education course today and join the ranks of conservation and wildlife management OR donate your time by becoming an instructor to help others find their new passion in the outdoors!

Governance of the International Hunter Education Association – USA

The International Hunter Education Association – United States of America (IHEA-USA) is a non-profit organization representing professional hunter education personnel and volunteer instructors. The IHEA-USA Board of Directors has the responsibility to hire and evaluate the Executive Director, set goals, and monitor progress. The Executive Director and thier dedicated team handle the ongoing daily operations using policies established by the IHEA-USA Board under a modified Carver form of governance.

IHEA-USA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT

Lt. Andy Hagerty, Indiana Department of Natural Resources

VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER

Carissa Daniels, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

SECRETARY

Megan Wisecup, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

REGION I REPRESENTATIVE

Katie Simpson, Wyoming Game & Fish Department

REGION II REPRESENTATIVE

Justin McGuire, Missouri Department of Conservation

REGION III REPRESENTATIVE

Warren “Ed” Goodson, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

REGION IV REPRESENTATIVE

Maj. Chris Clark, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks

AFWA REPRESENTATIVE

Chuck Sykes, Director Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries

INSTRUCTOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Kevin Lockwood, Volunteer Instructor, Indiana Department of Natural Resource

CAHSS REPRESENTATIVE

Charles “Swanny” Evans, Council to Advance Hunting & the Shooting Sports

PAST PRESIDENT (NON-VOTING)

Eric Shanks, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (NON-VOTING)

Alex Baer

IHEA-USA Team

IHEA-USA Management and Support

IHEA-USA Management

IHEA-USA Executive Director

Alex Baer

[email protected]

IHEA-USA Support Organizations

IHEA-USA Resource Development Team

Bolt Strategy
Mike and Leaha Thomas

[email protected]

IHEA-USA Director of Education

Jae Ellison

[email protected]


Director of Partnerships and Development

Megan Fedrick

[email protected]


Customer Support Specialist

David Staat

[email protected]


Tech Team

Magicite


Marketing and Learning Experience Design

Goodfinder

[email protected]

IHEA-WORLD

Australia
Austria
Canada
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland