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The International Hunter Education Association–USA (IHEA-USA) is proud to announce the launch of the new Hunting Incident Investigations Academy (HIIA) Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to expand hunting incident investigation training capacity nationwide.
Since 1993, the HIIA has provided specialized training to wildlife officers, preparing them to investigate hunting-related incidents with precision and professionalism. Traditionally offered in person, the Academy has now evolved into a blended format, allowing officers to complete self-paced online coursework before participating in hands-on, on-site instruction. Over the past three decades, this program has been hosted in ten states and trained more than 1,400 officers.
The new Train-the-Trainer program takes this impact to the next level by equipping officers to deliver their own Basic HIIA courses in their state—and potentially in neighboring states—dramatically increasing the number of officers trained each year. With this model, IHEA-USA expects to train more officers in a single year than the traditional format could reach in five.
The inaugural TTT event, funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Multi-State Conservation Grant, was held September 10–12, 2024, at the Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center in Ash Grove, Missouri. It brought together 36 officers from 18 states, providing them with:
During the three-day training, seasoned instructors guided participants through the process of building a Basic Academy from the ground up. Topics included using the LMS, accessing the national hunting incident database, assembling investigation kits, creating student teams, developing on-the-ground scenarios, conducting fine and single-shot examinations, demonstrating blood spatter analysis, and preparing investigative reports.
As new academies launch across the country, the TTT program will strengthen investigative capacity, improve case outcomes, and enhance safety in the hunting community for years to come.
For more information about the Hunting Incident Investigations Academy and the Train-the-Trainer program, please contact:
Megan Fedrick, Director of Operations, IHEA-USA