State hunter education officials today announced a Michigan Department of Natural Resources hunter education student has won a dream hunt through Michigan's membership in the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).

Joel Graham, 12, of Hillman, was one of six grand prize winners in the second annual IHEA dream hunt drawing held in April. Graham, along with three other students and two instructors from across the U.S., won an all-expenses-paid hunt to Indianhead Ranch in Del Rio, Texas. The facility is rated as one of the top three game ranches in the state. One parent of each student also will be in attendance.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for Joel to practice the safety skills he learned last year during his hunter education class," said Sgt. Kevin Davis, DNR statewide hunter education coordinator.

The winners will be flown to Texas courtesy of Bushnell Performance Optics in early October where they will enjoy three days of big game hunting, sightseeing and exploring ancient Indian caves. The hunt will be filmed for airing on television. Winchester Ammunition will supply ammo, Motorola will provide two-way radios, and several other items are being donated for each winner.

Graham was one of approximately 30,000 students to successfully complete the hunter education course in Michigan last year. He completed the course in Oscoda County at a class sponsored by the Mio Moose Lodge and the Au Sable River Valley Chapter of the Michigan Turkey Hunters Association.

"I can't imagine a more fantastic experience for a young hunter education student," said Richard Kiessel, who was the DNR volunteer hunter education instructor for Graham's class.

Hunter education students and instructors enter the IHEA drawing by filling out the form in the Hunter's Handbook, one of the publications used in hunter education programs across the U.S. More than 700,000 copies are distributed free each year, and the publication would not be possible without the support of many industry partners who underwrite the entire cost of publishing and distribution. The 14th annual edition recently was shipped to all state and provincial warehouses for distribution to instructors for their classes.

Anyone seeking information about hunter education or about upcoming classes in their area may find this information on the DNR Web site.