Jacob Krebs Memorial Hunt

9th Annual Hunt to be Held January 14-16

In 2013, and a few weeks shy of graduation at Harper High School and enlistment into the Navy, Jacob Krebs was swimming and training at the Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center in Fredericksburg.

One afternoon while he was there, he knew he would be practicing underwater drills and told several other swimmers what he was doing.

He would swim several laps and stop, try to hold his breath and look at his watch to time himself. He set a benchmark and then would try to surpass it.

Unfortunately, Krebs experienced a shallow water black out and was found unresponsive at the bottom at the pool.

Krebs was airlifted to San Antonio where he remained unconscious for six days and put on a respirator. His family prayed for a miracle and miracles were performed that day, but not the one his parents were looking for.

Krebs lost his life that day but he saved the lives of five others through organ donation. His lungs were healed, even after he drowned.His lungs were successfully transplanted into a Vietnam War veteran who flew in medical helicopters and rescued wounded soldiers.

Krebs was also an Eagle Scout and strongly believed a person should do a good turn daily. Especially if the recipient was a veteran. He also loved the outdoors and hunting. He loved to volunteer with the Texas Youth Hunt Program and became an assistant hunter education instructor, helping other youth learn about conservation and the great outdoors.

After Krebs died, his parents wanted to honor him and the military, and especially the youth of the country’s military.

Nine years ago, the Krebs family began hosting youth hunt weekends specifically for wounded soldiers and their children.

This will be the ninth year to host the hunt which is held in Harper, Jan. 14-16, 2022.

The Harper Wildlife Management Association and Fredericksburg Salutes our Wounded Warriors have co-sponsored the hunt in years past along with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Youth Hunt Program (TYHP). The Harper community and landowners volunteer their time and ranches one weekend a year, and welcome the youth and their families.

The hunt is not designed to “just harvest a deer,” but provide an educational awareness of hunter safety, land management, conservation and stewardship.

“TYHP gives young Texans the opportunity to participate in youth hunting activities safely, legally and ethically, while learning about the valuable role landowners and hunters play in wildlife conservation,” said a spokesperson for the hunt.

The hunt hosts roughly 25 youth of military, children ages 9-17, to give them the opportunity to participate in youth and hunting activities. The hunt is not only designed to harvest a deer but also provides educational awareness of hunter safety, conservation, land management, and stewardship.

TYHP gives young Texans the opportunity to youth hunting activities safely, legally and ethically, while learning about the valuable role landowners and hunters play.

For more information about the upcoming hunt Jan. 17-19, contact William Krebs at krebslaser@yahoo.com or 830-889-2860 or follow Harper WMA Youth Hunt in memory of Jacob Krebs on Facebook.

Jacob Krebs of Harper was training for enlistment in the U.S. Navy when he drowned. The memorial hunt honors the memory of this exceptional young man who loved the outdoors.