FWP honors bowhunter and hunter education volunteers

From FWP

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks honored the service of its Region 6 Hunter and Bowhunter Education volunteer instructors at the annual workshop held on March 14, at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow.

The workshop is an annual event that invites all the volunteer instructors across the region for a day filled with visiting, updates to the program, possible legislative changes, demonstrations of new equipment, and most importantly, honoring years of service.

Receiving special awards at this year’s workshop were numerous instructors with service ranging from 5 to 35 years, listed below. All service award recipients receive a plaque, and some reaching certain milestones received gifts of appreciation including engraved knives and belt buckles.

“As evidenced by the decades of service our instructors give to our programs, there’s an incredible amount of dedication and commitment out there in our communities,” said FWP Region 6 Information and Education Program Manager Marc Kloker. “These volunteers play a key role in shaping future Montana hunters by providing training in safety, ethics, conservation, and the proper use of firearms and archery equipment. They all work very hard to pass the state’s rich hunting heritage on to the next generations. Please be sure to thank your local hunter and bowhunter education instructors when you see them.”

In addition to the awards, many door prizes were also given away. Donations from Glasgow businesses Markle’s Ace Hardware, D&G Sports and Western, and Shop-Ko made almost everyone a winner. The grand door prize, donated by FWP, was a special framed print depicting a group of elk.

FWP officials said the agency is thankful to have hundreds of qualified instructors across the state, and always welcomes new additions. For information on becoming a hunter or bowhunter education instructor, people can contact Wayde Cooperider, FWP Outdoor Skills and Safety Supervisor, at 406-444-9947, or go to the website at http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/instructors/ to learn more and apply.

Winners from Hill and Blaine counties include:

• Five-year hunter education: Kylee Kaul, Hill County

• 10-year hunter education: Doug Komrosky, Hill County

• 15-year hunter education: Darlene Holt, Hill County, Kenneth Hill, Hill County, Michael Ley, Hill County.

• 20-year hunter education: Ervin Hamblock, Hill County

• 30-year hunter education: Donald Swenson, Blaine County.