Region 6 Volunteer Hunter and Bowhunter Education Instructors Honored

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks honored the service of its Region 6 Hunter and Bowhunter Education volunteer instructors at the annual workshop held on Saturday, February 27, 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, demonstrations of new equipment and ideas, and most importantly, honoring years of service.

Receiving awards at this year's workshop were numerous instructors with service ranging from 5 to 30 years (please see the list below). All service award recipients receive a plaque, with other milestones receiving special awards, including: 10 year: engraved knife; 20 year: FWP belt buckle; 30 year: voucher for purchase of a firearm. Highlighting this year's awards was Larry Lett, of Malta, who has been an instructor for 30 years.

"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. Larry Lett, and others like him, works 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."

Also receiving a special award, for the Region 6 instructor of the year, was Beau Hyatt of Bainville. Beau, a junior instructor, received his 5-year instructor plaque this year. Beau has been involved, along with his dad Chuck Hyatt, in instructing eight classes since he began. He has taught every aspect of the hunter education course, and has logged numerous hour of set-up, prep, and clean-up of each class. Beau plans to continue instructing hunter education, as an adult instructor, as he begins college this fall in Havre.

"I have seen Beau's dedication and commitment to hunter education firsthand," says Kloker. "He relates well to students, demonstrates all aspects of safe and responsible hunting, and is a very dedicated instructor. He, and other young instructors, is the future of the program."

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 Westside Sporting Goods in Malta made almost everyone a winner. FWP donated several items including outdoor equipment, a Buck knife, Onyx Map chip, a framed elk print, and numerous discount vouchers.

FWP 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 in Region 6, please contact Marc Kloker at 406-228-3704, or go to the website athttp://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/instructors/ to learn more and apply.

Region 6 Hunter and Bowhunter Education Award List

5 Year Hunter Ed

Beau Hyatt, Bainville

Dwain Lavinder, Harlem

5 Year Bowhunter Ed

Dwain Lavinder, Harlem

10 Year Hunter Ed

Timothy Hammond, Harlem

Charles Hyatt, Bainville

Thomas Jones, Hays

Paul Skyberg, Glasgow

10 Year Bowhunter Ed

Timothy Hammond, Harlem

Thomas Jones, Hays

Matt Veit, Malta

20 Year Hunter Ed

Walter Reller, Scobey

30 Year Hunter Ed

Larry Lett, Malta