Thank a hunter or bowhunter education instructor

From Fish, Wildlife and Parks

This fall, like every autumn, thousands of first-time hunters will safely hit the Montana landscape, all because someone volunteered the time to teach them properly.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ hunter education program annually graduates about 7,600 students, who are taught by close to 1,300 volunteer instructors. That’s right — volunteer.

For bowhunter education, which is required for all first-time bowhunters, about 350 volunteer instructors teach 2,100 students annually.

In FWP Region 4, north central Montana, nearly 300 volunteers certify about 1,000 hunter and bowhunter students each year.

To become a volunteer instructor and ensure the future of hunting contact any local FWP office or visit the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/instructors/

FWP annually recognizes instructors based on years of service. Earlier this year FWP Region 4 honored the following volunteers:

5 years bowhunter education

Laura Buck, Choteau

5 years hunter education

Laura Buck, Choteau

Zane Somerfeld, Power

10 years bowhunter education

Mel Mikkola, Great Falls/Billings

10 years hunter education

Eugene Couch, Lewistown

Cody Houston, Ulm

Dillon Miller, Lewistown

Michael Miller, Hilger

Amy Motschenbacher, Great Falls

Russ Motschenbacher, Great Falls

15 years bowhunter education

John Buck, Choteau

15 years hunter education

John Buck, Choteau

Greg Econom, Denton

Brandon Gould, Ulm

Aimee Hachigian-Gould Ulm

Ken Hanson, Great Falls

Stan Huhtala, Chester

Dave Phillips, Great Falls

Tony Sinclair, Browning

Deb Solum, Rudyard

Bomont Somerfeld, Power

20 years hunter education

William Creamer IV, Moore

Ryan Rauscher, Conrad

Brad Romanchuk, Great Falls

Colleen Romanchuk, Great Falls

Dean Schuler, Carter

Ralph Widhalm, Valier

25 years bowhunter education

Glenn Martin Jr., Great Falls

25 years hunter education

Clancy Sivertsen, Belt

30 years hunter education

Neal Johnson, Great Falls

Bruce Luhrsen, Lewistown

Mary Meserve, Winnett

Michael Sherrard, Shelby

Dave Somerfeld, Power

40 years hunter education

Daniel Maney, Great Falls

Wilbert Hap Zahn, Roy

45 years hunter education

Drew Uecker, Great Falls