Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) honored the service of its Region 1 hunter and bowhunter education instructors at an annual workshop on March 9 in Kalispell. Instructors from Sanders County were among those honored.

The annual workshop is an opportunity for FWP staff and instructors from each region to review the program, discuss updates and new equipment, and to celebrate the volunteerism of the instructors.

The heart of Montana's hunter and bowhunter education programs is the corps of dedicated volunteer instructors. They stand as examples of how each hunter should demonstrate ethics, behavior and responsibility to themselves, landowners, other hunters and the resource.

Courtesy Photo

Harold Hudson of Trout Creek received his award from FWP Region 1 Warden Sergeant Nathan Reiner.

At the 2019 workshop in Kalispell, Dale Somerfield of Kalispell was named the Region 1 Instructor of the Year. Several instructors were awarded for service milestones, ranging from five to 30 years. Honorees from Sanders County included Megan Turner of Plains (5 years Bowhunter Education), Doug Padden of Thompson Falls (10 years Hunter Education), Harold Hudson of Trout Creek (20 years Bowhunter Education) and Wayne Crismore of Plains and Ned Winebrenner of Hot Springs (20 years Hunter Education).

"The men and women who volunteer to mentor new hunters are skilled, passionate and dedicated to Montana's hunting heritage and to teaching firearms safety," said Dillon Tabish, the information and education program manager for FWP in Region 1.

"These instructors serve their communities in a very important way. They deserve a sincere 'thank you' from all of us."

In 2018, 1,561 students were certified through hunter and bowhunter education in Region 1. Statewide, 9,050 students were certified last year.

Visit fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter for more information.