Fish and Game Honors Hunter Education Volunteers

Four Idaho volunteer hunter education instructors were honored for their dedicated service at the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting November 6 in Lewiston. Honored were Virgil Wassmuth of Greencreek, Mike Hallisey of Deary, Allan Brockmann of Orofino and Jill Green of Lewiston for achieving the highest level of volunteer service to the program, based on their longevity and number of courses instructed. "These volunteer instructors are well known in their communities as the hunter education expert," said James Reed, hunter education program coordinator based in Lewiston. "They have displayed an incredible long term commitment and are true ambassadors to passing on Idaho's great hunting heritage." Hunter education is a mandatory program required of all hunters born after January 1, 1975, to hunt in Idaho. Fish and Game administers the program, but all instructors are volunteers who provide safety, ethics and firearms training to students. Since the Idaho hunter education program was instituted in 1979, hunting accidents have dropped to historic low levels, and new hunters now go a field with a greater appreciation for the wildlife resources they enjoy.