Regional Hunter Education Instructors Receive Awards

Thirty-five individuals braved the elements recently to enjoy a dinner compliments of Fish and Game, and to receive awards from that agency for their volunteer services in the regional bowhunter and rifle hunter education programs. Instructors and some wives from around the region attended this annual event that honors and recognizes them for their tireless efforts in this mission-essential Department program. Instructor R.B. Higgins of Rupert was presented a plaque recognizing him as the Magic Valley Hunter Education Instructor of the Year - 2000. Higgins has been an active instructor since 1994; he has been involved in 23 hunter education classes and taught over 540 future hunters during that time. He is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and he has also been a Fish and Game Reservist for six years. Volunteer instructors accumulate incentive points for the number of classes taught and the number of students per class; they are also awarded differential points based upon their role as either a lead or an assistant instructor. In addition to various awards for different point levels, all 46 instructors who took the role of a lead instructor in 2001 will be awarded a gift certificate from Fish and Game of $11.50, the price of a 2002 hunting license. Five instructors were awarded 10 Year pins for their contributions to the program. 10-Year veterans are Don Bunn- Wendell, Alan Kinyon- Castleford, Roy Atwell- Filer, Bill McClymonds and Doug Welch- Buhl. Instructors accumulating 1,500 points received an Idaho hunter education belt buckle. Rifle instructors were: Jason Allred, Rick Bohling, John Chambers, Cres de Alba, Rick Doyle, Kyle Fisher, George Hale, Kyle Hartley, Virginia Johnson, Dean Maltsberger, William Reinitz, Wade Schorzman, Monte Straley, Doug Walrath, Donna Weed, Richard Whittle and Colleen Whittle. Bowhunter teachers included Greg Betts, Michael Bourn, Mark Cox, Fred Farson, Darrell Nunez, O.M. Smith, and Dan Tiller. At 2,500 points, instructors have a choice of either a $25 gift certificate or a Wyoming saw. Rifle instructors receiving this award level were: Lanny Ames, Scott Claiborn, Joni Cordell, Cres de Alba, Rick Doyle, George Hale, Kyle Hartley, Rick Hartley, Virginia Johnson, John Osterhaut, and Monte Straley. Bowhunter instructors include Michael Bourn, Mark Cox, Fred Farson, Darrell Nunez, and O.M. Smith. A $50 gift certificate goes to those who accumulated 5,000 points. This includes Russell Beams- Twin Falls, Jeff Birch- Burley, Ronnie Geer- Hagerman, Rick Hartley- Jerome, Dave Heidemann- Twin Falls, Alan Kinyon- Castleford, plus bow instructors Larry Newton- Bellevue, and Leon Peterson- Malta. Ten thousand point winners were Fred Farson and Del Wuebbenhorst- Buhl, George Menzik- Glenns Ferry, and Rod Runyon- Burley. They are awarded a $100 gift certificate. Gene Wright of Burley receives a $150 gift certificate for 15,000 points he has earned, and Bill McClymonds of Buhl receives a $200 gift certificate for his 20,000 point accumulation. As a gesture of appreciation, Regional Hunter Education Technician Clayton Nielson of Kimberly also awarded each instructor's wife or girlfriend a long-stemmed red rose for their indirect support of the hunter education program. Digital pictures available upon request.