Todd Lindrew, Keith Lowery and the instructor team from the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office were among those honored during the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) 2018 Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor Workshop held in February at Camp Grant Walker near Pollock.
 
Lindrew, who instructs in East Baton Rouge Parish, was recognized as an outstanding individual instructor from the southeast region. The Lincoln parish sheriff’s office hunter education instructor team of Mike Rainwater, James Franklin, Richard Alexander, Leon Taylor, Phil Soileau, Kyle Luker, Justin Blondin and Jerry Sepulvado were recognized for their team efforts in Lincoln parish.
 
Lowery, a volunteer LDWF Hunter Education instructor for almost 14 years, was the recipient of the Todd Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. During his tenure, he has taught thousands of students the tenets of safe hunting.  He also volunteers his time as an instructor at LDWF’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshop, Youth Hunter Education Challenge state competition, National Hunting and Fishing day events, Archery in Louisiana Schools and acts as a guide on the Beyond BOW deer hunt on Floy McElroy WMA.  He is able to generously give his time while also being a real estate agent, school bus driver, professional auctioneer and President of the Monroe-West Monroe Ducks Unlimited board.
 
Years of service awards were also given to qualifying instructors with more than five years as an active instructor in recognition of their dedication to the Louisiana Hunter Education Program and their communities.
 
Approximately 15,000 students annually are certified in the LDWF Hunter Education Program through more than 450 courses taught statewide. Volunteers trained to teach hunter education are crucial to the success of this program. The goal of Louisiana’s Hunter Education Program is to reduce hunting incidents by producing safe and responsible hunters.
 
Volunteer hunter education instructors were also provided in service training sessions with updates on LDWF wildlife management activities, hunting incidents and issues affecting hunting and hunter education during the workshop.