The 2014 Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor Workshop was held Feb. 15 at Camp Grant Walker near Pollock, La. The workshop features an in-service training session and awards recognition program for volunteer instructors who teach hunter education courses.
Annually, nearly 17,000 students are certified in hunter education through over 500 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.
Outstanding instructors were recognized and given awards in recognition of their dedication and service to the Louisiana Hunter Education Program. Individual instructors and instructor teams were recognized from each of three regions of the state.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
REGION RECIPIENT
North LA William (Mickey) Watts, Ouachita Parish
Jerry Gentry, LaSalle Parish
Central/Southwest LA Michael W. Halter, Beauregard Parish
Kim Cedar, Rapides Parish
Southeast LA Phillip A. Manuel, Pointe Coupee Parish
Shawn Frederick Cook, Sr., Livingston Parish
TEAM AWARDS
North LA Gary White, Michael White / Caddo Parish
Central/Southwest LA William “Bill” Baney, Linda Callais, A.J. Doss,Jr.,
JoAnn Louviere, Karen Blanchard, Terrebonne Parish
Southeast LA Thomas LeBlanc, John Blanchard, Richard Lee,
Iberville Parish
Randy Foco was the recipient of the Todd Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. Foco, who teaches in Iberia Parish has been an instructor in the hunter education program since 1991. As an active member of the Jeanerette Junior Hunter Education Club, Inc. (JJHEC), he teaches several hunter education classes annually, helps host youth hunts on property leased by JJHEC and works to recruit new volunteer instructors. Foco has for many years shown outstanding commitment to hunter education, conservation and the youth of his community.
In addition to the awards, volunteer hunter education instructors were provided with updates on LDWF wildlife management activities, hunting accidents and issues affecting hunting and hunter education.
For more information about Louisiana’s Hunter Education Program, visit www.wlf.la.gov/hunting/hunter-education or contact Fred Kimmel at 225-765-1422 or fkimmel@wlf.la.gov .