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 .