Training WorkShops For Ohio Hunter Education Instructors

COLUMBUS, OH -Workshops aimed at training hunter education instructors are scheduled for five locations across the state in coming months, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

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The workshops will be held March 11-12 at the Wildlife District Four Office in Athens and at Troy Fish and Game Club in Miami County; April 1 and 8 at the Wildlife District Three Office in Akron; May 20-21 at the Wildlife District One Office in Columbus, and July 8 and 9 at the Wildlife District Two Office in Findlay. Those interested in attending should call 1-800-WILDLIFE for registration materials.

Individuals must complete a volunteer instructor-training workshop in order to become a certified hunter education instructor. They must also be at least 18 years of age and have successfully completed a hunter education course. Ohio currently has 1,700 volunteer instructors who train hunters, especially young hunters, to be safe and responsible in the field.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for commentary by outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore.

Commentary by Larry S. Moore:

These workshops are the only way for new volunteer hunter education
instructors to become certified as instructors. I am one of the team that
will be teaching the new instructor workshop at Troy Fish and Game.

I've
been a volunteer hunter education instructor for almost 20 years. It is a
great way to share and pass along our outdoor heritage. I really enjoy
working with the young people and adults in class. The ability to schedule
my class time according to my schedule provides a great deal of flexibility
for teaching.

The new instructor workshops are great. I wish they had
these when I first became an instructor. New instructors not only learn the
correct way to set up and report a class but they get valuable teaching time
standing in front of their workshop classmates. It is a great hands-on
technique to remove the first time jitters in the classroom.

My son went
through the workshop several years ago and now teaches with us. It is
wonderful and very gratifying to have him with me in the classroom. As more
women are attending class, we need to attract more ladies to become
instructors. The women instructors are very often better accepted by hunter
education students then the guys.

If you love to hunt and want a great way
to share your hunting experience with the next generation, this is a great
opportunity.

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award.