Volunteer Hunter Education Instructors Awarded for 20-21 Years Service

LINCOLN, Neb. – More than two dozen hunter education instructors were recently recognized for 20 or 21 years of service teaching firearm or bowhunter education classes in their areas and received an award for their efforts, according to Mike Streeter, Nebraska hunter education coordinator.

In Nebraska awards are made for 5, 10, 20 and 30 years service.

Those honored who had 21 years of service were Jerry L. Archer of Franklin; Roger L. Eaton, Chadron; Patrick J. Franklin, York; Randy Haddix, Broken Bow; Larry Janicek, Republican City; Richard J. Laux, Jr., Omaha; James A. Menke, Nelson; Carrol L. Moseman, Herman; Mike Nowak, Omaha; Ervin Pronske, Craig; Richard Schneider, Hay Springs; Raymond Stratman, Clay Center; and Edwin H. Wellman, Hooper.

Honored for 20 years of service were Fred J. Bacon, Tekamah; Arthur E. Childers, Omaha; Nick Clement, Scotia; Jim L. Edwards, Ord; Mark Feeney, St. Paul; Kenneth L. Hoppe, Pierce; Ricky A. Leth, Cairo; Mike Moeller, Beemer; Robert J. Nickel, Minden; John A. Ross, Bancroft; Harold Veeder, Cairo; Brad K. Woodle, Omaha; and James Zimmerman, Gering.

Each was presented a Schrade Uncle Henry Golden Spike knife with an etched blade that contained the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission logo and “Nebraska Hunter Education Program 20 Years of Service” inscription. Those seven men join the 144 volunteer instructors who previously have received this award.

“As a result of their efforts and the efforts of all the Hunter Education Program Instructors who have been involved over the years — today there are almost 1,100 active volunteers across the state — hunting in Nebraska remains one of the safest outdoor activities that a person can enjoy,” Streeter said.

“Last year there were approximately 160,000 people who hunted in Nebraska and only 11 were injured and one died, compared to 1975, the year before the program became mandatory, when there were 23 hunting incidents and 7 persons died,” he said.

Each year the volunteer instructors provide approximately 19,000 hours of effort and reach more than 8,000 students to insure that hunting remains safe and continues to be a part of the Nebraska’s culture. So far, more than 250,000 students have received hunter education training.

“So from all of us at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to all of the state’s volunteer instructor’s, thanks for doing an excellent job,” Streeter said.
-Tom Keith-