They may not have classrooms or retirement plans, but a group of southeastern Montana educators have accumulated a combined 115 years of teaching experience.

They’re local Hunter and Bowhunter Education instructors, and what makes their service even more remarkable is that every hour of teaching has been voluntary. Together, they have taught thousands of southeastern Montana youth about gun safety, the subtleties and challenges of bowhunting, hunter ethics and behavior. Some of the classrooms have been church basements, or community halls. Others have been public schools and the regional headquarters for FWP.

Instead of a diploma, graduates of the hunter education program have something better: a passport to a lifetime of hunting and fishing in Montana. The course is required before youths can buy a Montana hunting license. In Region 7, more than 400 students pass the Hunter or Bowhunter Education programs each year.

Montana’s Hunter Education program has been in existence since the 1950s, and some of the instructors in Region 7 have been certified instructors since almost the beginning of the program. Others have joined the program more recently. Special recognition goes to Ed Bukoskey of Rosebud, MT, and David Bacon of Wibaux, MT, for having volunteered their time and effort for 20 and 25 years respectively to the bowhunter and hunter education program.

Veteran instructors receive service awards at 5-year intervals. Here are the instructors who will be recognized for their service at the Region 7 Hunter and Bowhunter Instructor Workshop on February 18, 2006, in Miles City:

REGION 7 AWARDS 2006

5 YEAR BOWHUNTER

TRENT HANSEN           DAWSON

PAUL TUREK                RICHLAND

5 YEAR HUNTER ED

TRENT HANSEN                DAWSON

DANIEL STOCKWELL      DAWSON

ADAM LETANG                ROSEBUD

SETH CLIFTON                  TREASURE

10 YEAR BOWHUNTER

MARTIN NELSON                FALLON

10 YEAR HUNTER ED

JOHN SAMUELSON         POWDER RVR

TODD LARSON                CUSTER

MARTIN NELSON            FALLON

20 YEAR BOWHUNTER (NEW)

ED BUKOSKEY                ROSEBUD

25 YEAR HUNTER ED

DAVID BACON                WIBAUX