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Alaska Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor's Association The Alaska Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor's Association exists to promote safe, ethical and knowledgeable hunting in Alaska. Its members are made up of instructors certified by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A small annual membership fee covers the costs of running the not-for-profit association, including the newsletter. The group has an annual fund-raiser, usually held in conjunction with the annual late winter instructor workshop hosted by the Department of Fish and Game. For additional information about the association, contact secretary Jim Low 74124.440@compuserve.com or write him at 142 Frog Pond Cir, Fairbanks, AK 99712. If you are an Alaska resident, hold a valid hunter education card, and would like to become a volunteer instructor, you can contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Hunter Education Program by e-mail. You can also contact the program by mail at 333 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599 or call 1-800-478-4868 (267-2236 in Anchorage).
Alaska's volunteer instructor corps was honored in February, 1997 by Alaska's legislature for it's service to Alaskans. Here is the text of the citation. THE ALASKA LEGISLATURE (seal of the State of Alaska) * HONORING * * HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS * The members of the Twentieth Alaska Legislature join all Alaskans in saluting the volunteers of the state' s Hunter Education Program. Since 1973, this dedicated corps of hunters has worked with the state Department of Fish and Game's Division of Wildlife Conservation, volunteering their time, energy and money to pass on their experience to others to send safer, more capable and more responsible hunters into the field. These volunteers are outdoor enthusiasts of all ages, backgrounds and experience who are united by their deep love for the wilderness, their respect for wildlife, and their desire to share the unique Alaskan hunting experience.
Bob Lee, hunter education class assistant, shows a new shooter, Cindy Aillaud, how to safely handle a pump action shotgun. Photo by David M. Johnon. To date, nearly 19,000 Alaskans have won certification in basic hunting and firearm safety skills, and more than 5,600 others have been certified after taking a specialized bow hunting class. In 1995-96 alone, nearly 200 volunteer instructors presented 72 basic classes and 84 bow-hunting! classes. With class size averaging just 11 people, the program offers a high level of personal instruction that would be the envy of any private college. While the Department of Fish and Game administers the program, this vital effort simply could not continue without its volunteers. As compensation, these teachers earn only the personal satisfaction of furthering the responsible, ethical use of Alaska's wildlife resources, and of making hunting a safer, more enjoyable pastime for all. The Twentieth Alaska Legislature applauds the true Alaskan spirit of the Volunteer Hunter Education Program, and wishes the department, the instructors and their students continued success in their mission.
Cosponsors: Representatives Dyson, Kohring, Ogan, Ryan; Senators Parnell, Green, Donley, Wiken, Duncan, Lincoln, Pearce Date: February 14, 1997
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Alaska Volunteer Hunter Education Instructors in action during the winter of 1996/97. Photos by Barry Whitehill. |
Student Brian
Aillaud learns about safe handling of handguns during an Alaska hunter education class.
Class assistant Bob Geise watches closely. Photo by David M. Johnson, AVHEIA.
The volunteers take
weeks of unpaid training and frequently spend their own money to buy, build, or repair
equipment for use in their weekend-long classes. Each year volunteers donate more than
4,000 hours of classroom time, and spend additional thousands of hours in preparing and
requalifying for their courses.
Signed: Gail
Phillips
