Local hunter, bowhunter education instructors honored at statewide workshop

Rich Hjort of Libby received a 40-year hunter education award at a statewide Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks workshop held June 23-25 at the fairgrounds in Helena, according to an agency news release.

Three other Lincoln County-area hunting educators were awarded as well. Ed Feruzzi received a 20-year hunter education awards, and Alan Osborn and William Swagger received 10-year hunter education awards.

The workshop was attended by more than 300 hunter and bowhunter education instructors from across Montana, the news release states. For region one, 54 instructors received service awards ranging from 5 to 60 years of service.

All instructors are volunteers for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. They provide safety, ethics, and firearms and archery equipment handling training to about young students a year in region one.