Lincoln Co. hunter ed instructors honored for years of service
Megan Strom of Eureka, right, receives a 20-year service award from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Game Warden Ben Chappelow. (FWP photo)
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently honored the service of its northwest Montana hunter and bowhunter education instructors at an annual workshop in Kalispell.
Among the honorees are three Lincoln County residents.
Two Troy men, Paul Dalziel and Neil Newton, have been teaching for five years.
The third, Eureka's Megan Strom, has been teaching for 20 years. She was named the regional Instructor of the Year for 2022.
The annual workshop is an opportunity for FWP staff and instructors to review the education programs, discuss updates, and celebrate the volunteerism of the instructors.
The heart of Montana's hunter and bowhunter education programs is the corps of dedicated volunteer instructors. They keep Montana's hunting traditions strong by promoting safety, ethics and responsibility and by mentoring new hunters.
At the 2023 Region 1 workshop, several instructors were awarded for service milestones, ranging from five years to 30 years.
The latest honorees are listed below.
Monty Long of Kalispell has served as a hunter education instructor for 30 years and Bennie Rossetto of Kalispell has served as a bowhunter education instructor for 30 years.
JF Hewitt of Kalispell was named the Instructor of the Year for 2021 after the honor was delayed from last year.
“The men and women who volunteer to mentor new hunters are passionate and dedicated to Montana’s hunting tradition and to teaching firearm safety,” said Dillon Tabish, FWP regional communication and education program manager. “These instructors serve their communities in a very important way. They deserve a sincere ‘Thank you’ from all of us.”
If anyone is interested in the future of hunting, in improving sportsmanship and safety in the field, or teaching an appreciation for the vast hunting resources in Montana, FWP encourages them to sign up to become an instructor.
Visit fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter for more information.
In northwest Montana, call Dillon Tabish at (406) 751-4564.
Region 1 Honorees
5 Years of Service
Hunter Education
Paul Dalziel, Troy
Dan Murphy, Columbia Falls
Neil Newton, Troy
Rachel Schmidt, Whitefish
Isabella Schwegel, Kalispell
Andrew Smith, Kalispell
Rob Tameler, Arlee
Cody Voermans, Kalispell
10 Years of Service
Bowhunter Education
Zachary Butcher, Plains
Steve White, Kalispell
Hunter Education
Zachary Butcher, Plains
Cerria Swagger, Kalispell
15 Years of Service
Hunter and Bowhunter Education
Ronald Ream, Condon
20 Years of Service
Hunter Education
Dale Jorgenson, Bigfork
Janell Plummer, Somers
Megan Strom, Eureka
Walter Wilkinson, Kalispell
25 Years of Service
Bowhunter Education
Wes Plummer, Somers
Hunter Education
Wes Plummer, Somers
Steve White, Kalispell
30 Years of Service
Hunter Education
Monty Long, Kalispell
Bowhunter Education
Bennie Rossetto, Kalispell