Hunter and bowhunter education instructors from north central Montana were honored recently in Great Falls.

One Glacier County hunter education instructor – Don Crail – was honored for 50 years of teaching.

Crail, of Cut Bank, had his name placed a Hunter Education Hall of Fame plaque that hangs in the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 4 office in Great Falls.

Besides Crail, 25 other instructors received service awards in January ranging from 5 to 30 years. All award recipients receive a plaque; additional awards include: an engraved knife for 10 years, an FWP belt buckle or jewelry for 20 years, a monetary award for 30 years, a monogrammed jacket for 40 years, and a hall of fame plaque for 50 years.

In FWP Region 4, almost 300 volunteers teach hunter and bowhunter education. These instructors certify about 1,000 students each year.

Region 4 hunter-bowhunter instructor awards by county:

50 years hunter education

Don Crail – Glacier

30 years hunter education

Curt Butler – Chouteau

Jodie Butler – Chouteau

Wendy Kamm – Chouteau

25 years hunter education

David Kalina – Fergus

25 years bowhunter education

Ralph Corbett – Petroleum

Larry Eloff – Liberty

Dan Rooney – Meagher

20 years hunter education

Dean Easton – Cascade

George Edelberg – Cascade

Mary McGivern – Cascade

Kevin Mitchell – Toole

Andrew Oestreich – Fergus

Ron Osborne – Glacier

15 years bowhunter education

Pam Martin – Cascade

15 years hunter education

Lance Juedeman – Chouteau

Dan Roat – Fergus

Kale Sandman – Petroleum

David Schwarzbach – Chouteau

Brian Williams – Cascade

10 years bowhunter education

Todd Dotseth – Cascade

10 years hunter education

Ray Wrobel Jr. – Cascade

5 years bowhunter education

Daniel Anthony – Liberty

5 years hunter education

Daniel Anthony – Liberty

Jeffery Russell – Fergus

Paul Wild – Fergus