EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department hosted its annual Hunter Education Appreciation Day, offering an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the state’s hunter education instructors. The event was hosted at Edward Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp this year and featured a presentation from Jesse Warner, NWTF Northeast hunting and shooting R3 coordinator.
“We try to make it a day to inspire, educate and appreciate,” said Nicole Meier, Vermont FWD hunter education program coordinator. “This is why we had Jesse as our keynote speaker. He had a conversation with our volunteers about R3 efforts and what they mean.”
During his presentation, Warner focused on how R3 and hunter education courses are directly related. While it’s important to host hunter education classes, there is often no follow-up or guidance for new hunters after they finish the course. He offered advice and showcased potential events that can be held to remedy that gap.
“Over 30% of all hunter education graduates do not purchase a hunting license, many citing a lack of knowledge on what to do next,” Warner said. “For those individuals, R3 programs are the logical path toward success as they provide opportunities for new hunters to be in the field with knowledgeable mentors, as well as connecting them with other new hunters. Through events and programs hosted by non-governmental organizations and state agencies, we can provide strong foundations for success for those who are just starting out. By informing hunter education coordinators and volunteer instructors on the next-step opportunities offered, we can begin to bridge this gap.”
This annual event is important for celebrating the state’s hunting instructor volunteers and giving them the space to meet someone they wouldn’t have otherwise. With around 350 instructors in the state, many of them do not get the chance to meet other instructors. Getting to know each other builds community and allows for the cross-pollination of ideas, sharing how they teach, lessons that have gone exceptionally well and further collaboration.
Attendees were able to do this while spending time on the shooting range, playing a Vermont geography challenge game.
“Our volunteers shot .22 rifles, the same ones their students use in our classes, and the range master would call out a random town name,” Meier said. “Then, shooters had three seconds to try and locate the town on the map, aim and hit the target. Since we had instructors from all over the state, we had a lot of fun with this, and it was challenging.”
Not only were attendees sharing stories, but they were also celebrating successes.
Meier shared that in 2024, Vermont’s total instructor volunteer hours were well over 8,000, and in total, 3,530 Vermonters were certified in hunter, bowhunter or trapper education in 2024, which is a significant number compared to the state population of around 645,000. To honor these dedicated volunteers, the event also featured the annual hunter education volunteer awards.
This year’s instructor of the year award went to Will Ordway, an outstanding volunteer who specializes in trapper education. Ordway took a trapper education course during the fall of 2020, and after two years of self-taught practice, he was inspired to become a trapper education instructor. He has been inducted into the Triple Digit Club every year since, an award that recognizes instructors who volunteer for 100 hours or more per year.
“It was clear to everyone in the room that this man is dedicated, and he received a standing ovation from his peers,” Meier said.
The event also recognized Gary Sherer, a long-time instructor who stepped up to the role of lead instructor for his team after the loss of Herb Meyer. In 2021, the very first Lifetime Achievement Award went to Meyer, and he was an absolute force of nature in the realm of hunter education.
Sherer and his team received recognition as the Teaching Team of the Year for leading education programs at Sportsman Inc. Sherer is also celebrating 50 years with the Vermont Hunter Education Program.
“It is my hope that instructors take away new ideas from each other and hopefully learn a little something from our workshops that we offer during the afternoon,” Meier said. “Most of all, I want them to know how grateful we are for their exceptional service to all Vermont. Without our volunteers, there is no way we would be able to consistently meet the demand for hunter, bowhunter and trapper education courses. Our instructors are the backbone of our program. They teach ethical outdoorsmanship, safety and responsibility. The importance of these classes and the role that our volunteers play in relaying those lessons cannot be understated.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
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