Hundreds of dedicated volunteer instructors across Missouri give their time, effort and expertise to make the success of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Bow Hunter Education (BHE) Program possible.And from among that group, one instructor in the St. Louis area has recently received the state’s top honor.Bob Mallery of Wright City was awarded the title 2015 Missouri State Bow Hunter Education Instructor of the Year at MDC’s headquarters in Jefferson City July 11.The award is the state’s highest honor for that group. Mallery earned the St. Louis Regional 2015 HED BHE Instructor of the Year award earlier this year, making him eligible to compete for the statewide honor.“Bow hunter education is not a requirement in Missouri, but we have many requests from the public who need this certification to hunt out of state or in urban areas,” said Kyle Larimore, MDC Hunter Education & Shooting Range coordinator.“Bob Mallery is always willing to volunteer to organize a bow hunter class anywhere in the St. Louis region.”During 2015, Mallery taught 15 hunter and bow hunter education classes, certifying more than 200 students and volunteering more than 100 hours of his time. He also serves on the Missouri Hunter Education Instructors Association board of directors as the vice president and St. Louis Region director.“Mallery has been a tremendous asset to the St. Louis Region Hunter Education program over the past 10 years as an instructor and we hope he continues to take the lead teaching both hunter and bow hunter education classes,” Larimore said.BHE provides a foundation in hunting safety and ethics that helps hunters focus on more than just being successful in the pursuit of game.The course is recommended for motivated students age 14 and older with good reading and comprehension skills who have some archery and hunting knowledge or experience. However, any student 11 years old and older may be tested and certified in the course.Participants will receive a minimum of eight hours of classroom training, plus additional time for testing, outdoor demonstrations and other classroom discussion usually taught in two sessions.MDC recommends that all bow hunters take bow hunter education, as the BHE Program can serve as a refresher for veteran bow hunters as well.Bob Mallery of Wright City (second from right) accepts the 2015 Missouri State Bow Hunter Education (BHE) Instructor of the Year award at the Missouri Department of Conservation in Jefferson City on July 11. Pictured alongside Mallery, from left, are former MDC Director Bob Ziehmer, Outreach and Education Division Unit Chief Jeff Cockerham, and Hunter Education & Shooting Range Coordinator Kyle Larimore. Submitted photo.
