Missouri is a great place to hunt and the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Hunter Education Program (HED) helps make it a safe one, too.The success of the program is in large part due to the dedication and efforts of the HED instructors, including those recently announced as regional HED Instructors of the Year in St. Louis.HED is taught throughout Missouri by more than 1,400 instructors. Each year, local MDC staff recognizes instructors whose efforts exceed their regular teaching duties.Bob Mallery, of Wright City, has earned the distinction of 2015 HED Bowhunter Education (BHE) Instructor of the Year for the St. Louis Region. He has served as a BHE instructor with MDC for 10 years.Mallery was the lead instructor on two BHE classes during the past year, where he volunteered 32 hours and certified 35 students. Mallery also volunteered 108 hours to Missouri’s HED Program, in which he was lead instructor for 13 HED Skills Sessions and HED-certified 181 students.In addition, Mallery serves as vice president and St. Louis director of the Missouri Hunter Education Instructor Association. He has also functioned as volunteer HED coordinator for Warren County for the past nine years.“Bob’s accomplishments make him the ideal recipient for the MDC Volunteer BHE Instructor of the Year award for 2015,” said Sarantakis.Mallery will now compete on the statewide level for the Missouri State BHE Instructor of the Year award.All hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, and who are 16 years of age or older, are required to take and pass a hunter education course or purchase an Apprentice Hunter Authorization before buying a permit. There is an 11-year-old age minimum requirement to take the Missouri HED class.The HED program can serve as a refresher for veteran hunters as well. It is also open to anyone who enjoys the outdoors and has an interest in conservation.More information about the program can be found on MDC’s website at http://mdc.mo.gov/node/3095, or by calling 636-441-4554.Missouri Department of Conservation