After a 5 yr lay off due to back problems I am back to shooting my long bow and recurve... of course having a 9 yr old daughter that wants to learn to shoot helped the recovery process a lot.
One thing I did not give up was teaching the NYS Bowhunter Safety Class, however, that was just too important to give up. I now live in Maryland and have just retired from the NYS program. I am proud to say that I have completed just over 30 yrs as a NYS Master Instructor. To my great surprise the NYS DEC Hunter Safety Program rewarded my efforts with a beautiful custom knife. Something to be treasured, but not as much as the memories of all the students who have passed through my classes and the new instructors I helped to train. I was fortunate to receive my Instructor Certification from none other than Bill Wadsworth, the father of Bowhunting education. I was one of the first Bowhunting instructors in NYS, back when the program was voluntary...
But, having retired from the NYS program something was missing. Well, it is not missing any more. I have recently been certified as a Maryland Hunter Safety Instructor and a Maryland Bowhunter Safety Instructor. Maryland does not have mandatory Bowhunter education, but they do have an active program that I hope I can help along.
I realize that this might sound like I am bragging, but that is not the case... I am actually thanking all those students and new instructors that I trained for making my time as a Bowhunter more than just shooting and going into the woods to harvest a deer.
Attached is a picture of the knife that NYS gave me for my 30 yrs of service... I doubt I have another 30 yrs in me (I turn 59 this year), but I will teach as long as I am able and wanted in Maryland.
(http://www.myfavoritepen.com/Pics/DECAward.jpg)
Welcome back!
Way to go :thumbsup: It's great that you hung in there as long as you did. I'm sure many benefited from your dedication.
Cheers to you and so many unsung workers to keep archery and bowhunting alive.I salute you.Kip
Good job.... :thumbsup: :notworthy: :clapper:
Many, many kudos to you Sir!!
OUTSTANDING TOM!!!!! I remember taking my Bowhunter Safety class in Dutchess Co. with Ron Davis,back in 1977. I took another class back 2002 with my oldest son Kevin.The instructor was fellow TradGang member and good friend Steve McDonald (SteveMcD)
Congratulations,and Thank You for your sevice!!!!! :clapper:
A lifetime well spent. You sure are as far away from Annapolis as the state line would let ya go, eh? You are in some of ol' Meschack Browning's old stomping grounds, and I bet it feels right good. If you haven't read his autobiography, settle yourself down with a copy of "Forty Years of the Life of a Hunter" and let the history of the land seep through your bones. It'll make you want to ford some freezing streams with a buck on your back, build bear traps, kick up mountain lions...or go to Hancock to see a nice old sporting goods store called Hendershots.
Enjoy the wilder part of Maryland!
Killdeer :wavey: