FREDERICTON (CNB) – James Corey of Hartland and Harvey Murray of Miramichi are New Brunswick's 2011 Conservation Education Instructors of the Year.

Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup presented the pair with commemorative watches,  International Hunter Education Association prints and certificates of appreciation.

"New Brunswick has one of the lowest hunting accident rates in North America, and this is due in large part to the fine work of hunter education instructors such as Harvey Murray and James Corey,'' said Northrup. "The courses they teach have laid the foundation for generations of safe and responsible hunters in New Brunswick."

Corey was recognized as the volunteer instructor of the year. He has been active in the Firearms Safety / Hunter Education Program for 30 years and also volunteers his time to help administer the Restricted Firearms course.
 
Murray is the Department of Natural Resources' Instructor of the Year. A resources officer with the department’s district office in Miramichi, Murray has been a conservation education instructor since 1982, having taught almost 2,300 students during that time.

Firearm Safety / Hunter Education courses teach students how to handle and use firearms in a safe and responsible manner. Students learn how to minimize the risk of hypothermia while hunting, what to do if lost, and basic first-aid techniques.

The courses also cover hunter ethics, basic field techniques, wildlife identification and the role of hunting with respect to wildlife management.

Since the inception of hunter education in 1952, more than 90,000 New Brunswickers have completed this program.

Information about firearm safety and hunter education is online. Testing takes place at local Department of Natural Resources offices.

LINK:

●    Department of Natural Resources (go to Wildlife link, then to Hunting link): www.gnb.ca/naturalresources


14-10-11