Claflin resident Ray Fischer receives top award

The Advisory Committee to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Hunter Education Program has named Ray Fischer, Claflin, as the 2005 Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. An instructor for more than 10 years, Fischer has taught and organized classes in Barton, Ellsworth, and Saline counties.

"Ray is a true 'indispensable man,'" said Wayne Doyle, KDWP statewide hunter education coordinator. "Hunter education in central Kansas would not be the same without him."

Fischer actively recruits and works with new instructors for communities in central Kansas and has developed trail walks and live-fire exercises. In fact, he developed the first hunter education trail walk in his area and took equipment for setting up trail walks anywhere in the state they were needed. In addition, he has conducted classes on lesson plan preparation, teaching techniques, and developing and setting up equipment for trail walks.

A National Rifle Association certified shotgun instructor, Fischer conducts shooting clinics for the Barton County Boy Scouts Shotgun Merit Badge and annually helps sponsor and coach a Youth Scholastic Clay Target Shooting Team comprised of youth ages 10 through 16. For 10 years, he has taken area youth on turkey, quail, and pheasant hunts. His past Hunter Education Program honors include master instructor and Order of the Buffalo.

In addition to Fischer's award, exceptional instructors in three of KDWP's five regions were named Regional Instructors of the Year. These include the following:

• Region 2 -- Robert J. Kramer, Meriden;
• Region 3 -- Anthony Luebbers, Garden City; and
• Region 4 -- Donovan Arrowsmith, Arkansas City.

Fischer received a high-quality 12-gauge shotgun with his award, and the regional honorees each received Henry Golden Boy .22 caliber rifles.

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