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Hunting instructor earns award
By Michele Sample
Bob Britton said he almost fell out of his chair when he was selected as the Colorado Division of Wildlife Hunter Education Instructor of the year.
For more than 25 years, Britton has volunteered as an instructor of Hunter Education teaching close to 5,000 students. His main focus for the last 12 years has been with the 4-H Shooting Sports Program, teaching more than 1,000 students in Douglas County and more than 800 in Elbert County.
Hunter education classes became mandatory in 1969 for anyone wanting to hunt in Colorado. Colorado State law requires anyone born after Jan. 1, 1949 to complete a 12-hour Hunter Education course and shoot 10 rounds of live ammunition to receive a permanent Colorado Hunter Education card.
Britton’s participation in Hunter Education began at Gart Sports, where he was employed for 26 years as the head of the hunting department.
“Some of the instructors would come into my department to shop, and they told me I should do this because of my hunting knowledge,” Britton said. The rest as he said, “is history.”
Britton has been teaching Hunter Education for the Division of Wildlife since 1984, teaching in Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso and Lincoln counties. One of six Advanced Master Instructors across the state, he has not only taught students but also trained other instructors to teach Hunter Education. His current instructor team includes his son-in-law Chris Williams of Elbert and Corey Walker of Elizabeth.
“It is so rewarding to see the smile and look on those youngsters faces when they pass the test,” Britton said.
Over the years, Britton’s students have ranged from 8-year-olds to people in their 60s. According to Britton, that has been the biggest challenge, keeping everyone’s attention, being he has such a wide range of students.
“It just takes lots of experience,” he added.
Hunting has been part of Britton’s family for four generations, and now he is passing his knowledge on to his five grandchildren as well.
“I have been with each of them when they harvested their first animal,” Britton said.
Along with Britton’s Instructor of the Year honor, the Douglas County Sheriff’s office specialist received the Ron King Memorial Community Service Award for his dedication to youth. Britton was also given the employee of the year award by Sheriff David Weaver.
At a recent shopping visit to Safeway, a man came up to Britton and asked, “Are you Bob Britton?”, and of course his reply was “Yes, and why?” The man responded with, “You cost me a six-point bull elk!” Apparently this man was out hunting with his grandson, and because of instruction from Britton, as he aimed his rifle at the elk, his grandson stopped him and said, “Grandpa, you can’t shoot that, you don’t know what is on the other side of the hill.”
Since the inception of the Hunting Education program, fatal hunting accidents have decreased by 87 percent, while the number of hunters has steadily increased. In 2008 there were no fatal hunting accidents in Colorado compared to 13 fatalities in 1968, according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Twelve-hour Hunting Education course includes:
Firearms safety
Hunter ethics and responsibilities
Archery
Muzzle loading
Game identification
Environment care
For more than 25 years, Britton has volunteered as an instructor of Hunter Education teaching close to 5,000 students. His main focus for the last 12 years has been with the 4-H Shooting Sports Program, teaching more than 1,000 students in Douglas County and more than 800 in Elbert County.
Hunter education classes became mandatory in 1969 for anyone wanting to hunt in Colorado. Colorado State law requires anyone born after Jan. 1, 1949 to complete a 12-hour Hunter Education course and shoot 10 rounds of live ammunition to receive a permanent Colorado Hunter Education card.
Britton’s participation in Hunter Education began at Gart Sports, where he was employed for 26 years as the head of the hunting department.
“Some of the instructors would come into my department to shop, and they told me I should do this because of my hunting knowledge,” Britton said. The rest as he said, “is history.”
Britton has been teaching Hunter Education for the Division of Wildlife since 1984, teaching in Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso and Lincoln counties. One of six Advanced Master Instructors across the state, he has not only taught students but also trained other instructors to teach Hunter Education. His current instructor team includes his son-in-law Chris Williams of Elbert and Corey Walker of Elizabeth.
“It is so rewarding to see the smile and look on those youngsters faces when they pass the test,” Britton said.
Over the years, Britton’s students have ranged from 8-year-olds to people in their 60s. According to Britton, that has been the biggest challenge, keeping everyone’s attention, being he has such a wide range of students.
“It just takes lots of experience,” he added.
Hunting has been part of Britton’s family for four generations, and now he is passing his knowledge on to his five grandchildren as well.
“I have been with each of them when they harvested their first animal,” Britton said.
Along with Britton’s Instructor of the Year honor, the Douglas County Sheriff’s office specialist received the Ron King Memorial Community Service Award for his dedication to youth. Britton was also given the employee of the year award by Sheriff David Weaver.
At a recent shopping visit to Safeway, a man came up to Britton and asked, “Are you Bob Britton?”, and of course his reply was “Yes, and why?” The man responded with, “You cost me a six-point bull elk!” Apparently this man was out hunting with his grandson, and because of instruction from Britton, as he aimed his rifle at the elk, his grandson stopped him and said, “Grandpa, you can’t shoot that, you don’t know what is on the other side of the hill.”
Since the inception of the Hunting Education program, fatal hunting accidents have decreased by 87 percent, while the number of hunters has steadily increased. In 2008 there were no fatal hunting accidents in Colorado compared to 13 fatalities in 1968, according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Twelve-hour Hunting Education course includes:
Firearms safety
Hunter ethics and responsibilities
Archery
Muzzle loading
Game identification
Environment care
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