On Saturday, September 28, 2024, during National Hunting and Fishing Day, Red River Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies , Natchitoches Police Department and civilian volunteers began the first of three phases of Hunter Education Courses for area youth at the Natchitoches Shooting Range in Natchitoches according to Sheriff Stuart Wright.

The goal of Louisiana’s Hunter Education Course is to prevent hunting incidents and ensure the future of hunting by teaching hunters about their responsibilities and roles in conservation. The course covers firearm and hunting safety, wildlife management principles, ethics, game identification, and outdoor survival.

Sheriff Wright said as we all know, Louisiana is called the “Sportsman’s Paradise”. Our children enjoy the outdoors and hunting with family and friends. This course is important in teaching our youth the fundamentals about the outdoors, responsibility and hunter safety.”

Instructors were: Deputy Marshall Guin, Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Lt. Matthew Robertson, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Wildlife Agent Sgt. Joey Melton, La. Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement Division, Wildlife Agent Ken Cheramie, La. Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement Division, Officer Clayton Lewis, Natchitoches Police Department and Civilian Volunteer Lee Guin.

Sheriff Glen Edwards and the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office will host an additional education course for local hunters. More information will be shared later this month.