Hunter Ed instructor receives honors

PLAINS – During a Hunter Education class packed to capacity, instructor Lisa Brown was given a surprise by Game Warden Tom Chianelli. In front of her pupils, peers and fellow instructors, Brown was recognized for her dedication to Hunter Education by the Game Warden Association.

In what she later described as surprise and shock, Brown was one of the few instructors in Sanders County given this honor throughout the last handful of years.

For Brown, Hunter Education is more than teaching someone about proper gun handling etiquette – it runs much deeper than that. She takes the opportunity to teach her students responsibility.

As an avid hunter herself, Brown grew up hunting and the tradition carried on from her childhood down to her children. It has been a tradition Brown has been proud to pass on to other generations.

“It’s a huge accomplishment to put meat in the freezer and we talk about that. It’s a huge responsibility, too,” Brown explained.

For approximately 18 years, Brown has dedicated her time and effort to educating the youth of Sanders County in the ethics of hunting. She loves doing it and continues to volunteer her time to see the kids blossom.

Not only is Brown knowledgeable, she understands that hunting provides more than just an opportunity to put meat on the table. It’s a time to connect with the people you spend your time with out in the woods.

“If you can hang out with your kids when you are hunting, that will provide an avenue to talk about so many other things other than hunting,” Brown said.

The closeness you are able to develop is something she strives for with her family and creating those relationships is what it’s all about.

Aside from the personal connections hunting can create, Brown thinks the time in the woods can rejuvenate one’s soul – something that is greatly needed to keep a level head.

“The quiet is nice. For me, that’s the biggest enjoyment,” Brown said. “Just getting out and having nothing but nature sounds. That’s pretty comforting. You don’t realize how much you need it until you are out there.”

She has even implemented a “hunting wall” in her classroom. Kids that previously have been in her Hunter Education classes can bring in their trophies and display them for all to see.

While enjoying the outdoors, Brown’s favorite game animal to hunt is elk. She abides by a strict policy – don’t shoot a deer until you shoot an elk. Her love for elk meat has seen her pass on many legal harvests of deer. However, as the season dwindles down, Brown said she would be more than happy to take a deer for jerky meat.

She one day hopes to expand her hunting knowledge even more by drawing a moose or a sheep permit. The coveted hunts are rare. Brown has been putting in for a moose tag since she was 18 and has yet to draw one.

She also hopes to expand into mountain lion hunting once she has the time to do so.

Currently she is undertaking two personal hunting goals – one is to harvest something with her bow and the other is to get a wolf.

Bow hunting came to Brown later in life and she has been working adamantly to get a turkey. Although she has taken the feather off of one, that’s not good enough for her and she plans to hopefully get one during season.

It’s apparent that Brown is not only passionate about her own hunting experiences, sharing them with family and friends, but Brown’s passion burns much deeper.

Her love of the pastime has motivated her to share her knowledge with anyone willing to learn. By doing so, she’s continues to keep a long lasting Montana heritage alive and well.

“Ultimately Hunter Ed is to prepare kids to go out and be safe in the field and hopefully put some food on the table. It also gets them away from (technology) and gets them out looking around,” Brown said.