LEXINGTON — Michael Nye has joined the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as the hunter education specialist for the southern Piedmont, which includes Rowan County.
Her duties will include providing instruction in hunter ethics and responsibility, wildlife management and conservation, firearms, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety.
Nye will serve in the Wildlife Commission’s District 6, which also includes Union, Anson, Richmond, Moore, Montgomery, Stanly, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Davidson counties.
Nye is a Robeson County native and participated in shooting sport competitions in high school. She has a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife science from N.C. State University. Most recently, she was with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a hunting access coordinator and worked with Montana’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program.
“My goal as a hunter education specialist is to bring a deeper understanding of why hunter education is so important,” Nye said. “Though firearms safety is the key component in our instruction, hunter education is also a great way to build upon the knowledge and respect for our outdoors. It allows the participants to gain a better insight of hunter harvest as a management tool, while instilling a passion for conserving our natural resources and our hunting heritage.”
The Hunter Education Program provides free hunter education courses throughout the year in every county. There are no minimum age requirements; however, classes are taught at a sixth grade level and tests must be completed without assistance. Certification is accepted in every state and province in North America.
“Hunting is one of the safest and most widely enjoyed activities in North Carolina,” said Travis Casper, the Hunter Education Program coordinator. “Hunters are the backbone of conservation and it is important that we broaden participation. We’re glad to have Michael leading our efforts in District 6.”
For more information, contact Nye at 704-218-1206 or e-mail michael.nye@ncwildlife.org.