SECTION 800:1-15-3. Instructors

(a)   Game Wardens are the official Department Hunter Education representative in their assigned area. All Wildlife Department employees may serve as instructors and the Department may allow members of the general public to serve as volunteer instructors for the Hunter Education Certification courses at its discretion.

(b)   Game Wardens conduct the Hunter Education courses independently or they may request assistance from other Game Wardens or a volunteer instructor certified by the Department.

(c)   Volunteer instructors may conduct Hunter Education courses without the assistance of a Game Warden so long as the county Game Warden or Warden Supervisor and the Program Coordinator are notified of the time and location of the course in advance. One Department certified instructor shall be present for the duration of all courses conducted by volunteer instructors.

(d)   Volunteer instructors must be at least 21 years of age, possess a Hunter Education Certificate approved by the Department, be interviewed by a Game Warden or other approved Department employee, and undergo a background investigation.

(1)   The background investigation and interview will be completed within sixty (60).

(2)   After an interview and investigation is completed, the applicant will be notified of the Department's decision with thirty (30) days.

(e)   Volunteers shall serve at the discretion of the Department.

(1)   Review of complaints shall be handled by the coordinator. If the complaint warrants review of volunteer status, the accused volunteer will be given notice of the allegation against him or her and an opportunity to be heard within a reasonable time.

(2)   After investigation of a complaint, the coordinator will report findings to the Director. The Director will make the final decision regarding volunteer status.

(f)   All volunteer instructors shall comply with the following requirements:

(1)   Complete all Departmental report forms prior to conducting a Hunter Education course.

(2)   Attend and complete the Orientation/Teaching Methods/Techniques Instructor Workshop or be recommended by a Game Warden or Department employee, who is an instructor, for certification prior to conducting a Hunter Education course.

(3)   Report to the Program Coordinator of the Oklahoma Hunter Education Program and the Game Warden or Warden Supervisor in the county where the volunteer is teaching a course.

(4)   Follow the procedures outlined in the Instructor's Procedures Manual while conducting a Hunter Education course.

(5)   Within a two year period, either complete additional training through the Department or outside courses approved by the Department or teach a minimum of one class per year, or submit a letter of support from a Game Warden.

(A)   Volunteers who fail to meet this requirement will be classified as inactive and will be ineligible to conduct Hunter Education courses.

(B)   Volunteers may be reactivated by notifying the Program Coordinator.

(g)   The Department may administer a volunteer incentive program. Incentives will be equipment that can be used as teaching aids and will become the property of the volunteer. Points will be accumulated for classes taught and students certified. The volunteer will accumulate 15 points for each workshop they attend, 10 points for each class taught and one point per student assigned to the volunteer up to 25 points per class.

(1)   Incentive levels are as follows: 100 points = shot shell ID kit, 150 = earmuffs, 200 points = training flipchart, 250 points = training flipchart, 300 points = binoculars, 400 points = compass, 500 points = knife, 750 points = gun cleaning kit, 1000 points = hunter education collector print, 1,500 points = survival kit, 2,000 points = pocket tool, 2,500 points = pen set, 3,500 points = compound bow kit, 4000 = pellet rifle, 5,000 = rifle or shotgun.

(2)   The Department reserves the right to replace the incentives with items of a similar value based on availability or other factors, or deny the issuance of incentives.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 3514, eff 7-13-98; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1573, eff 7-1-06; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2622, eff 7-11-09]