The Plains Trap Club held a hunter’s safety education course last Saturday at the shooting range. 

The teacher of the course, Phil Crismore, also celebrated his 40th year teaching the class, which was celebrated by a community barbeque hosted by friends and students in Crismore’s class.

There were 34 students in the class ranging from aged 12 children to adults.  The class participants all passed their written safety test as well as a field course, which involves gun handling and shooting, said Tony Colombo, the Plains Trap Club secretary.  The Plains Trap Club provides and furnishes the location, and materials such as shells and targets.

Part of the field tests involved climbing over fences, and walking through a field obstacle course while carrying guns and rifles.

The Plains Trap Club is one of the only clubs fit for being able to conduct all the testing in one place, said Phil Crismore.

“I began teaching hunting safety when kids were getting to be the age to be able to start hunting,” said Crismore.  “The year my son turned 12, they weren’t going to have a class so I decided I would volunteer and start learning to become a certified instructor myself.”

Crismore said he started following his brothers and father around when they went hunting when he was growing up, and as soon as he turned 12 started going himself. 

“My favorite animals to hunt are elk,” said Crismore.  “I have really enjoyed being a hunter and a teacher for all this time. It is a big part of my family history and we have all stayed with the sport for a while.”

Wayne Crismore, Phil’s son, is now a hunter’s education course teacher, and teaches rifle and bow hunting courses.

The courses are free to the public and held once a year in Plains.  The next courses in Sanders County will be held in Thompson Falls in July and in Hot Springs in September.