Dan Affalter of Lawrence has been named hunter education instructor of the year for northeast Kansas.

An active instructor since 1973, Affalter has been area coordinator in Douglas County for three years, inspiring several other instructors and Boy Scout leaders to become National Rifle Association certified shotgun and rifle range instructors.

In addition, Affalter has participated in youth hunts and used trained bird dog exhibitions to enhance his classes.

Each year Wildlife and Parks recognizes the efforts of about 1,500 hunter education instructors. Using private donations to the agency’s Wildtrust Fund, the state agency has established the Hunter Education Instructor of the Year award, as well as ones for each of the agency’s five regions.

Robert Lark of Holyrood was named Hunter Education Instructor of the Year and was given a Ruger Red-Label over-and-under 12 gauge shotgun.

In addition to Affalter, the other area winners were Tom Witham of Falun, Dennis Voelker of Larned, Fred Crandell of Benton and Roger Wells of Americus. All five received a new Ruger Deluxe 10-.22 rifle.