As hunting season draws to a close, Mike Shafer and the North Midland Family Center can feel good about having thoroughly passed on safety practices to at least 50 hunters.

Shafer, who owns Six Shooters in Midland, MI, is a Certified Firearms Instructor.  Also certified by the State of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Shafer has taught the Hunter Safety program for over 20 years as to youth and adults, and donates his time to the North Midland Family Center. 

“I volunteer my time at North Midland to help them out,” says Shafer. “And because I believe strongly in teaching safety.”

Students in his class at North Midland drove from Clare, Saginaw, and Bay County to attend.  Their ages ranged from 10 years to 50.

Shafer says the most rewarding part of the class is passing on the tradition of hunting safely.  Unbelievable as it may sound, Shafer’s most common safety issue for kids learning to hunt is a basic one.

“I have to teach them not to point their guns at each other,” says Shafer.  “We use a video at one point that shows a situation where a boy accidentally shoots his friend, and that hits home.”

Shafer stresses safety at all times, and encourages anyone new to hunting to take a Hunters Safety course.  North Midland offers classes for just $10 per participant on an annual basis in conjunction with the start of hunting season.

The North Midland Family Center is located at 2601 East Shearer Road, Midland MI 48642 and is an operating unit of the Greater Midland Community Centers, Inc. For more information on programs and services, please visit our website at www.nmfc.org or contact us at (989) 689-7770.