I Am Conservation

I Am Conservation

Win Stevens of Climax Springs has been a hunter education instructor since 2007. He is one the first certified bowhunter education instructors in Camden County and one of the first African-American hunter education instructors in Missouri. “I never had hunter education when I was growing up, and I sat through a class with my son and realized that there weren’t any black instructors,” said Stevens. “So, I decided to get certified. The outdoors is not about being white or black. It’s for everyone. So it is important to show people that anyone can enjoy the outdoors.” Stevens also has been active in angler recruitment programs with the Department for several years. He grew up in Washington, Mo., where his father introduced him to hunting and fishing at a young age. He passed along the tradition to his two sons, and now hopes to continue the tradition with his four grandchildren. “My two granddaughters, ages 7 and 5, are starting to fish and want to hunt with their grandpa,” he said. Stevens moved to Camden County in 2007 where he loves to pursue bass and crappie on the Lake of the Ozarks and enjoys all types of hunting. —photo by David Stonner