At the May Commission meeting in Ocala, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) honored Doug Brooks from Osceola County with the 2025 Victor Heller Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year award. This accolade is given to a volunteer who has significantly advanced safe hunting through exceptional service in training and education.
Doug Brooks has been the chief instructor for FWC’s hunter safety program in Osceola County since November 2008. In his 16 years of service, he has led 121 classes, contributing over 1,400 hours of instruction and nearly 1,600 volunteer hours. Thanks to his efforts, more than 2,000 individuals have received their hunter safety certification. Annually, Brooks and his team conduct seven in-person hunter safety courses at the Triple N Ranch Shooting Range, with an average attendance of 22 students per class. His commitment extends beyond teaching; Brooks was instrumental in establishing the Triple N Ranch Shooting Range. He participated in a local initiative advocating for a public shooting range in Osceola County, resulting in its opening in 2017 through a collaboration between the Osceola County Commission and FWC.
“Doug is one of our most reliable instructors and is always consistently willing and able to organize and lead hunter safety classes for Osceola County,” said Joshua Suzuki, FWC’s Hunter Safety Coordinator for the Northeast Region. “He has consistently held and led classes every year since he became the area coordinator.”
Those interested in becoming a volunteer hunter safety instructor can visit MyFWC.com/HunterSafety and select “Volunteer.”
