Written by Candice Davis, MDC
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Douglas County Conservation Agent Mark Henry has received the prestigious United Bowhunters of Missouri Agent of the Year Award for 2012. Henry was presented the award at the recent United Missouri Bowhunters banquet held in Jefferson City.
Henry’s supervisor, Protection Regional Supervisor Gary Cravens, said Agent Henry is known for making unique and quality wildlife arrests.
This year he took advantage of the Telecheck system, had excellent public cooperation, and utilized Operation Game Thief to assist in investigating possible archery violations, Cravens said.
“Without a doubt, he had an outstanding archery season with many exceptional wildlife violation cases,” Cravens said.
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| MDC Douglas County Conservation Agent Mark Henry received the prestigious United Bowhunters of Missouri Agent of the Year Award for 2012. |
Henry is an avid archery hunter and enjoys sharing his archery knowledge with the public. Henry was a pivotal member in the formation of the city of Ava’s first Mother/Son Outdoor Adventure event. He helped organize the seventh annual National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes event in Douglas County with an emphasis on a youth archery station. He assisted Ava school administration in setting up the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MONASP) at the Ava Middle School. He worked at the popular “Hootin’ and Hollerin” archery event in Ozark County, and conducted archery programs for events that reached those who might not otherwise be introduced to the sport of archery. Henry spent valuable hours this year in his local schools teaching youth the importance of firearms and archery techniques and safety, Cravens said.
According to Cravens, Henry’s resourceful law enforcement and effective balance of program responsibilities contributed to his selection of this honor. “Henry has developed a tremendous wildlife law enforcement and public relations program in Douglas County,” Cravens said. “He represents the MDC and his division well.”
Agent Henry’s home town is Fordland, Mo. He earned a degree in Animal Science from College of the Ozarks and joined the Department of Conservation in 2002. He held jobs with Wildlife and Forestry Divisions prior to being accepted into the conservation agent training class in 2005. After six months of intensive training, Henry was assigned to Douglas County.
Winners received the following prizes donated by Michigan companies and organizations:
In the past, only hunters with disabilities had the option to hunt with a crossbow. Beginning in 2009, crossbows were allowed in most areas of Michigan during the archery deer season in an attempt to expand hunting opportunities, retain existing hunters and recruit new hunters. Crossbow hunters were required to obtain a free crossbow stamp to determine the number of hunters who took advantage of the new method.
