Photo: Hunter-education graduate Sophia Raines, an eighth-grade student in Hallsville, demonstrates her proficiency in safely handling a pump-action training shotgun. Photo: Courtesy MDC JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — COVID-19 presented considerable challenges to Missouri schools, staff and students in 2020, including closures, cancellations, remote learning and more. The pandemic also presented challenges to schools and instructors teaching the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) hunter education courses. “Many schools were closed for much of the year, which reduced the number of kids who could get hunter-ed certified in schools,” said MDC Education Program Coordinator Justin McGuire. “However, MDC staff, teachers and other volunteer instructors responded to these challenges and were still able to teach hunter education in 244 classes at 150 schools as part of their 2020 in-school curriculum. Thanks to their efforts, nearly 4,300 students were certified in hunter education in 2020.”