required hunter's safety education course

[moodyskydiver 0]

So I finally broke down and took the required (for those of us born after 9-2-1971) Hunter's Safety Education course.I'm so glad its over but wish I had those 10 hours of my life back lol.But, atleast now I can go hunting on military reservations(father-in-law is a hunting guide at Ft. Hood) and the local National Forest.

I made the 2nd highest grade in the class,a 96 including the range field test. Plus I got a cute little blaze orange Gander Mtn. hat that says "hunter's safety graduate" across the back.(shameless advertising,I know)..

Man,there were some young teenagers in there that passed and I sure as hell dont know how.I guess they dont have a maturity test for young hunter's yet.

so what do you think:Hunter's Safety class is a good thing or a waste of time?

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[warpedskydiver 0]

I took the course in order to hunt a state park that is surrounded by houses.

I would say it was not time wasted as I was able to help some of the teens and pre teens understand more, and in fact the second day of the course I was helping to teach.

The instructor was good, covered alot of topics, and kept the course from being a drag.

This course was all based on volunteer work, as the state does not pay for any of it, except the publications it prints.

Without programs such as these, youngsters and younger adults will never be able to enjoy hunting, nor appreciate the heritage of this activity, conservationism at the most personal level, and stewardship of our environment.

[1969912 0]

I took one in WA at ~age 15. Good idea.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[moodyskydiver 0]

Quote

I took the course in order to hunt a state park that is surrounded by houses.

I would say it was not time wasted as I was able to help some of the teens and pre teens understand more, and in fact the second day of the course I was helping to teach.

The instructor was good, covered alot of topics, and kept the course from being a drag.

This course was all based on volunteer work, as the state does not pay for any of it, except the publications it prints.

Without programs such as these, youngsters and younger adults will never be able to enjoy hunting, nor appreciate the heritage of this activity, conservationism at the most personal level, and stewardship of our environment.

I agree with you on the most part about teaching the younger hunters conservationism/preservationism and a continuation of this sport.I dont know about your class,but mine was 10hrs long and the info given could have been given easily in less time b/c its mostly common sense,responsibility and judgement.Plus the instructor skipped ALOT of the material and "taught for the test" rather than to produce responsible,capable and safe hunters.

My instructor skipped around alot and basically just told us what would be on the test and didnt teach anything but that,which,the publications given to us covered MUCH more.There were questions on the test from chapters he didnt even cover but I knew them b/c I did my homework and did the practice test and read the material.

I wish I'd had a better instructor.Mine liked to brag that hes had over 1000 students and has never failed one.The Instructor's incentives(b/c they are volunteers) are based on numbers of passed students and they receive knives,belt buckles and such for milestone marks in the teaching career,500,1000 etc..He bragged that he was 300 students shy of a free gun from S&W.That raises a flag to me saying hes too lenient and passes everyone rather than fail someone who might have needed it IMHO.

So I guess,its not so much that I think the whole course idea is a waste of time,just my particular experience was.I hope there are better instructors out there than mine atleast.

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[akarunway 1]

Quote

Quote

I took the course in order to hunt a state park that is surrounded by houses.

I would say it was not time wasted as I was able to help some of the teens and pre teens understand more, and in fact the second day of the course I was helping to teach.

The instructor was good, covered alot of topics, and kept the course from being a drag.

This course was all based on volunteer work, as the state does not pay for any of it, except the publications it prints.

Without programs such as these, youngsters and younger adults will never be able to enjoy hunting, nor appreciate the heritage of this activity, conservationism at the most personal level, and stewardship of our environment.

I agree with you on the most part about teaching the younger hunters conservationism/preservationism and a continuation of this sport.I dont know about your class,but mine was 10hrs long and the info given could have been given easily in less time b/c its mostly common sense,responsibility and judgement.Plus the instructor skipped ALOT of the material and "taught for the test" rather than to produce responsible,capable and safe hunters.

My instructor skipped around alot and basically just told us what would be on the test and didnt teach anything but that,which,the publications given to us covered MUCH more.There were questions on the test from chapters he didnt even cover but I knew them b/c I did my homework and did the practice test and read the material.

I wish I'd had a better instructor.Mine liked to brag that hes had over 1000 students and has never failed one.The Instructor's incentives(b/c they are volunteers) are based on numbers of passed students and they receive knives,belt buckles and such for milestone marks in the teaching career,500,1000 etc..He bragged that he was 300 students shy of a free gun from S&W.That raises a flag to me saying hes too lenient and passes everyone rather than fail someone who might have needed it IMHO.

So I guess,its not so much that I think the whole course idea is a waste of time,just my particular experience was.I hope there are better instructors out there than mine atleast.

Same w/ my CCW class in Florida crammed a 8 hr. class into 2 hrs. Handed weapons to people on the range that hadn't a clue of what they were doing. Scary. All about the GAD.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[moodyskydiver 0]

Quote

Same w/ my CCW class in Florida crammed a 8 hr. class into 2 hrs. Handed weapons to people on the range that hadn't a clue of what they were doing. Scary. All about the GAD.

My CHL class was very long and boring b/c it was a streight 10hours in 1 day,not including lunch and breaks.The instructor made it clear that the state of TX said it had to be 10hrs and we would spend 10hrs in training.Luckily we had to furnish our own weapons for the range test so I was very familiar with the firearm I used in the range test.

On the other hand, my safety course instructor gave us frequent breaks and it was 3.5-4hrs every night for 3 days,which comes out to about 10hrs if you include all the breaks and such.He did atleast bring in a pump action,break action and lever action firearms which we each had to load/unload safely with hollow "dummy rounds" to familiarize ourselves with the different types of actions.But then he gives us bolt actions for the range test.

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[rehmwa 2]

a "required course" - no

a proficiency test (licensing) would be better - amazingly, some people are taught to handle guns quite fine at home by a knowledgable and responsible parent. Why force them to sit through 10 hours with the clueless?

Now, if they fail the proficiency test, then offering a course is a great idea.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[steve1 5]

We were 12 when we took Hunters Safety. Our instructor was a very experienced hunter and he used to throw in a hunting story or two to add to the purpose of what he was teaching. It was a great experience. I'd recommend it to any kid, whether they hunt or not.

I often teach gun safety in our school. Many of these kids will never go hunting, but they will come into contact with firearms. Knowing how to handle a gun safely can keep them safe.

I know a lot of 12 year olds who handle guns very safely, because it has been drilled into their heads by their parents. Safety courses add to what they already know. I'd feel safer hunting with a kid like that than an adult with little training.

Gun Safety is a required course prior to hunting in our state. I think it's a great idea...

[moodyskydiver 0]

Quote

a "required course" - no

a proficiency test (licensing) would be better - amazingly, some people are taught to handle guns quite fine at home by a knowledgable and responsible parent. Why force them to sit through 10 hours with the clueless?

Now, if they fail the proficiency test, then offering a course is a great idea.

Exactly.I wish we were able to take a proficiency test and "clep out" the same way you can with some college courses.Then just pay your little $15 testing fee and be done with it.I think it sucks that the instructors arent paid even though we had to pay $15 to take the course and that doesnt even include the hunting license price which we have to buy separately.

What is scary is that you can go online and take everything but the field course and print it and take it to a place that does safety courses and then just do the field test.How many people probably had someone help them answering the questions or had a seperate window open to the study guide and just copied the answers that way.(I know b/c I almost did that route).

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."