Henry Rifle Forums

I just thought I’d share a really nice positive experience. I’m one of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife guide examiners. I recently test a gentleman for his hunting guide classification. Our testing is considered one of the toughest in the USA. The individuals are required to pass fingerprinting, complete a first aid class then we do a 100 written question test for the classification they are seeking. Then they are tested in map and compass, GPS, then an hour and half of oral questions this will include an event which could be injured client, lost in the woods, paddling mishap or other scenario. There are always two examiners present. We tested an individual a couple of weeks ago. I saw him in the room where they take there written test. I went into the room we do the oral exam and told me fellow tester that this next guys going to be supper smart. He said how did I know. I told him he looks smart.

When we tested him he knew virtually every hunting law, understood far more than expected with relationship to firearms, ballistics, and safety as well as any other question we asked. When I did his event I used a hunter left his bear stand after shooting a bear, which the hunters are told to stay in the stand till the guide returns. I told him it was an accidental gun shot in the chest. How would he address the problem. He knew exactly what to do from securing the are to address the gunshot and contacting needed medical assistance. I’ve test almost 600 people in 7 years. He was by far the best ever. He said he would take all their vital, BP, Oxygen percentage, respiration and more.

I said you didn’t learn this in your in your aid class. He said no sir I’m the Emergency Room Surgeon at Maine Medical. This is the number one trauma hospital in the state. He was an absolute joy to test. He’s from India, became a citizen and went to the best medical schools we have. I just thought I’d share a wonderful experience.

I didn’t mean to write so much wanted to share the joy that someone who wants to guide is bringing to his joy of sharing hunting.

Guide

That’s awesome Guide, and some pretty intensive testing. Good for a surgeon to have the interest in the outdoors.

Nice, smart guy, excellent result.

I doubt he would be deported being a citizen. I asked him how he liked working at Maine Medical. He said it’s really tough. He said it’s very difficult with so many undocumented immigrants. He said they all say their name is Mohammad Mohammad and birthdate is always January 1. He generally has to have an interpreter and he said it’s really hard treating them because the hospital has absolutely no reactors of any sort. So the hospital has to try and figure what meds are least likely to to have a negative reaction or side effect. Plus not knowing any pre conditions makes it worse. He said he would like to move to an area where he could possibly do private practice with less headaches. I hope he gets his wishes because he’s a great guy and wants to do medical practice for sure. I hear all the same complaints from nurses here all the time. Many have gone to other hospitals, surgeons offices as well as other areas where it’s a little easier to deal with. I sat in a waiting room while my brother in law was being admitted at two in the morning. There was a man and wife waiting for him to be seen for back pain. This poor guy was lying on the floor because of the pain, 6 hours there and the emergency room doctor came in and said “ we’re not going to be able to see you for at least 5-6 hours. If you want I’ll write a prescription for pain meds so you can get some relief.” I’m thinking she never took his blood pressure, temperature. Oxygen or respiratory measurements. WOW, that’s how bad it is here. We have far more people moving in than the two hospitals can handle here. I really hope the city gets a handle on this.
Guide

Guide wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 2:18 pm

I doubt he would be deported being a citizen. I asked him how he liked working at Maine Medical. He said it’s really tough. He said it’s very difficult with so many undocumented immigrants. He said they all say their name is Mohammad Mohammad and birthdate is always January 1. He generally has to have an interpreter and he said it’s really hard treating them because the hospital has absolutely no reactors of any sort. So the hospital has to try and figure what meds are least likely to to have a negative reaction or side effect. Plus not knowing any pre conditions makes it worse. He said he would like to move to an area where he could possibly do private practice with less headaches. I hope he gets his wishes because he’s a great guy and wants to do medical practice for sure. I hear all the same complaints from nurses here all the time. Many have gone to other hospitals, surgeons offices as well as other areas where it’s a little easier to deal with. I sat in a waiting room while my brother in law was being admitted at two in the morning. There was a man and wife waiting for him to be seen for back pain. This poor guy was lying on the floor because of the pain, 6 hours there and the emergency room doctor came in and said “ we’re not going to be able to see you for at least 5-6 hours. If you want I’ll write a prescription for pain meds so you can get some relief.” I’m thinking she never took his blood pressure, temperature. Oxygen or respiratory measurements. WOW, that’s how bad it is here. We have far more people moving in than the two hospitals can handle here. I really hope the city gets a handle on this.
Guide

I can understand. Some people, with good intentions, strive to address one situation yet create others. That was one of the first things that I was taught about troubleshooting and issue: Don't break something or create an issue, when trying to fix another. It just compound the situation. Sadly, some people don't adhere to that. Some people miss the forest because of the trees.

That is a great story. He sounds like a natural at just about everything. I hope he enjoys the outdoors as much as it seems.

Don't worry about writing too much. I thought it was just enough to give most of us the visual picture we needed. Our resident professor emeritus, CT_Shooter can critique your post, but I think he would agree with me most likely.

I hope your bright student does what he wants and establishes a great practice.

daytime dave wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 9:23 pm

Our resident professor emeritus, CT_Shooter can critique your post, but I think he would agree with me most likely.

I hope your bright student does what he wants and establishes a great practice.

And I certainly do, Dave. You know me.

And, like you, I hope he has a happy, productive life living the (amorphous) American Dream with his newly minted US citizenship.

Sadly, though, it sounds like knowing so many of those that he's been providing medical care for have yet to find a path toward a similar opportunity has been disrupting his sleep. Reality makes it hard to keep the dream alive.

C'est la vie.