Hunters safety

[Greyhawk]

Well, I'm old enough to have never had to take a hunters safety course in order to purchase hunting licenses in Minnesota. Although I have never taken the course I have worked with my 4 kids and have helped them get their certifications. Well now it's my turn. In Minnesota, kids (and sometimes adults) take their hunters safety on-line and then go to a field day in order to prove their knowledge. I am going to be more and more involved in helping/teaching with the Hunter's Field Days and I thought that I should probably take the online course and get my own hunters safety certification before I try and help others get theirs! As an adult I can take a 'virtual' field day on-line, instead of going to the 'real' field day.... It will be interesting to see what that is like!

[GFK]

The online course that I took offered a baseline for basic gun safety and hunting. I found it informative. I had not been hunting previously. But, I have had some experience with firearms safety and certifications. The field test included, identifying parts of a long gun, selection of ammo, basic handling of a long gun when hunting with others, what is a clean shot or not (props were used), and live firing of a shotgun at water jugs. Enough though it covered the fundamentals, a person should practice more before going into the field. Here, most hunting is done on public lands. So, you will probably be in the field with people you have never seen before. However, I would recommend the course for everyone. But, that is me. I think that I can always learn something new.

[markiver54]

Kudos GH, go for it.
GFK, good for you as well. Safety should be an involuntary skill!

[Team Roper]

Hunters are often far from any medical assistants so a good hunting safety course is certainly a very good idea, even for us old timers that never had to go through one. Good for you GH.

[Vaquero]

Old enough here also, that I've never been required to take it.
Been shooting and hunting all my adult life.
I do know that if you want to hunt in some other states,
it doesn't matter how old you are you must take the course.

RP

[GunnyGene]

My first "hunting" course was when I was 18. It was 6 weeks long and conducted at Camp Pendleton, CA in 1963. Besides the M1, it included the following firearms and techniques, and every day was a field day with many short (3-10 mile) hikes and camp outs.

[GFK]

Gunny, that's one type of hunting that is not enjoyable. But, it is what it is.

Then again, the first Marine that I did shore patrol with told me that was why he joined the Marines, "To shoot people legally." I replied, "You know that they shoot back?"

[GunnyGene]

Gunny, that's one type of hunting that is not enjoyable. But, it is what it is.

Then again, the first Marine that I did shore patrol with told me that was why he joined the Marines, "To shoot people legally." I replied, "You know that they shoot back?"

That's not entirely true. Only some of them shoot back.

[Hatchdog]

Due to my age and the laws “back then” I have never taken a Hunter Safety course but I attended one with my son. This was back in the late 90’s sometime and is was one of the best weeks of my life. The course took place at a local farm and the presentation was incredible. It was around 3-4 hours per night for five consecutive nights. Since it was at a farm the field shooting part of the course took place daily. The course was geared more to shotgun hunting and the attendees were required to bring 100 shot shells. They shot at launched clay birds and on the last day a local dog handler brought this dogs and live pigeons which were released with the dogs present. I do have to brag a little as my son was the only kid to hit a live pigeon.

The course included walking with guns in the field, crossing fences and entering and exiting a Jeep. It also covered shotguns, rifles, handguns and black powder. The kids had the opportunity to shoot every type of firearm. Also covered was ammo and reloading. Every night ended with discussion around a campfire. Incredible!

Good for you who dedicate time to teaching the next generation of hunters and thank you!!!

[GFK]

Gunny, that's one type of hunting that is not enjoyable. But, it is what it is.

Then again, the first Marine that I did shore patrol with told me that was why he joined the Marines, "To shoot people legally." I replied, "You know that they shoot back?"

That's not entirely true. Only some of them shoot back.

Yes. But, all it takes is one.

[GunnyGene]

Gunny, that's one type of hunting that is not enjoyable. But, it is what it is.

Then again, the first Marine that I did shore patrol with told me that was why he joined the Marines, "To shoot people legally." I replied, "You know that they shoot back?"

That's not entirely true. Only some of them shoot back.

Yes. But, all it takes is one.

Which is why we were paid the big bucks. Besides, that made it more interesting.

[GFK]

That's not entirely true. Only some of them shoot back.

Yes. But, all it takes is one.

Which is why we were paid the big bucks. Besides, that made it more interesting.

I will state that nothing is wrong with giving one's life for a just cause.

[markiver54]

"To shoot people legally."

That is rather disturbing.

[GFK]

"To shoot people legally."

That is rather disturbing.

I can understand. That may not be some thought. And, I did not condone his comment. But, it is what the job boils down to. The basic mission of the military is to kill or be killed. When I do speak to people about the military, I point out that all jobs are in support of that effort. I been told that I would not make a good recruiter. But, I figure that people should be reminded of what they are getting into.

[markiver54]

Was nothing at all directed at you GFK. The other guy said it.
All I was imagining was his desire by that comment, to kill people, so it seems.
Sorry this thread got off track. I DO honor all who served.
As to hunter safety, my son and I were required to take a course many years ago when living on the east coast.

[GFK]

Was nothing at all directed at you GFK. The other guy said it.
All I was imagining was his desire by that comment, to kill people, so it seems.
Sorry this thread got off track. I DO honor all who served.
As to hunter safety, my son and I were required to take a course many years ago when living on the east coast.

None taken. The comment took me off guard as well. Yes, we have gotten off track. But, Gunny has a sense of humor. I take that he was referring to the ultimate hunting course. Yet for deer hunting, the basic hunting safety course will work. For me, it was helpful. Even included basic hunting skills, which covered field dressing. It was no cost, until you take the final test. So, one could complete the course for free but not be considered certified until the final was completed.

https://www.hunter-ed.com

[GunnyGene]

Was nothing at all directed at you GFK. The other guy said it.
All I was imagining was his desire by that comment, to kill people, so it seems.
Sorry this thread got off track. I DO honor all who served.
As to hunter safety, my son and I were required to take a course many years ago when living on the east coast.

None taken. The comment took me off guard as well. Yes, we have gotten off track. But, Gunny has a sense of humor. I take that he was referring to the ultimate hunting course. Yet for deer hunting, the basic hunting safety course will work. For me, it was helpful. Even included basic hunting skills, which covered field dressing. It was no cost, until you take the final test. So, one could complete the course for free but not be considered certified until the final was completed.

https://www.hunter-ed.com

You're right, but my wife of 50 years has yet to get used to some of my sense of humor.

That aside, there remains a considerable body of skills that are easily transferred between hunting deer and other critters, and the most dangerous game. Primarily in small unit and sniper tactics and skills. They don't diverge much until after the kill/capture is made.

Re; your previous comment about understanding what your getting into, I agree with you. There are some who do understand, usually those who had a Father or other close relatives who had "been there, done that", and survived to tell about it. But there are many who do not, or cannot, accept that fundamental truth and sometimes suffer psychologically when confronted with it.

[JEBar]

Due to my age and the laws “back then” I have never taken a Hunter Safety course but I attended one with my son.

I'm in that group as well .... I was "grandfathered" when NC instituted the Hunter Safety courses .... when our oldest son was ready to start hunting I attended the class with him .... it was a 2 day course, first day all classroom, second day mostly on a rifle range (mostly 22LR) .... a year later when our youngest son was eligible to take the class, my wife attended with him .... both boys hunted with me before they were old enough to take the course .... while there may have been some, I don't recall any kids being there without a parent .... I do remember being impressed at the level of instruction and strongly support requiring new hunters having to take it

[CT_Shooter]

I took the Hunter Safety Course in the Fall of 2014, shortly after I got my first CT firearms permit. There was a prerequisite online instruction and test, followed by in-person instruction, demonstrations, and the mandated final written test; then field demonstrations and individual performance evaluations, including loading and firing a .22 rifle.

It is still required to obtain a CT firearms hunting license, but has recently been modified to comply with various Covid-19 precautions. In my opinion, it was comprehensive and very rewarding and, though I haven't hunted yet, I still regularly obtain a license each year.

[Greyhawk]

Due to my age and the laws “back then” I have never taken a Hunter Safety course but I attended one with my son. This was back in the late 90’s sometime and is was one of the best weeks of my life. The course took place at a local farm and the presentation was incredible. It was around 3-4 hours per night for five consecutive nights. Since it was at a farm the field shooting part of the course took place daily. The course was geared more to shotgun hunting and the attendees were required to bring 100 shot shells. They shot at launched clay birds and on the last day a local dog handler brought this dogs and live pigeons which were released with the dogs present. I do have to brag a little as my son was the only kid to hit a live pigeon.

The course included walking with guns in the field, crossing fences and entering and exiting a Jeep. It also covered shotguns, rifles, handguns and black powder. The kids had the opportunity to shoot every type of firearm. Also covered was ammo and reloading. Every night ended with discussion around a campfire. Incredible!

Good for you who dedicate time to teaching the next generation of hunters and thank you!!!

Man! What a great experience! Today's hunter's safety courses are nothing like that. You guys were fortunate. Most of the hunters safety courses that I have gone with my kids through were pretty boring, and the instructors were just trying to get it done.. although the one that my oldest daughter went through was pretty top notch.