Hunter's Safety Course


onlyprettier22

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I'm taking my course online since I already know more than most newcomer hunters thanks to my hubby. I was thinking, a refresher course for some might be a good thing. There's really a lot of info in these courses that hunters disregard or look-over completely. Sometimes its good to stop and think before you hunt in case your missing something big or small!

Just a friendly reminder or food for thought :)

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Safety is important, feel pretty good about how I have brought my kids up so far, but never hurts to have a class. Most states now allow the online course, timewise it is better than sitting all day for a couple days. Took the 2 day class with my oldest daughter(16) about 7 years ago at a church near our kids schools, was a real good class and probably had a bit more info/content than any online course and some real good opportunities to hear q&a with our state wildlife folks. My 11 year old will probably take it real soon, wife has never had the class, thinking they will take it together, BUT state law here does not require them to have it since they hunt our farm.

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I have sat through Hunter ed 5x. One time alone for myself in 1986, then with each of my 3 sons, and once with a friend.

Safety is paramount when carrying weapons and climbing trees. Get yourself a good harness if you will be hunting out of trees and take nothing for granted.

Above all. Have fun.

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Just finished the "How to be an Ethical and Responsible" section and read this:

Then there are ethical issues that are just between the hunter and nature. For example, an animal appears beyond a hunter’s effective range for a clean kill. Should the hunter take the shot anyway and hope to get lucky? Ethical hunters would say no.

[h=2]The Hunter's Ethical Code[/h]As Aldo Leopold, the “father of wildlife management,” once said, “Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching—even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

The ethical code hunters use today has been developed by sportsmen over time. Most hunting organizations agree that responsible hunters do the following.

  • Respect natural resources
  • Respect other hunters
  • Respect landowners
  • Respect non-hunters

Couldn't have said it better myself!! I think things like this get forgotten and a refresher course is in order for some hunters.

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As Aldo Leopold, the “father of wildlife management,” once said, “Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching—even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

Guessing that is probably part of every hunter safety course. Really seems like it goes hand in hand with the "golden rule" and applies to pretty well life in general and not just to hunting.

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I did an online course the other night. it didnt take that long considering i skimmed over everything and touched up on it. got the class room portion on saturday morning. should be fun class is a full one 75 people. so glad to see this number. intriducing kids the right way is essential for the growth of this amazing way of life.

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535 - that is good news to hear! The hubby and I are both taking one soon and hoping to see lots of young people there as well :) I definitely agree that introducing kids to the sport is a great way for them to grow up with a piece of heritage as well as bonding with family and friends that they can hunt with! I know my future children will be hunters!

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535 - I know my future children will be hunters!

One thing you can prepare for then is to see if your state offers lifetime hunting licenses. They are usually much cheaper when purchased before the children get up in age. Like 5 and under here in NY is like $250. Then from 6-9 they are like $500 and after 9, you pay the adult price of $750. These are lifetime hunting licenses that will keep on giving for a lifetime.

Something you and your husband should consider. I bought them for my 3 sons when they were born. Now they are grown up and thank me each season because they are immune from tag price increases and their seasonal tags come in the mail.

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If you have a really great mentor, that is about the best you can hope for.

Hunting for me falls into the following phases --

- practice, especially with archery gear, but also shooting

- preparation, getting all your gear ready for hiking and camping

- scouting, which is the key to success

- getting an early start, on Thursday before opening weekend

- caution, wearing snake gaiters, and watching where you step

- following the rules and obeying the laws, or else you become the outlaw on the game warden shows on tv

- getting the game meat on ice as fast as you can

- game meat care and proper handling.

Here on the California coast we have already gone though our archery season and are now well into coastal rifle for deer. On private and semi-private lands the herds are healthy and numerous here.

On public lands the deer seem to be stressed and in low numbers, probably due to over-hunting of the bucks, and predation by the mountain lions of the doe's and fawns.

So far there have been no hunting accidents this season that I have heard of.

Usually someone shoots themselves or a buddy somehow. You are most likely to shoot yourself with your own rifle either within your vehicle or else while crossing an obstacle.

You are next most likely to be shot by someone in your group swinging on game and hitting you instead.

Being aware of those stats, and watching yourself, is the best way to practice hunter safety.

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