An instructor sure pissed me off today!

[Atroxus]

I too had to drive quite a ways to my hunters education class. I wasn't sure of the area, so I left way early and ended up finding it easily so I sat there for like 2 hours before the class started. In general I try to be early rather than late. That said, I also know that sometimes *censored* happens, and even the best laid plans can go awry. With as fast as hunter's ed classes fill up, and how hard it is to find a class this late in the year, I don't think it's unreasonable to make small allowances for people who are a little late. If I was teaching, I wouldn't go back over missed material for someone who was late. If they can pass the exam without the material they missed cool, if not, then they learned for next year to show up early. But I still think it is a dick move to tell people they are SOL because they were 15 minutes or less late. 

[CoryTDF]

I dont have time to read this whole thing so if this has been said before sorry. But why not just contact WDFW and get her the one year waiver. She can hunt as long as she is with you and that will give you plenty of time to get her qual done by next season.

I HATE when people are late but also things happen it's a fine line and somtimes has some grey areas.

My GPS got me lost as hell in Seattle once for about 20 min. It kept telling me to turn down one way streets going the wrong way. I hate them! I am almost never late but it happens. Personaly if i was the instructor i would have let you in but i believe in the bigger picture if more of us are hunters the stronger our voice is. And really if you are one of those habitualy late people thats fine I know you will never beat me to the duck blind.

Yes I was in the ARMY for 6 years I undrstand being on time. But this is not basic training. Not everybody is cut out to deal with that type of structure. Dont fault them for it.

[predatorpro]

lol thanks for everyone that isnt a nazi on here! i guess next time ill just post on here for someone to watch out kid at 5 in the morning! you will have to leave ateast one in the morning from seattle to get here in time cuz you will need to give yourself time in case of many variables in life! i like how many mr.obvious there are on here "you should have left earlier" well duh! if i knew the gps was gonna ruin our day then i obviously wouldnt have used it would! i am not lazy or a procrastinator! i have worked my ass my whole life and am always 15 to 20 minutes early to work! i dont like to be late just as much as the next person! i dont need a lesson tought to me like some of you say, i know this doesnt do any good for some of the nazis on here but i know you wouldnt like it if you got told to pack sand after you tried to get there on time and because some bad circumstances you really had no control over at the moment you were late, but oh thats right! you nazis are perfect and would have already known you were going to take a wrong turn and would have just magically turned back the clock 10 more minutes in the morning!
we werent even 15 minutes late! it had barely hit 8:10 by the time we made it to the door on foot! 

[vandeman17]

I was actually at the class with my old lady for her hunter ed. We were about 5 minutes early luckily! I was pretty shocked as well when he said that he was going to turn away anyone that was late. There were a few groups after you that were also turned away. He started out the class by saying how he has no problem failing people and that he wasn't going to be easy on them etc. We were also under the impression that we were going to find out if they passed or failed at the end but when it ended, he said we would get stuff mailed to us because he had to leave for a scouting trip to montana! 

[Atroxus]

I was actually at the class with my old lady for her hunter ed. We were about 5 minutes early luckily! I was pretty shocked as well when he said that he was going to turn away anyone that was late. There were a few groups after you that were also turned away. He started out the class by saying how he has no problem failing people and that he wasn't going to be easy on them etc. We were also under the impression that we were going to find out if they passed or failed at the end but when it ended, he said we would get stuff mailed to us because he had to leave for a scouting trip to montana! 

Wow, sounds like he just was just in a hurry to rush through the class so he could go do other stuff. I guess I was lucky, in my class the instructors graded our exams and let us all know how we did before we left.  I am pretty sure they would have liked to get out sooner too as it was an evening class, but they never made us feel rushed and even stayed late to answer questions from newbs like me with questions about things that weren't covered in class. I would definitely complain about that instructor. IMO he should have either scheduled his scouting trip to leave more time to do right by his class, or tried to find an alternative solution for the class, like rescheduling or finding another instructor to fill in.

[vandeman17]

He was a hard @$$ for sure! We are both 29 and he even intimidated us so I can't even imagine what it would have been like for a younger kid. I was pretty surprised at some of the things he was talking about.

[Atroxus]

Now this topic has me considering getting certified as a hunter's education instructor. If I understand the info on the WDFW site you only have to teach 1 class a year to maintain certification. There is a section that has me concerned though.

The work of the hunter education instructor is demanding, the pay is lousy (as in non-existent!) and the hours are often long and inconvenient. Instructors love their work not because of any material rewards or benefits, but because they know they are contributing in some small way to the future of hunting. If you like a challenge, aren't afraid of hard work and see yourself as a good team player, we want to hear from you soon!

This seems to give the impression that scheduling isn't very flexible. Any of the current instructors care to weigh in on how classes are scheduled and such? If an instructor is only available for teaching certain dates does WDFW allow them to work within their individual availability, or is it just a matter of WDFW saying "We need instructor's available these dates."?

[winshooter88]

The instructors set their own class dates and then submit them to the WDFW to be set up on the class schedule. Also instructors class used to be one weekend, from what I hear it now takes most people at least a month to pass the instructor training. Then you have to teach with a experienced instructor before you can start your own class.

[vandeman17]

The instructors set their own class dates and then submit them to the WDFW to be set up on the class schedule. Also instructors class used to be one weekend, from what I hear it now takes most people at least a month to pass the instructor training. Then you have to teach with a experienced instructor before you can start your own class.

He actually mentioned that they wanted him to teach one in september and one in october. It was his choice of the dates

[winshooter88]

WDFW can request when they would like to see classes put on, but it is up to the instructors if they do the classes when the WDFW wants them.

[Atroxus]

Cool, I'll have to look into it more and give it some more thought. I am still a newb hunter myself, but the class seems to be more about general safety, and conservation concepts than about actually how to hunt so maybe I could do it.  I know my area is always light on hunter's ed classes, which is why I had to drive out to BFE when I took my class.

[predatorpro]

ok last post on this for me...i never once said i was entitled or my wife was to get what we want cuz we werent there on time, i like how people try to make me out as a spoiled little brat who throws a fit when i dont get what i want...i never said it wasnt his right to tell us no, his attitude towards us when he told us is what made me the most mad he came out there with a big ol *censored* eating grin and told us we cant come in....i dont know what its like to be like some of you on here like your just gods gift to the earth...for some reason i seriously doubt you are that amazing...but i could be wrong...even tho some of you post on here all the time about how much better you are than everyone else....good luck in life! maybe some day ill run in to you on the side of the road with a broken truck and ill just have to tell you with a big grin on my face! "well i guess you should brought the right tool to fix that! hope you learned your lesson!" while i leave you there!

[Cap.Silver]

Predatorpro I think you're crossing a fine line here ........nothing until now was IMHO said with feel of revenge

[supermatt9]

Not sure why 10 minutes late was such a big deal to this instructor. The first 10 minutes of most meetings I've been to have been a waste of my time. They were probably still in the middle of the great time wasting activity of "let's go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves". Man I hate it when instructors do that.

[gotshot]

Sorry, after re-reading your post I see she was just there for field evaluation. There is plenty of leeway on that day. I agree he was a little harsh.