WDFW Requested Legislation: Hunter Education Introduced 1/31 BIG CHANGE

[bigtex]

WDFW has requested legislation regarding hunter education, the bill has not been formally introduced into the legislature which 2014 session began today. The bill does look very similar to the bill introduced last year. Changes are:

• Minimum age of 8 for hunter ed students
• Hunter's between the age of 8 and 14 MUST be accompanied by another licensed hunter or by someone who is at least 18 and has taken hunter's ed, UNLESS they are hunting on family property, or leased family property.. Any hunter in violation would receive a natural resource infraction (the initial bill last year said a violator would face a misdemeanor charge)
• Establish fees of up to $20 per student for hunter ed classes, and $10 for hunter ed certificate duplicates. WDFW anticipates this to generate $262,000. This fee would cover administrative costs of internet-based training, Stipends for instructors, and instructional costs.

[bobcat]

I'm not sure I agree with the under age 14 hunters being exempted from the requirement of being accompanied by a licensed hunter, if they are on their family's land.

Other than that it sounds okay.

However, I'd like to know what the definition of accompanied is.

[bigtex]

However, I'd like to know what the definition of accompanied is.

The requested law would use the definition of "accompanied" as it is used in RCW 77.32.155: "accompanied" means to go along with another person while staying within a range of the other person that permits continual unaided visual and auditory communication.

[bobcat]

You do need your card if you want to hunt in other states.

[bigtex]

No,not what I was told by the director.Once you have a wild Id number that number fallows you the rest of your life in every state.

Completely wrong. I hunted in a rocky mountain state this year and needed my actual card. Some states allow you to show a different state's license, but some do require the physical card.

[Dhoey07]

Voted no.  What's the issue that this law would be fixing?  Are there a bunch of pre-teen hooligans out causing trouble while hunting? 
As for the 20 dollar fee, wdfw should be happy to have new hunters buying licenses, not charging more

[JLS]

s

No,not what I was told by the director.Once you have a wild Id number that number fallows you the rest of your life in every state.

Completely wrong. I hunted in a rocky mountain state this year and needed my actual card. Some states allow you to show a different state's license, but some do require the physical card.

Just for the record before I continue with this were you born before 1972 or after?

I was born after 1972 and I had to send a copy of my hunter ed card to Nevada before I could submit my applications.

[bigtex]

No,not what I was told by the director.Once you have a wild Id number that number fallows you the rest of your life in every state.

Completely wrong. I hunted in a rocky mountain state this year and needed my actual card. Some states allow you to show a different state's license, but some do require the physical card.

Just for the record before I continue with this were you born before 1972 or after?

The state I hunted in requires hunter ed for everyone born after 1949 (I'm not that old  ). So even if your from WA, born in 1960, you would still need hunter ed in that state.

[snowpack]

I'm not sure I agree with the under age 14 hunters being exempted from the requirement of being accompanied by a licensed hunter, if they are on their family's land.

Other than that it sounds okay.

However, I'd like to know what the definition of accompanied is.

Can I ask why against letting younger kids hunt without adults even on their own land?  I don't see much issue, from a couple of 10 year olds with a .410s and/or .22s out shooting grouse and rabbits to a 12 year old hunting deer from a family treestand or even an elk in the back 40 when dad is at work.

[Elkaholic daWg]

:

Voted no.  What's the issue that this law would be fixing?  Are there a bunch of pre-teen hooligans out causing trouble while hunting? 
As for the 20 dollar fee, wdfw should be happy to have new hunters buying licenses, not charging more

I'm not sure I agree with the under age 14 hunters being exempted from the requirement of being accompanied by a licensed hunter, if they are on their family's land.

Other than that it sounds okay.

However, I'd like to know what the definition of accompanied is.

Can I ask why against letting younger kids hunt without adults even on their own land?  I don't see much issue, from a couple of 10 year olds with a .410s and/or .22s out shooting grouse and rabbits to a 12 year old hunting deer from a family treestand or even an elk in the back 40 when dad is at work.

x2
 Good old Washington....Lets fix what isn't broke ........While wasting valuable time and money!

[Mongo Hunter]

• Establish fees of up to $20 per student for hunter ed classes, and $10 for hunter ed certificate duplicates. WDFW anticipates this to generate $262,000. This fee would cover administrative costs of internet-based training, Stipends for instructors, and instructional costs.

[/quote]

There is what they really want. more money for more bureaucrats. If I thought for 1 second that this would be better then whats already in play and the money would actually go to some good use I would be for it and I would even pay $50. unfortunately this is just adding more rules for more money and wont make anyone any safer. 

[bobcat]

I'm not sure I agree with the under age 14 hunters being exempted from the requirement of being accompanied by a licensed hunter, if they are on their family's land.

Other than that it sounds okay.

However, I'd like to know what the definition of accompanied is.

Can I ask why against letting younger kids hunt without adults even on their own land?  I don't see much issue, from a couple of 10 year olds with a .410s and/or .22s out shooting grouse and rabbits to a 12 year old hunting deer from a family treestand or even an elk in the back 40 when dad is at work.

I have no problem with those things you mention. The issue I have, is why those kids would be allowed to hunt unsupervised, but other kids could not. It's unfair. (And that's why I voted no in the poll)

[pianoman9701]

Voted no.  What's the issue that this law would be fixing?  Are there a bunch of pre-teen hooligans out causing trouble while hunting? 
As for the 20 dollar fee, wdfw should be happy to have new hunters buying licenses, not charging more

As a hunter Ed instructor I can tell you that the $20 fee would address the large number of no-shows for the classes. As much as 40-50% sometimes don't show and that's with a ton of people being turned away.

I also don't have a problem with any of the age requirements. I have yet to teach a child under 8 who's passed and kids under 14 don't have a lot of experience. If something unexpected happens, they'll be able to glean off the experience of the adult. I like it.

[Mongo Hunter]

The workers are volunteers,the ranges are donated for the cause,But the ammo cost,and the paperwork cost,so I can see a fee of some kind,and as I stated before its forever,one time deal.

Hunters ED was $6 when I took it as well as my wife. they did pretty good for only $6 a person. and how are we supposed to catch all these 14 year olds supposedly running around by themselves hunting? we cant enforce the rules we already have!

[Dhoey07]

The workers are volunteers,the ranges are donated for the cause,But the ammo cost,and the paperwork cost,so I can see a fee of some kind,and as I stated before its forever,one time deal.

The first time someone buys a hunting license, the state makes their 20 bucks.