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

[BIGINNER]

People have "new law fatigue",  so even good bill with good intentions is going to face heavy scrutiny and nay saying.

how is this a good bill?  its absolutely pointless,... (ok, the fee might have a small point only In certain areas,... but still too high),
but this bill is obviously targeting new hunters

[Bob33]

The fee will help more people get certified, less people no-show. I don't see the big deal here. It's a one-time $20 expense to get a certification that allows you to hunt for life. Regardless of whether it goes through the state or not, the hunter ed teachers will have that money to use. AND, it'll mean that there's no accounting at the end of the year for monies taken in and spent out, which eliminates the opportunity for abuse.

+1 to all points. If someone can't afford a one time fee of $20 for 16 hours of volunteer instruction that certifies them for life, I really don't see how they will be able to do much hunting.

also if you can't afford $30 for a discover pass, and a forest pass, and a F^^&ing chipmunk pass,......   get my drift.....

Yes, but the other passes are annual. $20 for a lifetime certification is reasonable. Most programs are already charging at least $5. I can guarantee two things: (1) 95%+ of the students in classes regularly spend far more than $20 on things of far less value, and (2) if there is someone who legitimately can't afford $20, most every instructor in the state would accommodate him.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Point number two is probably coming to light because of hunting accidents, and deaths. I believe it's hard to regulate across the board an age for youth hunters, but 14 seems young for some kids, but others would do fine. Remember we had a hunting death not to long ago during bear season two youths older than 14 hunting together and a hiker was killed.

I know when my son was able to drive and hunt with his friend I was always nervous about it even though he was really mature for his age.

I might be wrong, but I think those guys were in their 20's

plus I believe there are ALOT more hunting accidents caused by adults than kids

Nope happened in my town, was over 18 the other was under.

[pianoman9701]

People have "new law fatigue",  so even good bill with good intentions is going to face heavy scrutiny and nay saying.

how is this a good bill?  its absolutely pointless,... (ok, the fee might have a small point only In certain areas,... but still too high),
but this bill is obviously targeting new hunters

You've heard the reasoning and a lot of it, from hunter ed instructors. You don't have to agree, but it's not pointless. There is a point being made and that point ISN'T let's screw the new guys.

[BIGINNER]

Point number two is probably coming to light because of hunting accidents, and deaths. I believe it's hard to regulate across the board an age for youth hunters, but 14 seems young for some kids, but others would do fine. Remember we had a hunting death not to long ago during bear season two youths older than 14 hunting together and a hiker was killed.

I know when my son was able to drive and hunt with his friend I was always nervous about it even though he was really mature for his age.

I might be wrong, but I think those guys were in their 20's

plus I believe there are ALOT more hunting accidents caused by adults than kids

I guess that's possible but I'd like to see stats on that. Plus, it's not just about hunting accidents involving firearms. It's about getting used to the woods and Mother Nature, animal interactions, dealing with mechanical injuries. There's a lot of stuff that can happen which is beyond most under-14s. My 

you're not gonna see a stat on that,  that's why I said I "believe".    just from my memory from the past 5 or so years, I only remember maybe 1 hunting accident that involved a kid, other than that,... its all older hunters.  maybe we should put a maximum age limit on hunters as well?

I personally wouldn't let my kid go hunting without adult supervision, but it should be the parents call, not the states call. 

[Mongo Hunter]

The fee will help more people get certified, less people no-show. I don't see the big deal here. It's a one-time $20 expense to get a certification that allows you to hunt for life. Regardless of whether it goes through the state or not, the hunter ed teachers will have that money to use. AND, it'll mean that there's no accounting at the end of the year for monies taken in and spent out, which eliminates the opportunity for abuse.

Money through the government NEVER goes where its supposed to. this bill is supposed to raise about $250,000? so $150,000 for the administrators, $90,000 for their secretary's and $10,000 for pens...yep sounds like a good bill

[BIGINNER]

People have "new law fatigue",  so even good bill with good intentions is going to face heavy scrutiny and nay saying.

how is this a good bill?  its absolutely pointless,... (ok, the fee might have a small point only In certain areas,... but still too high),
but this bill is obviously targeting new hunters

You've heard the reasoning and a lot of it, from hunter ed instructors. You don't have to agree, but it's not pointless. There is a point being made and that point ISN'T let's screw the new guys.

from 1 instructor,....?

[Bob33]

The age groups with the most firearm relating hunting incidents are 10 to 29 years old. Very few incidents happen with very young children, because they're almost always supervised.

A 14 year old is another story.

[fair-chase]

Nope happened in my town, was over 18 the other was under.

So admittedly, this law would have done absolutely NOTHING to stop that. As they were already hunting with a partner and one of those partners was over 18. 

[pianoman9701]

Beginner makes a great point,what say you pianoman,how many kids do the hunter safety volunteers get in the program because the parents are not into it or wont pay for it?But the instructors get them in free of cost(donation wise that is)(before this bill)to the parents because its good to have them interested in nature and hunting.

No idea and don't think it could be more than a couple. It's a $20 one-time cost. Someone who's taking up hunting will pay for a gun, ammo, boots clothing, tags, maybe a Discover Pass, vehicle, gas. If a one-time $20 donation is too much, they can't afford the rest. And, you can't tell me that an enterprising young kid can't find $20 if they want something bad enough.

[BIGINNER]

People have "new law fatigue",  so even good bill with good intentions is going to face heavy scrutiny and nay saying.

how is this a good bill?  its absolutely pointless,... (ok, the fee might have a small point only In certain areas,... but still too high),
but this bill is obviously targeting new hunters

You've heard the reasoning and a lot of it, from hunter ed instructors. You don't have to agree, but it's not pointless. There is a point being made and that point ISN'T let's screw the new guys.

nope,.... its loud and clear,.. LETS SCREW THE NEW GUY!!     seriously, I've gotten a ton of parents to get their kids through hunter's safety just because it was a measly $5 for the class.  they wouldn't have taken the class if it was $20. 

[bobcat]

When I was a kid, the minimum age to hunt without supervision was 14. It didn't seem to be an issue then. It didn't affect me much since I had no way to get to a place to hunt anyway.

But I still can't agree with the way this bill is written. First, there shouldn't be any exemptions. Second, the adult accompanying the child should not be required to have a license.

[pianoman9701]

People have "new law fatigue",  so even good bill with good intentions is going to face heavy scrutiny and nay saying.

how is this a good bill?  its absolutely pointless,... (ok, the fee might have a small point only In certain areas,... but still too high),
but this bill is obviously targeting new hunters

You've heard the reasoning and a lot of it, from hunter ed instructors. You don't have to agree, but it's not pointless. There is a point being made and that point ISN'T let's screw the new guys.

nope,.... its loud and clear,.. LETS SCREW THE NEW GUY!!     seriously, I've gotten a ton of parents to get their kids through hunter's safety just because it was a measly $5 for the class.  they wouldn't have taken the class if it was $20.

Then they need to be better parents. Just sayin', Biginner.

[BIGINNER]

Beginner makes a great point,what say you pianoman,how many kids do the hunter safety volunteers get in the program because the parents are not into it or wont pay for it?But the instructors get them in free of cost(donation wise that is)(before this bill)to the parents because its good to have them interested in nature and hunting.

No idea and don't think it could be more than a couple. It's a $20 one-time cost. Someone who's taking up hunting will pay for a gun, ammo, boots clothing, tags, maybe a Discover Pass, vehicle, gas. If a one-time $20 donation is too much, they can't afford the rest. And, you can't tell me that an enterprising young kid can't find $20 if they want something bad enough.

enterprising young kid

    whats that? 

[Mongo Hunter]

Beginner makes a great point,what say you pianoman,how many kids do the hunter safety volunteers get in the program because the parents are not into it or wont pay for it?But the instructors get them in free of cost(donation wise that is)(before this bill)to the parents because its good to have them interested in nature and hunting.

No idea and don't think it could be more than a couple. It's a $20 one-time cost. Someone who's taking up hunting will pay for a gun, ammo, boots clothing, tags, maybe a Discover Pass, vehicle, gas. If a one-time $20 donation is too much, they can't afford the rest. And, you can't tell me that an enterprising young kid can't find $20 if they want something bad enough.

For me its not the amount its the fact that the government is requiring it and it will go through them. its $20 this time and next time its $40 then $60 then $80 because they will have the exact same problems and no solutions just more people to pay for that do NOTHING!

If a private hunters ed school needs to raise the cost then fine do it without the government.