What is the purpose of the AHE program?

[Guns4Fun]

I am wondering what the purpose of the AHE program is? It used to be for private property/crop damage issues but over the years I have seen this program be put on hold for numerous violations by the AHE Hunters. Now it seems more like a private hunting club for approx 1300 people. Do you think we should all be able to hunt State and Federal Lands or should it only be for the select few AHE Hunters. ( i.e Pumice Plains Tag at Mt. Saint Helens.)

[woodswalker]

The AHE underwent a massive re-org recently and morphed into the Master Hunter program due in part to the mis-deeds of some of the AHE folks.  There is a heavy emphasis on eithics, in response to some of the egregious violations from the AHE days.

The purpose of Master Hunter Program as it is stated on WDFW website is;

The Master Hunter program is designed to promote responsible hunting. In addition to training, the program emphasizes safe, lawful and ethical hunting priorities while upholding the highest standards. The program offers an opportunity for conscientious, committed hunters who care about the future of hunting to assume a leadership role among their peers. Through their knowledge and conduct in the field, Master Hunters play a key role in improving relationships with landowners, thus ensuring continued hunter access to private lands.

Benefits
Individuals who successfully complete the Master Hunter program receive a patch as recognition of their accomplishments. A personalized Master Hunter card with the person's name, Master Hunter number, issue date, and renewal date will also be provided. Master Hunters are eligible to participate in special hunts aimed at reducing property damage and/or public safety problems posed by wildlife. Special hunt opportunities vary from year to year, and may include elk, deer and turkey hunts in designated areas throughout Washington.

Training and certification
Those enrolling in the Master Hunter program should be motivated by a genuine desire to learn and model a high level of hunting knowledge and skill. Training is offered through independent study, offering maximum flexibility for candidates.

To become a certified Master Hunter, each applicant is required to:

Demonstrate proficiency with a bow, handgun, muzzleloader, rifle or shotgun.
Provide at least 20 hours of volunteer service on a project benefiting state wildlife resources.
Attend Crime Observation and Reporting Training (CORT).
Receive a score of at least 80 percent on a written examination, based on provided independent-study materials.
Submit to a law enforcement background check.
Sign an agreement to abide by the Master Hunter code of ethics.
All program requirements must be completed within nine months from the date of enrollment.

[ghgetter]

I did it last year. The new program puts more emphasis on ethics than I would have ever thought, not saying that there arent still the bad apples. There is no doubt that one of the main goals in this program is to come up with volunteer hours but I did it because I love to hunt and help...best of both worlds when it comes with a reward. The program is totally re-worked, whether it works or not is yet to be seen. There is such a strict "no violation" policy that you can get thrown out for not having your vehicle use permit visible, I am sure the appeal process will be tested a time or two as well. I really dont think this will take the same path as the AHE program did or the "Master Poachers" as the gamies call it.

Who knows if becasue of doing this I will ever shoot another animal that I might not have had I not done the course but it really is a lot of work. There has to be some upside to the amount of service and study hours that go into the program.

[Dave Workman]

Submit to a law enforcement background check?

To go hunting?


What kind of nonsense is that? 
Never been impressed with this kind of thing, as it seems to ultimately lead to, as someone else put it, the creation of an exclusive hunting club for a handful of people.

There are those who believe such programs are ultimately designed to create exclusivity for good hunting opportunities as opposed to a chance to hike through the woods with a gun, or sit around the campfire with a rifle nearby.  Short version: a caste system. 

I have good friends who have taken this program or are planning to. Opinions vary on how beneficial this is to wildlife, and whether it does anything to protect and enhance hunting opportunities for everyone.

[ghgetter]

Submit to a law enforcement background check?

To go hunting?


What kind of nonsense is that? 
Never been impressed with this kind of thing, as it seems to ultimately lead to, as someone else put it, the creation of an exclusive hunting club for a handful of people.

There are those who believe such programs are ultimately designed to create exclusivity for good hunting opportunities as opposed to a chance to hike through the woods with a gun, or sit around the campfire with a rifle nearby.  Short version: a caste system. 

I have good friends who have taken this program or are planning to. Opinions vary on how beneficial this is to wildlife, and whether it does anything to protect and enhance hunting opportunities for everyone.

I think you have to look at why this program was created. It was not created to be beneficial to wildlife or protect and enhance hunting oppurtunities for everyone. It was created to

"promote responsible hunting. In addition to training, the program emphasizes safe, lawful and ethical hunting priorities while upholding the highest standards. The program offers an opportunity for conscientious, committed hunters who care about the future of hunting to assume a leadership role among their peers. Through their knowledge and conduct in the field, Master Hunters play a key role in improving relationships with landowners, thus ensuring continued hunter access to private lands."

This is an open program, anyone can join so to say that its to form an exclusive hunting club doesnt make any sense to me. Again, I am not saying that this is giong to work or not, BUT if it even has the slightest positive impact on the general publics eyes in regards to hunting, in my opinion thats a win.

[colockumelk]

I think that the Master Hunter Program at least in Kittitats is misused and is a bandaid quick fix for a broken leg.  The point of the program is to prevent elk from damaging the hay farms.  They are allowed to kill two cows during the year.  Meanwhile it's one of the only areas where you can't harvest cows with a bow (true spike only) ML don't even have a season and the rifle guys aren't given any cow permits.  Does this sound fair?  I think it's created two classes of hunters.

The purpose as far as I have read it is to promote ethical hunting and give us "common" hunters a good image.  A good image to who?  Most non-hunters could not tell the difference and in any case if a non-hunter were to see a guy with a rifle resting on the hood of his truck and shooting a cow in some guys field how does that promote a good image of hunters?

The other purpose is to help prevent damage to farmers fields.  In this instance it is a poor solution to a problem that could much more easily be fixed.  In most areas that have elk herds that I know of they have elk fences to prevent the elk from getting to the free ways and into farmers fields.  The Colockum is the only elk area I know of that lacks elk fences.  According to the WDFW they receive on average of $33K worth of damage claims from hay farmers.  I see cattle grazing in farmers hay fields all the time in the late fall and winter.  So answer me this how do elk cause so much "damage" to hay fields yet cattle don't?  I have two crazy ideas to solve this problem instead of using the advance hunter guys which obviously is not working.

Crazy idea #1.  Instead of giving out thousands of dollars to the hay farmers why don't you take that money and build some elk fences so you don't have to pay out every year.

Crazy idea #2.  Tell the hay farmers since they border a wild area that have wild animals than they need to suck it up and pay for it themselves and if they don't like it then they should build an ELK FENCE THEMSELVES.  After all the elk were there before they were.  When a gopher this summer ruined a part of my lawn I didn't run to the WDFW crying about how they owe me money. 

It might be somewhat expensive to build an elk fence but within 5 years it would pay for itself by not having to pay damages any more.  And it would be free if they made the hay farmers take responsibility and take care of it themselves.  Maybe make it so that the farmers that do build their own elk fences are the only ones who could qualify for damages. 

Crazy idea #3.  If the purpose of the MH program is to keep the elk from damaging crops then how come their area goes way past the hay fields up into the Colockum?  If this is the purpose than the only elk that should be taken are the ones on the hay fields themselves.  In this case these problem elk should be taken by Disabled Hunters.  Elk country is tough so the chance for a guy on a wheel chair to get an elk in a hay field would be much more acceptable to many especially non-hunters than a guy who is perfectly cable of hiking the mountains. 

Just my .  I am not against any individual who is a MH.  I just don't agree with the MH program.  Mostly I am against the WDFW and their inability to once again solve a problem.  Instead their solution has nothing to do with the real problem.  I don't want to seem like this is a Master Hunter versus Common Hunter sort of thing.  We need to all stick together against the WDFW and force them to be accountable in properly managing game.  If they can't do that then they need to be fired and bring someone in that can properly do the job.   

[MADMAX]

Sometimes I don't understand the WDFW, I make the mistake , yes my mistake, of not renewing my AHE in a timely manner, I honestly don't often check my little card in my wallet.
I noticed it this time in Dec because I was going to go shoot a whitetail doe on one of the AHE hunts on the eastside.

I contact the office in Olympia and they tell me I need to retake the enitire course, I tell them I have been AHE since 1996, nope sorry full course or your out of the program, "we are not required to notify you of your expiration date"

So my post is this, I think it is  good program but I'm not doing the entire course, test, shooting and volunteer work again.
I am out of it after 13 years
I sent in my background check info and all the requisites up to date as requested, I just honked up, so a word to the wise.

[colockumelk]

I think in the beginning the idea was sound but they way it is being used now isn't.  I can't speak for all over but in the Colockum at least, using it as a management tool has completely failed and is a waste of time and resources. Also it has created two classes of hunters against each other, and instead of standing together once again the state of WA has begun to pit one hunter against another.  It should be done away with in the Colockum area.