Joined the instructor ranks

[Russ McDonald]

I finished training last night and now a certified hunters ed instructor.  Trained under a great group of instructors that mentored us during a class.  Now I am looking forward on helping out those that want to hunt and carry on the heritage of hunting this great land.

[Fl0und3rz]

Good on you and congratulations.

[pianoman9701]

Welcome to the club. It's a good thing you're doing for our future.

[Bob33]

Great move.

[lokidog]

Good for you. Did this for a while when I was on the mainland.

[Rainier10]

Congratulations.  It's a decision that I am happy I made.  I am excited to teach each new group of students.  I hope you get as much satisfaction out of it as I and so many others do.  It's a really important job.  With your passion for hunting I am sure you will be great at it. 

[lokidog]

Maybe it has changed, but I wish the state made it easier to be a continuing instructor.

[pianoman9701]

Loki, I think the motivation for being a Hunter Ed instructor, or any other WDFW volunteer, has to be for our love and benefit of hunting and wildlife, regardless of the chitshow within the WDFW. No personal firearms starting next year. We'll still need instructors, maybe more so.

[Rainier10]

Maybe it has changed, but I wish the state made it easier to be a continuing instructor.

Not sure what this means.  Continuing instructor?  I don't think I have heard that term before.  I have only been an instructor for 3 years however.

[bearpaw]

good on you Russ 

[WapitiTalk1]

Very cool.. congrats! 

[dmv9]

Congrats!

What's the procedure you need to follow to become an instructor?

[Bob33]

Maybe it has changed, but I wish the state made it easier to be a continuing instructor.

Not sure what this means.  Continuing instructor?  I don't think I have heard that term before.  I have only been an instructor for 3 years however.

There is a requirement to assist with at least one class per year to stay certified.

[Russ McDonald]

Congrats!

What's the procedure you need to follow to become an instructor?

Depends on where you are at in the state.  You will need contact the volunteer coordinator.  Here is the link for the rest of the info you will need.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/become_instructor.html

[Bob33]

No personal firearms starting next year.

You can still use personal firearms for classroom demonstration purposes, just not for live fire.

[D-Rock425]

I'm doing the same been helping all week with class.

[pianoman9701]

No personal firearms starting next year.

You can still use personal firearms for classroom demonstration purposes, just not for live fire.

That's what I meant. Thanks for the clarification, Bob.

[clarkw]

I finished training last night and now a certified hunters ed instructor.  Trained under a great group of instructors that mentored us during a class.  Now I am looking forward on helping out those that want to hunt and carry on the heritage of hunting this great land.

I attended class and was in your group.  It was good meeting you, and thank you for your support and recommendation of the forum!!   

[Russ McDonald]

I finished training last night and now a certified hunters ed instructor.  Trained under a great group of instructors that mentored us during a class.  Now I am looking forward on helping out those that want to hunt and carry on the heritage of hunting this great land.

I attended class and was in your group.  It was good meeting you, and thank you for your support and recommendation of the forum!!   

Awesome.  It was a pleasures meeting you.  Lots of good information and people here.  Welcome to the hunting world and to the forum.

[timberfaller]

  Russ, welcome to the club!

[lokidog]

Maybe it has changed, but I wish the state made it easier to be a continuing instructor.

Not sure what this means.  Continuing instructor?  I don't think I have heard that term before.  I have only been an instructor for 3 years however.

There is a requirement to assist with at least one class per year to stay certified.

This is the main thing, but having to travel a long ways for the inservice type training was onerous as well, especially since I really don't need to learn how to teach as I have a Masters in Teaching.

And, back then, you couldn't count your volunteer hours toward the Master Hunter Program.

[pianoman9701]

Sometimes life is crazy, Loki. I certainly understand. I don't have enough hours in every single day - my wife and I were talking about that last night. Thank you for the teaching you did. You helped a lot of people become hunters and that's huge! 

[wooltie]

At one point in time students were allow to use use an instructor's personal firearm during the live fire portion of the class--meaning the portion where students demonstrate their proficiency in shooting at a target?

I'm surprised that was allowed at all for liability purposes.

 

[iusmc2002]

At one point in time students were allow to use use an instructor's personal firearm during the live fire portion of the class--meaning the portion where students demonstrate their proficiency in shooting at a target?

I'm surprised that was allowed at all for liability purposes.

WDFW also used to have people that were allowed to reload ammo for use in the live-fire portion of the class.  I can't believe that was ever a thing.  The liability must have been huge!

[safehunter]

  Thank you for ensuring we pass it on!!  It was nice to meet you out there and remember to " Make it fun " not a burden!

[danderson]

Congratulations Russ, 15 plus years for me and I'm still learning from the students.