No Budget, No Hunter Ed AGAIN

[Bob33]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

apparently you missed that Bob33

I did miss it. Thanks.

We've been fortunate with our program to have several dedicated and qualified instructors. We tend to lose one or two a year, and pick up one or two replacements. I think we must have more instructors and classes in this part of the state because we don't tend to see the unfilled demand for classes that we did a few years ago.

[KFhunter]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

and get rid of that online crap

[pianoman9701]

Repeal the "Law" that says they HAVE to set aside $$$$$$$ for land purchases!  Then sell some of their worthless holdings back to the public!

Get their house in order PERIOD!

How does this help Hunter Ed if the budget debate shuts it down at the end of the month? 

[timberfaller]

Key word there bearpaw!  "Managed"!!    They don't have the manpower nor the intelligence to manage their lands.

You parents can thank "Risk Management" for some of your woes!!   The hunting rules minimums are 20 gauge and 243 in game hunting.   We try and accommodate little ones,   But "youth" firearms are only so small and small framed kids are still going to have problems.

They purposely made it hard to entice NEW instructor's.    I personally had 4 candidates who after seeing how much time and miles it takes to become certified, have bowed out!

I've talked till I was blue in the face about how to get new instructors but it fell on deaf ears.   Their "excuse" about the old way of doing it was "the no shows for the PST's"   $20 non-refundable!    Make it $100 Refundable, YOU cure the no-shows.  That is all it would have taken!

oh well rant over  

[Bob33]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

and get rid of that online crap

What don't you like about the "online crap"?  The students we've had come through it are almost universally well prepared.

[hunter399]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

I always like to see it improvements.The problem I have is with this.

we get more predator seasons and control.

I don't think a new hunter,or kid should be denied hunter ed over  predator seaons or how u feel about wolves or other predators or seasons ,rules,.In a way your getting more predator control by putting more future hunters in the woods we hunt , so this comment makes no sense to me.

[bearpaw]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

apparently you missed that Bob33

I did miss it. Thanks.

We've been fortunate with our program to have several dedicated and qualified instructors. We tend to lose one or two a year, and pick up one or two replacements. I think we must have more instructors and classes in this part of the state because we don't tend to see the unfilled demand for classes that we did a few years ago.

I understand HE instructors have pride in HE, I am in no way belittling the many HE instructors who volunteer their time. My hat is off to HE instructors for putting up with the whole WDFW system. I think there should be more incentives for you guys, including better permit opportunities which might also increase the number of HE instructors. I also have very few complaints about the majority of WDFW field officers, they are mostly good people doing their jobs, we need more of them.

My complaint is with WDFW management! It needs gone through, many positions could probably be eliminated, and the rest need to change their priorities or be replaced!

[bearpaw]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

I always like to see it improvements.The problem I have is with this.

we get more predator seasons and control.

I don't think a new hunter,or kid should be denied hunter ed over  predator seaons or how u feel about wolves or other predators or seasons ,rules,.In a way your getting more predator control by putting more future hunters in the woods we hunt , so this comment makes no sense to me.

My apologies, I'll try to say it more clearly. You hold back the budget until WDFW improves the HE program. Pay checks quit coming out and it would surprise you how fast the program would be improved and more available to more kids! Money is the primary thing WDFW understands!

I've got other work to do, gotta go.

[JJD]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

and get rid of that online crap

So what is your beef with the Online Courses?

[bearpaw]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

and get rid of that online crap

So what is your beef with the Online Courses?

Ok, I'll answer this before leaving, the range time! Range time needs to be far more available, that is the biggest bottle neck with online! 

[KFhunter]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

and get rid of that online crap

What don't you like about the "online crap"?  The students we've had come through it are almost universally well prepared.

Well that's heartening to hear.  Do you just focus on the range portion or do you take the time to get a little more in depth about the kids' learning?  Or since you have so many kids lined up you just do the range stuff then do the paperwork?  Wouldn't it be possible for someone else (parent) to complete the online portion and just focus on getting the kid to pass the range evaluation?

Honest question, I haven't been all the way through the range portion of an online class but I did go through the online class itself on the computer and choose to take my kid to a traditional class after seeing it.  I didn't care for the computer class.

Actually this instructor doesn't have a "traditional class" as there's bird dogs involved and some other stuff I think WDFW had to grant special permission for, so this should be a treat or sorts.  The guy is getting up there and I don't think anyone will be able to do what he does again once he quits. 

[Bob33]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

apparently you missed that Bob33

I did miss it. Thanks.

We've been fortunate with our program to have several dedicated and qualified instructors. We tend to lose one or two a year, and pick up one or two replacements. I think we must have more instructors and classes in this part of the state because we don't tend to see the unfilled demand for classes that we did a few years ago.

I understand HE instructors have pride in HE, I am in no way belittling the many HE instructors who volunteer their time. My hat is off to HE instructors for putting up with the whole WDFW system. I think there should be more incentives for you guys, including better permit opportunities which might also increase the number of HE instructors. I also have very few complaints about the majority of WDFW field officers, they are mostly good people doing their jobs, we need more of them.

My complaint is with WDFW management! It needs gone through, many positions could probably be eliminated, and the rest need to change their priorities or be replaced!

I agree with you on both counts.

I don't know of very many instructors who do it for the incentives (we do get overpaid ) but it's nice to get some recognition.

The following is an excerpt from an email I received from one of our students in a spring class this year. He and his girlfriend had never hunted, but wanted to start. He asked lots of questions in class, and continued to ask (bordering on "pester") me questions via email about turkey hunting after the class. He went turkey hunting and got his first wild animal (a turkey.)  It's things like this that makes it most rewarding:

In summary I can't stop thinking about the moment I took that shot. It changed me. I have a whole new respect for hunting. It truly is something amazing about our species. Despite being charged like a bolt of lightening I vividly remember the fractions of a second leading up to the trigger being pulled. After the shot and even the car ride back we felt like that we were indeed hunters.

Thanks again for the amazing class and all the help. It truly made a difference and made something unknown to us less intimidating.

[KFhunter]

In summary I can't stop thinking about the moment I took that shot. It changed me. I have a whole new respect for hunting. It truly is something amazing about our species. Despite being charged like a bolt of lightening I vividly remember the fractions of a second leading up to the trigger being pulled. After the shot and even the car ride back we felt like that we were indeed hunters.

Thanks again for the amazing class and all the help. It truly made a difference and made something unknown to us less intimidating.

Would you have seen a letter like this if the new hunter took an online class instead of a traditional hands on class? 
Would you have been able to make such an impact on this person?
Would you have been able to answer all those questions and developed a tutor/mentor type relationship?

and finally, without that guidance would they have even gone hunting?

[Russ McDonald]

I would like to see their budget dry up until Hunter Education is improved and we get more predator seasons and control. They have to make the first move or no budget! 

What improvements do you believe should be made to hunter education?

I get calls every year from people who can't get in HE class wanting to know if I know where they can get HE. Classes need to be more available and could be more available in a multitude of ways if WDFW really wanted to make HE more available. Even an uneducated person can clearly see that you reduce the number of hunters if you require hunter safety but do not provide classes for hunters to get HE. Every year old hunters die or quit hunting and new persons wanting to start hunting cannot get HE. That is a FACT!

 - Allow private instruction (currently many classes are offered for people to get concealed weapons permits)
 - WDFW needs to more aggressively recruit HE volunteers and make the system to be certified more available with hours to accommodate volunteers

Those are the first two easy ways that come to mind to make HE more available if WDFW wanted HE to be more available! 

and get rid of that online crap

What don't you like about the "online crap"?  The students we've had come through it are almost universally well prepared.

Well that's heartening to hear.  Do you just focus on the range portion or do you take the time to get a little more in depth about the kids' learning?  Or since you have so many kids lined up you just do the range stuff then do the paperwork?  Wouldn't it be possible for someone else (parent) to complete the online portion and just focus on getting the kid to pass the range evaluation?

Honest question, I haven't been all the way through the range portion of an online class but I did go through the online class itself on the computer and choose to take my kid to a traditional class after seeing it.  I didn't care for the computer class.

Actually this instructor doesn't have a "traditional class" as there's bird dogs involved and some other stuff I think WDFW had to grant special permission for.

Since I am new to the HE instructor ranks I hope that I can shed some light from what I have seen.  I believe that most of us in the 35+ range would much rather take a traditional class but in todays technology must under the age of 35 and under whats it right now so they created the online course.  I have gone through 4 classes right now and I think that the kids are well prepared.  I get some great questions during the field course. 

@bearpaw Dale I don't know if this is partially the eastside and maybe not so many instructors but here I know of at least 3 different groups doing hunters ed within and 30 mile area and I know our group is doing 3 classes a month on Saturday afternoons.  Right now there isn't a big push for HE classes.  They aren't really that many people in them right now.  Instructors have said that it picks up come August.

[Russ McDonald]

In summary I can't stop thinking about the moment I took that shot. It changed me. I have a whole new respect for hunting. It truly is something amazing about our species. Despite being charged like a bolt of lightening I vividly remember the fractions of a second leading up to the trigger being pulled. After the shot and even the car ride back we felt like that we were indeed hunters.

Thanks again for the amazing class and all the help. It truly made a difference and made something unknown to us less intimidating.

Would you have seen a letter like this if the new hunter took an online class instead of a traditional hands on class? 
Would you have been able to make such an impact on this person?
Would you have been able to answer all those questions and developed a tutor/mentor type relationship?

and finally, without that guidance would they have even gone hunting?

Yes, I have done it in a few of the online classes.  It is how personable you make your self during the training.  I even recruited a new member to the forum from one class.  I offer up plenty of resources to look beyond what we can give them in class.  I do agree with the traditional classes.  They have their place in the system