Hunter Safety

[jagermiester]

I got a buddy who has been hunting for 19 years and now he may have to take hunter safety before he can buy his tags for next year. Anyone know anything about this?

[shoot-em-dead]

Why?

[littlebuf]

if you were born after 1949 you gotta take it to hunt colorado no matter how long youve been hunting. just take the class its not hard

[lokidog]

There are a few states that require it no matter what age.  Personally, I agree totally with that concept.

[Shootmoore]

Need more info to give you an answer.

On the other hand I see a lot of guys out hunting that should probably take it 2 or 3 more times.  First time did not stick imho.

Shootmoore

[jagermiester]

I just can't imagine that they have allowed someone to hunt for 19 years and now he is unsafe. But to tell you the truth I was wondering if he was right of if he just got bad info. I think he is fine and does not need to take the class.

[Shootmoore]

If your talking about WA State, if he was born after 1972 he has to take the hunters ed course.  That came into affect some years ago and am unaware of any new rulings.

Shootmoore

[Galpster]

Be positive to your freind. Go with him and enjoy the class. I think all of us could use some gun safety classes. That is basically all it is with a few other thing thrown in. I am going with my 10 year old this year and am excited to see how the class has changes since I was in it 20 years ago. It is only $5 bucks. Well it is at the Issaquah sportsman lodge. $20 prepaid and you get $15 back.

[lokidog]

It depends what state he is in.

Seems funny to me when so many people ask questions here on the forum that should be directed to their state game department.  I have always found wdfw to be very responsive when directly asked questions.  At least not ones related to their policy decisions....   

[shoot-em-dead]

Jagermeister- I'm having a doctor Laura moment.  In order to awnser your question we need more information.
1. What state are you talking about?
2. Who said he had to take a new class?
3. Why would he have to take the class?

[Shootmoore]

This thread got me thinking.  It's been 30 years since I took my hunters Ed course.  I think I might see if there is one in my area this year and take it again.  Be interesting to see what is being taught now. 

Someone said there was a Bowhunter course now as well?  I would be interested in taking that to.  I always figure you can learn something new, no matter how long you have been doing something.

Thats one reason I enjoy being a firearms instructor.  Even though I am doing the teaching, I learn something new almost every time I put on a class and remind myself of certain aspects each and every time.

Thread jack do to lack of info !!

Shootmoore

[runamuk]

This thread got me thinking.  It's been 30 years since I took my hunters Ed course.  I think I might see if there is one in my area this year and take it again.  Be interesting to see what is being taught now. 

Someone said there was a Bowhunter course now as well?  I would be interested in taking that to.  I always figure you can learn something new, no matter how long you have been doing something.

Thats one reason I enjoy being a firearms instructor.  Even though I am doing the teaching, I learn something new almost every time I put on a class and remind myself of certain aspects each and every time.

Thread jack do to lack of info !!

Shootmoore

Annie teaches the bowhunter course fire her a PM.  And that course I believe is good for the required bow hunter saftey in all other states.

[Shootmoore]

Annie teaches the bowhunter course fire her a PM.  And that course I believe is good for the required bow hunter saftey in all other states.

Thanks runamuk, I was thinking there was someone on this site who taught the bowhunting course.  I'll shoot her a pm, maybe I can work up a trade for a basic handgun course for a bowhunting course    .  I'm always looking for "Lets Make a Deal"

Shootmoore

[bobcat]

There is a new rule in place this year, I believe. We had a post on here a while back about it. The deal is that the WDFW is now going to require proof of hunter's education to purchase a hunting license if you were born after January 1, 1972. This has been the rule for a long time, but there are people out there who somehow were able to purchase a hunting license without ever having taken the hunter's education class. And since they bought that first hunting license, they no longer needed to show proof to buy subsequent licenses, year after year. I personally know a guy (co-worker) who purchased a hunting license about 15 years ago when he was around 20 years old, and he has never had hunter's ed. He knew an employee at a store and she sold him the license. If he goes to buy a license this year, he may not be allowed to buy it since the WDFW has no record of him taking the class. In the past, all they cared about was if you had previously purchased a license, and they then assumed you had hunter's ed.

[Shootmoore]

There is a new rule in place this year, I believe. We had a post on here a while back about it. The deal is that the WDFW is now going to require proof of hunter's education to purchase a hunting license if you were born after January 1, 1972. This has been the rule for a long time, but there are people out there who somehow were able to purchase a hunting license without ever having taken the hunter's education class. And since they bought that first hunting license, they no longer needed to show proof to buy subsequent licenses, year after year. I personally know a guy (co-worker) who purchased a hunting license about 15 years ago when he was around 20 years old, and he has never had hunter's ed. He knew an employee at a store and she sold him the license. If he goes to buy a license this year, he may not be allowed to buy it since the WDFW has no record of him taking the class. In the past, all they cared about was if you had previously purchased a licence, and they then assumed you had hunter's ed.

Ok thanks that clarifies it for me.  Basically after all this time WDFW is actually going to enforce the rule.

Shootmoore

[robb92]

If you did take hunters safety your # should be in the system when you use your wild id number, I know mine is. So you wouldn't have to carry the certificate around with you. i just print out a copy of the page with all my info on it and leave in my wallet.

[shoot-em-dead]

The rule has always been that you need either a hunter ed class or a privious licence to get a licence in Washington. That is what is throwing me for a loop here. If you have a wild ID in washington state then how can they turn it and say you now need the class? That is why I think the origional post is refering to another state.

[bobcat]

Because not everybody that has a WILD ID number has had hunter's ed. They are just going to enforce the law that requires anybody born after January 1, 1972 to take hunter's ed before purchasing a hunting license. A previous license is no longer accepted as proof that a person has had hunter's ed. At least that is the way I understand it.

[Curly]

I don't think my hunter safety number is in the system.  I'll have to check, but I don't think it is.  Doesn't matter for me though, since I'm as old as dirt and I am not required to provide proof of hunter ed.  If I go to hunt some other state someday that requires proof, I'll have to figure out how to prove that I took the course in 1978.....or was it 1979?

[Skyvalhunter]

Or 1950?

[andrew_12gauge]

i have a wild id # and took hunters ed but somehow wa state has never had my hunter ed # on my licenses o well not planning on hunting in washington this next year anyway if i ever do again i can do the online course here in idaho pretty easily

[huntnphool]

 I took the class back in the 70's, long before they made it a requirement but dont have anything to show that I did. Is there a place to contact to get a certificate?

[bobcat]

Yes, contact the WDFW in Olympia. I had to get a new certificate 10 years ago when I hunted in Utah. They'll have you fill out an affidavit stating where and when you took the course and you'll get a new card. I got a plastic orange card to replace the green paper one I got when I took the class in '79.

[huntnphool]

Right on, thanks Bobcat. I know where and approximately when but not exactly sure.

[bobcat]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/duplicate_card.html

[.Forty_One]

Hey all-
I was born in '72 and just restarted hunting this year- first season since the early '90's, when the Hunter Safety class mandate first showed up.
As I remember, early on the rule was that you could buy a license if you had one from the previous year, even if you hadn't taken the course and were born after '71. At one point I think I ended up unable to find my old license, too late in the year to take a course- so no hunting that year for me.
A person who'd been buying a license every year probably never needed to prove having taken the course.
As for taking the course, it was actually pretty rewarding. If you have to go take it, just go do it- just make sure to sign up really early!

[Pathfinder101]

FOr those of you who are planning to take the course as adults (either because you want to or because you have to for some reason), grab a kid and take it with them.  Son, daughter, neice, nephew, neighbor's kid...  Kids generally have an open mind about hunting, and are willing to go into the class with a blank slate.  You might prevent someone from joining PETA one day.
I have been instructing Hunters Ed for about 4 years, and we get the same comment over and over from adults who attend the course with their kids:  "Wow, I've been hunting for ____ years, and I didn't know that!"  In fact, because of guest instructors teaching their specialties, I learn something every time I teach the course. 

[runningboard]

FOr those of you who are planning to take the course as adults (either because you want to or because you have to for some reason), grab a kid and take it with them.  Son, daughter, neice, nephew, neighbor's kid...  Kids generally have an open mind about hunting, and are willing to go into the class with a blank slate.  You might prevent someone from joining PETA one day.

great idea Pathfinder!

the original poster's friend may have gotten a ticket for a game violation and the judge ordered him/her to take the course, more common than you might think.