Washington Master Hunter Certification

[skier2480]

Has anyone here gotten their certification? Was it worth it? I'm thinking about doing it but wanted to here from someone has already gotten their certification. Thanks!

[alanger]

Has anyone here gotten their certification? Was it worth it? I'm thinking about doing it but wanted to here from someone has already gotten their certification. Thanks!

me to ive been curious about this id like to hear from some master hunters how it is.

[Dan-o]

I think I've been in 7-8 years.

It depends on what you want out of it.   Honestly, if you're looking for extra hunting, I wouldn't bother.  There's not much left, and it's not quality hunting at all unless you consider doe hunts on the far east side a quality hunt opportunity.   If you like the outdoors and want to volunteer with WDFW and meet some nice folks yeah, it's good.

I'v met some fine people through the program.

If you search the elk hunting forum, you'll see that lots of folks dislike the program.   I think it's a good idea by the state, but sometimes people are screwy and you shouldn't blame an entire program because there are a few idiots out there.

my two cents.

Dan

[Ballance1]

Not worth it if you are doing it for just hunting

[CP]

This is my 2nd season as an MH.  It was worth getting the certification just to prove to myself that I could, but I'm still on the fence if I'm going to renew or not.

[klickriverchromer]

Don't get me started on MH. A few idiots  , Not even close!!!!!!

[klickriverchromer]

I will keep my opinion to myself. If it's for you great!

[skier2480]

Judging by the responses it's starting to sound like a joke. 

[MADMAX]

Do a board search and you'll see
I also have no other comments

[Hunter l]

My dad got it put in for that rimrock tag shot a 5x5 but cousin shot a dandy 6x6

[luvtohnt]

I have been in for about 4 years. I got to get involved in some really cool projects while volunteering. I have found that you can still participate in the projects without being in the process of recieving your MH license. Being a MH I deeply disagree with a lot of the hunts, and so I don't participate. I am also unhappy that the process to get in is so easy. I think for the program to be truly succesful it needs to be harder, and there should be an interview process or something to further weed out the bad apples trying to enter the program. Honestly if you like to volunteer, and would like to meet a lot of neat people go for it, but if you are doing it for hunting purposes I would forget about it because the hunting is not so good. Not to mention all the hatred and name calling that other people direct towards you when they find out you are in the program.

Brandon

[skier2480]

I have been in for about 4 years. I got to get involved in some really cool projects while volunteering. I have found that you can still participate in the projects without being in the process of recieving your MH license. Being a MH I deeply disagree with a lot of the hunts, and so I don't participate. I am also unhappy that the process to get in is so easy. I think for the program to be truly succesful it needs to be harder, and there should be an interview process or something to further weed out the bad apples trying to enter the program. Honestly if you like to volunteer, and would like to meet a lot of neat people go for it, but if you are doing it for hunting purposes I would forget about it because the hunting is not so good. Not to mention all the hatred and name calling that other people direct towards you when they find out you are in the program.

Brandon

What kind of hunts do they offer that you don't agree with? What kind of volunteer opportunities do they have?

As far as the name calling and hatred I couldn't give a @#it what anybody thinks.

[Jamieb]

I'll still do some volunteer work but I wont renew my MH

[nwwanderer]

I am not a master hunter but have worked with many participants.  Several years ago we had some fairly serious elk problems and the state would give me one (a big help with a couple hundred head on a little winter wheat and canola) MH at a time.  The first one was a state biologist, I do not think he was aware I knew he worked for WSFW.  He harvested a cow in less than an hour, I retrieved and loaded the kill for him and he then told me he worked for the state and was just 'cheking me out'.  The second one was involved with the department, I think he is a commissioner now, and missed a standing cow at about 70 yards, didn't see him again.  The third one showed up with a multithousand dollar custom target rifle and wanted to make some sport of this at great distances.  He missed the first two, not at really great distances.  He became known as the minuteman since I would call him when animals were around and he showed up fast.  I knew were he lived, he must have driven better than he shot.  To make a long story short he did finally take a cow.  The take home info is the state has used the program for problem areas and a master hunter may not appreciate the 15 minute hunt.  By the way the elk problem ended when the state stopped grass burning and that 30,000 acres of perfect elk winter range disappeared.  The department was told this would happen, but still no support for the growers.  You can still get permits to burn wheat stubble with little or no effect on yield but the grass 10 feet away can not be torched and the $ value of the crop is reduced by about 60%.