Are you for or against a mandatory Bow Hunter's Course and Why?

[Nilehunter]

 
I say if you require it for one method you would need to require a class for each method.  How many "hunters" are out there every year with zero trigger time?  The number is close to the number of hunters that only leave their vehicle to pee during the hunting day.  I'm not talking about disable hunters but the able hunters.

[MtnMuley]

I've seen several archers that sure need it, but then again,  you can't teach common sense, so maybe it wouldn't be beneficial.

[colockumelk]

I am 100% for it. There are too many people who have no business being in the woods with a bow. Why? Because they are too lazy to take the time required to be proficient with their weapon. Making this class a requirement would weed out those people. Our bowhunting numbers would shrink but we would be stronger overall because we would retain the more responsible ethical and professional members of our community.

[notsosneaky]

I think the class should be an option for someone who wants to better
Themself. This is the additude of a person who will acctually benefit from it.
You cant learn patience, ethics, skill, self control, or any behavior from a class.
It just seems like a waste of resources to make it mandatory.

[colockumelk]

The course is self sustaining because it does cost money. As far as it won't make someone be ethical there is some need to know not common sense stuff in the course. While the people who are the dedicated responsible ones who are fine without the course would take it anyways, it would weed out the ones who give US a bad name. I see it as a win win. The woods would ne less crowded because the less desorables would self eliminate out of the bowhunting community.

[elksnout]

Are there states that require this? If so it would be great to see some data, pro and con before I would support this. As far as ethics...I say the same guy who shoots a rifle at a running animal at 500 yards  is the same guy who would take that 90-100 yard shot with a bow. Personal ethics do not change with weapon type.
And as far as the guy walking into a shop the day before the season ( gun or bow ) to outfit themselves, how about having a cutoff date prior to the season for buying tags?
Tuff call either way for how much we might actually gain.

[MtnMuley]

Yes there are states that require it.

[huntnphool]

Yes there are states that require it.

Montana requires it or proof from the previous year that you hunted archery season in your state.

[dscubame]

and Idaho

[shanevg]

Sounds terrible to me. I have been archery hunting for years and don't want to wast a weekend going to an archery class. I agree with previous posters who said that it won't make any difference for ethical hunters whether they hunt with a rifle or a bow. Just include some archey safety and ethics in hunter safety.

[colockumelk]

It was one day and it was anything but a waste of a day. I had fun and learned a lot. And im not a new guy to archery either. I know more about archery than most and the course was great.  The way I see it the only way to get rid of the people we always complain about is to implement this course. Resources are thin, we need to weed out the umdesirables and strengthen the bowhunting herd.

[ORCA_SIX]

It was one day and it was anything but a waste of a day. I had fun and learned a lot. And im not a new guy to archery either. I know more about archery than most and the course was great.  The way I see it the only way to get rid of the people we always complain about is to implement this course. Resources are thin, we need to weed out the umdesirables and strengthen the bowhunting herd.

Who is going to be the judge and jury on this? Seems rather discriminatory to me and I think it could end up being to subjective.

[oneezreiter]

I had to take one to hunt is South Dakota, it was one day and not to bad.  met some nice people, learned a little bit about bow hunting, and had a good time.  I think that it gets rid of the lazy hunters that just bow hunt because there are less people.  If you won't get off your ass to get the right shot then you won't get out of the house to do the class either.  I am all for it.

[trophyhunt]

I will be taking one of these classes so i can bow hunt ID. That said, i do not think a class is going to change the way people think(mostly they don't)... Can anyone point out to me the facts, where i can get them, and say that there are less hunting related accidents since the advent of hunter safety? I am not against the class so much as i am against all the government regulation... I don't like wounded game, or loosing them. I shot a doe in Arkensaw  at 12 yards from a tree stand and though it to be a good shot. I hit here at a steep angle, she folded got up ran folded then ran a little father and folded... I gave it about 15-20 min and got out of the stand... She got up and ran across a creek in the pitch black and i never found her, not even the next day...   Bow hunting will always have wounded animals, and some lessons are the hardest learned. 

You don't have to take a class in Idaho if you send them proof that you have bow hunted in another state, I sent in the paper work this year. You should be able to find it in there hunting regs.  I'm against a bow class and very much against going back to classes every 2 to 3 years, leave me the heck alone. I am for a commen sense class though , too bad there is no class for that!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I think it is a good idea ...especially for the new guy... its like anything you need mentors to guide ya in the right direction...But then again there are some guys that need to be guided in the right direction with rifles in there hands too ....