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

[seth30]

The bottom line is this course would weed out the riff raff amongst our ranks. We would police our own. The woods would be less crowded.  Thus creating more opportunity.  I don't see how having to take a course would reduce our opportunities. I am not about reducing opportunity but I am for making our comunity better. A class would do this.

I agree with AKBOWMAN at the very least there should be incentives for taking the course.

Kind of off subject, but with Motorcycles if you tace the BRC (basic Riders Course) your insurance is not as much, and there is no driven test at the DMV. Thy have proven time and time again that the course is a proven tool that saves lives. If there was a class like that for bow hunters that was volunterr only and  had a incentive like a discoutened tag for class graduates, I think it would create a postive influence to not only save a few bucks but create a safer and smarter bow hunter.

[fair-chase]

I do not believe that this course would "weed out" any of the less desireables from hunting. If that was the case then basic hunters ed would have cleaned up the modern rifle season long ago. I think we can all agree that is simply not the case. I am however in favor of the course simply because up and coming archers get shafted during basic hunters ed with almost no info or guidance pertaining to archery. Mandatory? Not sure, but you should have the option of one over the other when seeking to obtain a hunting license. 

[h2ofowlr]

I am for it.  Some will get pissed and go back to rifle hunting maybe.     I think for every animal taken there is an animal lost with a bow.  I heard of quite a few lost animals already this season. 

[RadSav]

The problem with Bowhunter Education is that 50% of the courses are based upon conjecture and supposition rather than real facts.  Giving preference points to those who mentor a new bowhunter would probably have better results without the regulations that never work.

Have gun laws stopped criminals from using them?  No, they usually just effect those of us who are law abiding citizens.

No proof that any more animals are lost due to bowhunting than rifle or muzzy.  Just harder to see a bullet that went a stray than an arrow.  However, there is definitive proof that an animal hit poorly with an arrow has a greater chance of survival than one shot poorly with a high velocity projectile.

[buckfvr]

Not mandatory, but MUCH more availability to voluntary classes.  No amount of  preaching can instill ethics or morals into those that have none to begin with.

[724wd]

ready for me to throw a wrench in this debate?  I'm FOR periodic refresher courses on hunter ed!  maybe every 10 years?  we do it with drivers licenses...

with the way rules change in this state, I think refresher courses would be beneficial.  archery issues could be rolled into one of these refreshers, allowing the entire hunting population to benefit from increased awareness of various hunting related issues for all weapons.  It would need to be fairly inexpensive, fairly quick (one day?) and widely available.  Cover safe handling, regulations and encourage responsible hunting (know your limits for shooting, follow up on every shot, etc).  It's not a full blown hunters ed class, just a brush-up. 

[BoomWhop]

I think it would be a good idea for all weapons.  Weed out some of the people that give all forms of hunting a bad name.  Not to mention less animals lost or wounded and crippled.   

[rdale14]

Part of me wants to say yes, and part of me wants to say no.  This will be my second archery season, and I personally would never take a shot over 50 yards.  One, because my last pin is set at 50 yards, and two, I would miss.  In fact, I probably wouldn't go over 40 yards because I am a newbie.  Here was my archery class:  The group of guys I hunt with got me set up, and then taught me how to shoot.  Plus, they were very adamant that I practice a lot, or they would not let me go hunting with them.  I was in the Army for eight years, and found HE a little silly, but I got some good info out of it.  I hunted rifle one season, and decided no more.  I wasn't worried about me, I was worried about everyone else.  Too many guys in crowded areas with no orange blew my mind.  I would go for a Bow Hunters class if there was a test out for it, instead of going through the whole class.  At the end of the day, you can't fix stupid. 

[starr]

Well anyone that has read any of my archery post know im fairly new to was raised on rifle in eastern MT were there was probably something illegal involved if you got your animal at less than 150yds, let alone w/in 50. I was "taught" archery shooting by allen at Wholesale Sports, general ethics in hunters safety, the archery regs from the books and this website (maybe one call to WDFW to clarify), and general archery hunting application by a good friend of mine.

That said, I think a MANDANTORY course is a little far. Maybe if you make it optional but take a couple of bucks off of each archery tag if you have the card. I mean really lets say you pay $40 for the optional course but save $4 off each tag for life, $8 a year w/in 5 years its more than paid for its self and i see people on here 15-50 years of experiance.

My other thought would be give the option of just walking in and taking a 50 or 100 question test over archery and safety and ethics that way some of you old schoolers that have years of experience on me could walk in and walk out in 30-45 min. and something like an 8 hr for the rest of us that dont know. The other thing I think would be good with this is every 3-5 years take 5-10 Q test basically over the regs to make sure that people know what the regs CURRENTLY say and then you know that people are still make sure to read the rules.

I say all this cause I know there are probably a couple things that I do that some of you would just say WTF if you saw and I just never learned. Do i want to go to a MANDANTORY course, hell no just like the rest of you I got better things to do with my days. buuttt if it would save me about $10 off of my tags each year, it would be a lot more tempting.

[Johnb317]

I'm tired of all the regulations.  Just because there is a law, or someone took a class doesn't mean they are going to be more ethical, or safer for that matter.
And hitting the x at 50 in a controlled situation doesn't mean squat in a pressure situation. 
I've hunted with guys who know better, but read Dunn's book and feel they can shoot at a moving animal.   Sigh.
As for rifles vs. bows.... I think twice before loosing a 10 dollar 'round'....

Appreciation for wildlife and ethics aren't going to be learned in a quicky class or by passing a test.  We need to teach or children and talk around the camp.

When I hunt or talk hunting I know I need to represent all hunters so non-hunters understand and realize the value of hunting in the United States.
-off my soap box-

[Little Dave]

A few things covered in the class that are significant and not covered in the archery chapter of the regular hunter ed class are anatomy and shot placement, blood tracking, tree stand safety, patience after the shot, and effective range.  A bowhunter should be educated in these skills, a careless person otherwise.

[Snapshot]

No amount of  preaching can instill ethics or morals into those that have none to begin with.

A bowhunter education class wouldn't be, couldn't be, instilling ethics or morals; to think that the purpose would be to try to do so is wrong. That being said, some educators, the best I think, will include their personal thoughts on what they feel is right or wrong in the hunting woods. If for no other reason but to make the students think about it for a moment.
 
But what a class CAN do is provide information that is vitally important to being a good bowhunter. Some facets were mentioned already; bloodtrailing, anatomy of the various game animals, shot placement, how long to wait after the shot and how that depends largely on the shot placement, equipment maintenance and safe handling, treestand safety, accepting personal limitations in ability.
 
All of that information, if properly introduced to everyone who wants to be a bowhunter would only make them better bowhunters, and make them more likely to impress on others, whether around the campfire or at work or at the tavern, that they are thoughtful, conscientious, educated bowhunters. By having educated bowhunters the sport of bowhunting can't help but benefit.

[724wd]

A bowhunter education class wouldn't be, couldn't be, instilling ethics or morals; to think that the purpose would be to try to do so is wrong. That being said, some educators, the best I think, will include their personal thoughts on what they feel is right or wrong in the hunting woods. If for no other reason but to make the students think about it for a moment.
 
But what a class CAN do is provide information that is vitally important to being a good bowhunter. Some facets were mentioned already; bloodtrailing, anatomy of the various game animals, shot placement, how long to wait after the shot and how that depends largely on the shot placement, equipment maintenance and safe handling, treestand safety, accepting personal limitations in ability.
 
All of that information, if properly introduced to everyone who wants to be a bowhunter would only make them better bowhunters, and make them more likely to impress on others, whether around the campfire or at work or at the tavern, that they are thoughtful, conscientious, educated bowhunters. By having educated bowhunters the sport of bowhunting can't help but benefit.

all of that is great information to give out in hunting education classes, but the issue here is MANDATORY.  that's where i fall off the wagon and resist.   

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

A class wouldn't do anything. I would take it if was mandatory. I can tell u that there are just as many muzzle loaders and rifle hunters that wound game. A class is not going to help a guys judgement on an ethical shot. Just as it doesn't already in all seasons.

[boneaddict]

If it fixed dumb, then it would be good, unfortunately its just another hoop and another way to charge a few.