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

[724wd]

I am officially conflicted now.  i think additional hoops and fees are major BS, but the discussion Poor excuse for a bow hunter in the "Deer Hunting" section has me thinking a lot more drilling of responsible bowhunting practices into the heads of those taking hunters safety courses are probably called for.  and i would be in favor of periodic refresher courses to renew your certificate. 

damn, i hate straddling fences!  puts my tender bits in jeopardy!   

heath

[Elkrunner]

I would think it would be nice to put someone who has not bowhunting experience through a course.  Being a recent crossover from modern to archery(6 years) there are many more rules and tactics when it comes to archery hunting.

[pianoman9701]

I am officially conflicted now.  i think additional hoops and fees are major BS, but the discussion Poor excuse for a bow hunter in the "Deer Hunting" section has me thinking a lot more drilling of responsible bowhunting practices into the heads of those taking hunters safety courses are probably called for.  and i would be in favor of periodic refresher courses to renew your certificate. 

damn, i hate straddling fences!  puts my tender bits in jeopardy!   

heath

People like those in that video will take the course because they have to and continue to hunt the way they do. Having said that, I personally feel that young hunters and conscientious adult hunters would gain useful knowledge from such a program. I'm also tending toward a volunteer program. The conscientious would attend and these hosers and the like would not. Excluding them would make the experience more valuable for the rest.

[724wd]

yes, voluntary course from an independent source (WSAA or something) would be preferred over something this state might dream up!

[MACNMADDY]

I am not sure that sending someone that has been bow hunting for 25+ years is going to get them to change their ways.  Start it out with younger hunters and train them to be smarter and more ethical sportsman.  The older hunter that volunteers to go to the course is probably already an ethical hunter and the idiots out there are just going to keep being idiots and take the 80 yard shots and shoot thru a mangle of brush.

[42 Willys]

Lot's of states are requiring bow hunter education before you can archery hunt there.
Just makes sense to take the class, be a better hunter, do it at your convienience and be done with it.
I took it years ago at Northwest Archery in Burien, fun class.
Making it mandatory is the issue....not a bad idea.