bowhunting classes for washington state

[huntingfamily]

im hearing that the state might mandate a hunters ed class for bow hunters soon ? to me its not a bad idea but it looks like there was only 4 class days all last year. that would have to be changed if its mandatory.

[jnevs23]

I think they should do it if for no other reason than to be a deterrent the guys who just grab a bow and start flinging arrows. Way too many guys just bow hunt to get the good seasons and don't put in the practice to be an ethical hunter.  Maybe having to take give some time and money to go to class would keep a few away.  A little extra knowledge never hurt a guy either.

[dreamunelk]

im hearing that the state might mandate a hunters ed class for bow hunters soon ? to me its not a bad idea but it looks like there was only 4 class days all last year. that would have to be changed if its mandatory.

Who or what is your source?  All efforts in the past have been from bow hunting groups.  Remember the post of the idiots late hunt a while back?  Unfortunately these types of fools do connect and we end up with an animal running around with an arrow in it.  Will a class fix this.  For some yes others no.  You can not fix stupid!  But, there are some who learn from others and if the class is taught correctly it may stop a few from making a bad decision.

[MLBowhunting]

I had to take one while hunting caribou in Alaska?  Wonder if it would count as mine

[huntingfamily]

im hearing that the state might mandate a hunters ed class for bow hunters soon ? to me its not a bad idea but it looks like there was only 4 class days all last year. that would have to be changed if its mandatory.

Who or what is your source?  All efforts in the past have been from bow hunting groups.  Remember the post of the idiots late hunt a while back?  Unfortunately these types of fools do connect and we end up with an animal running around with an arrow in it.  Will a class fix this.  For some yes others no.  You can not fix stupid!  But, there are some who learn from others and if the class is taught correctly it may stop a few from making a bad decision.

well i have been through 2 hunter ed classes with 2 of my 3 kids in the last 9 months and the instructors say its coming down the pipe line....do a google search in which states have to have it and you will find quite a bit.. the closest state is idaho. i think its coming but my guess it will have the same stats , anyone born after jan.1st 1972 ....

[jnevs23]

The guys that just grab a bow and hit the woods hit plenty, they just don't hit them where they are aiming. I can honestly say that around half the guys I know that bow hunt shouldn't be bow hunting, maybe thats why I hunt alone so much.  Sure it would be a pain for me and cost a few bucks but if it makes some of the idiots out there stick to rifle hunting that alone is worth it to me. I am sure there are plenty of guys out there that would learn something from a class, myself included.  You can look at it as controlling us, but maybe with less idiots archery hunting the number of incidents that make us all look bad will be decreased.  Anti-hunting people love to hear stories of wounded animals showing up in peoples yards or statistics saying half of archery hunters lose their animals.  Make it harder to bowhunt and the weak will sort themselves out.

[JJB11B]

I think it's a bad idea myself. just other way for them to control everything we do. lets face it the guys who just grab a bow and hit the woods probably  couldn't hit anything any way. they probably didn't tune there bows,didn't do any scouting, hell they probably won't make it 100 yds from the truck so I'm not worried about them.what I'm worried about is that it's going to cost me even more than it does know. People need to learn to be  responsible for there self and stop giving big brother  control over every little detail of every thing we do. just my 

GOSPEL. I am tired of the Infringement

[JJB11B]

I am not taking any more classes, I have archery hunted for long enough shot thousands upon thousands of arrows and read every word in the games regs until I was blue in the face, I have been through enough training from the Military and the unGreat State of Washington. My line in the sand is drawn. If you can challange the EMT test and get certified than we should be able to challange the Archery Class. WDFW can kiss my hind quarters

[AKBowman]

I had to take one while hunting caribou in Alaska?  Wonder if it would count as mine

Yes, it would. Just like the hunter ed the bowhunter  ed and proficiency travels from state to state

[billythekidrock]

I think they should do it if for no other reason than to be a deterrent the guys who just grab a bow and start flinging arrows. Way too many guys just bow hunt to get the good seasons and don't put in the practice to be an ethical hunter.  Maybe having to take give some time and money to go to class would keep a few away.  A little extra knowledge never hurt a guy either.

 

[sakoshooter]

If they're going to do it for archery hunters, they'd have to do it for muzzle loader and modern hunters as well. Plenty in all disciplines that have no business being out there.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Its already mandatory in many States, including Idaho.  Now when I went to Idaho all I had to do was produce my Wa license, proving I had been l;icensed to hunt with archery equipment.  Idaho also accepted my kids hunters ed from Wa.  So I in my opinion think we will accept this also.  I have heard several proposals for making this mandatory, all of which "granbdfathered" those who had previously hunted with archery equipment or had attended the classes in another State.  First thing that needs to be addressed is the lack of instructors in our State, then there can be more Bowhunter Ed classes held.  Why do we need this.... well in my opinion, for those that decide to take up bowhunting and have never done it before.  Not everyone has good mentors who will help them udnerstand what it takes to bowhunt and the practice necessary.  Way too many times have I seen people walk itno the bow shop and buy a bow (or walk in with one they bought) the day before season and want to buy arrows etc cause" we are going out to get us a deer"....

[Instinct]

Wonder if you already been archery hunting ya still would have to take it

[724wd]

NWWBOWHNTR, how is that ANY different than the guys that do the exact thing before rifle and muzzy?  another class, another requirement, another regulation, another layer of BS... how much is too much?    NO CLASSES, i say!    

[jnevs23]

"NWWBOWHNTR, how is that ANY different than the guys that do the exact thing before rifle and muzzy?  another class, another requirement, another regulation, another layer of BS... how much is too much?    NO CLASSES, i say!"     

Your kill zone with rifle and muzzy is much bigger than a bow.  With a bow you basically have a paper plate size kill zone.  There are many good, ethical shots that can be taken with a rifle or muzzy that arent good shots with a bow.  Thats not even getting into kinetic energy and the science class that can go a long with it.  You can make a bad shot with a rifle and still be in good shape to find your animal.  You make a bad shot with a bow and it dies two days later then goes to waste.  I don't think anyone should be hitting the woods unprepared, but it's much easier to get away with it if you have a rifle or muzzy in your hand.

[rebal69972]

Bow hunting classes great idea  I really hope they put something in there where those of us that have been how hunting for years don't have to take another stupid class. I would say it will be a cold day in hell but with the weather the last few days I won't. I bought my first archery tag in 1992 don't think there's a reason to go through anymore classes

[buckfvr]

FOr new  bow hunters and guys who need it to hunt out of state, fine.  As a requirement for all current bow hunters who have been buying Wa. state archery tags......get real.   No way could they impose a law like that in one year.....it would have to take shape over several seasons, giving all hunters equal opportunity to take the class....as in classes in every small town across the state.  If they were to decide to do it, they would have to come to us......Do I personally think it will make a difference ??   Not in the least.  What happened to less government ?  Lets not ask for more interference from this state or any other form of government......they have made a fr***en mess out of WDFW, how can anyone even remotely want them to step up and do anything else regarding F&W.......

[Turner89]

   Your not going to eliminate morons from bow hunting with a class. Look at all the morons that are modern hunting evry year. They all had to take hunt ed classes.
   I HATE the thought of another class, Reg, law, whatever!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I agree  it is a tough situation these days ... newer bows that can shoot alot further than I was disciplined on shooting and the fact just as many animals get wounded with guns as do with bows .... so just leave it alone 

[stuckalot]

   Your not going to eliminate morons from bow hunting with a class. Look at all the morons that are modern hunting evry year. They all had to take hunt ed classes.
   I HATE the thought of another class, Reg, law, whatever!

Yes, but in a touchy feely state like ours, you can't judge people on results, only on their intentions!  Everyone can feel better that they "tried"!  And don't even bother talking about the ever growing reach of government!

[Camp David]

I taught the bow hunter class. It was fun and the students (mostly new bow hunters) got a lot out of it. I would not want to see it go mandatory. It would ruin the class with a lot of people that did not want to be there. Keep it an option.

[buckfvr]

I taught the bow hunter class. It was fun and the students (mostly new bow hunters) got a lot out of it. I would not want to see it go mandatory. It would ruin the class with a lot of people that did not want to be there. Keep it an option.

   That speaks volumes right there.......

[Snapshot]

One thing that is sorely needed is someway to counter with reason and realism all the crap shown on hunting TV and in hunting videos. If inexperienced people take a class from experienced hunters there are tangibles that stand to be gained during the process.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

One thing that is sorely needed is someway to counter with reason and realism all the crap shown on hunting TV and in hunting videos. If inexperienced people take a class from experienced hunters there are tangibles that stand to be gained during the process.

Well said!   

[NWWABOWHNTR]

For those of you interested in attending a class:

We have corrected the dates on classes in Lewis County, please take note.
Clark County:
March 24th + 25th
July 21st + 22nd
Contact Jack Waite 360-713-8124
>>>===>
Cowlitz County:
June 16 and 17th
Contact Annette Crews 360-673-2350 or aneoakleaf@kalama.com
>>>===>
Lewis County: These classes are the combo hunter-ed and bowhunter-ed. sign up on-line at http://my.register-ed.com
February 18th & 19th
March 17th + 18th
April 21st & 22nd
May 19th + 20th
Contact - Mike LaBarre
>>>===>
King County:
April 4th, 5th + 7th.
October 27th + 28th
Contact Alan Jones at AlanBJones@frontier.com
>>>===>
Kitsap County:
April 21st +22nd
July 14th + 15th
Contact Walt Walden 360-779-6147
>>>===>
King County:
Flint Tip Archers: May 15th, 17th +19th
July 24th, 26th + 28th
Contact Butch Loney 253-862-9160
>>>===>
Spokane/Stevens County:
March 8th, 9th, + 10th
April 1st, field day only
June 14th, 15th, +18th
August 11th, field day only
Contact Butch/Ron Barber at 509-953-5061
or Al and Della James at 509-936-0204
>>>===>

[pianoman9701]

One thing that is sorely needed is someway to counter with reason and realism all the crap shown on hunting TV and in hunting videos. If inexperienced people take a class from experienced hunters there are tangibles that stand to be gained during the process.

While I whole-heatedly agree with your statement, I do not agree that the program should be mandated by the state. As stated before, mandating bowhunting education and not mandating ML and Modern would be arbitrary regulation on one sector of the hunting population. All or none.

[andybwalters]

I am both new to the forum and in fact to bowhunting, so take my ramblings with a grain of salt, but here it goes. I certainly understand the resistance by those who do not want to see more regulation, law, control, etc. I tend to view those as cost though with very worthwhile (in my estimation) benefits. The biggest of which is increasing the quality of the hunting experience for those of us that are serious about bowhunting. Making it more difficult to be allowed to bowhunt means less bow hunters, means less pressure, means better harvest. If bowhunting regs like a mandatory class means lower harvest numbers doesn't that also mean more favorable bowhunting season parameters in the long run? I would love to see fewer archery harvests result in say... any elk in GMU 335 for bowhunters.... maybe just dreaming, I know, but I can see a benefit in weeding out the "just because" group. Let those guys hunt with a rifle after we've had a go, right?

[pianoman9701]

I am both new to the forum and in fact to bowhunting, so take my ramblings with a grain of salt, but here it goes. I certainly understand the resistance by those who do not want to see more regulation, law, control, etc. I tend to view those as cost though with very worthwhile (in my estimation) benefits. The biggest of which is increasing the quality of the hunting experience for those of us that are serious about bowhunting. Making it more difficult to be allowed to bowhunt means less bow hunters, means less pressure, means better harvest. If bowhunting regs like a mandatory class means lower harvest numbers doesn't that also mean more favorable bowhunting season parameters in the long run? I would love to see fewer archery harvests result in say... any elk in GMU 335 for bowhunters.... maybe just dreaming, I know, but I can see a benefit in weeding out the "just because" group. Let those guys hunt with a rifle after we've had a go, right?

It might if the regulations were made and the seasons were set only according to harvest numbers and data, but they aren't. Many of the decisions of our DFW are arbitrary. Take for example the weapons restriction added to the cougar season during archery deer/elk or ML. It was changed because a few bowhunters complained about rifle shots during their archery season. The fact that the bear season/weapon restrictions weren't changed for the same reason relates to the fact that there are more bear hunters than cougar hunters and the resistance from bear hunters would've been too much.

We have a DFW that's already regulation crazy, when compared to other states, and far too willing to create more confusing regulations and barriers to hunting without any cause. Promote bowhunter's safety through your local archery club, but don't support it as a regulation unless you're willing to support separate courses for ML and Modern, as well. There are no fewer bad shots or unethical hunters in either of those categories. Singling out archers like what happened when they broke up the choice of tags is a bad move all around.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

It might if the regulations were made and the seasons were set only according to harvest numbers and data, but they aren't. Many of the decisions of our DFW are arbitrary. Take for example the weapons restriction added to the cougar season during archery deer/elk or ML. It was changed because a few bowhunters complained about rifle shots during their archery season. The fact that the bear season/weapon restrictions weren't changed for the same reason relates to the fact that there are more bear hunters than cougar hunters and the resistance from bear hunters would've been too much.


So where did you hear that the weapon restriction the WDFW came up with was because of bowhunters?  I have talked straight to the WDFW wildlife managers in regards to this, and that was not why they said they did it... hmmmm think about it... in the woods with a gun during elk archery season....

[pianoman9701]

It might if the regulations were made and the seasons were set only according to harvest numbers and data, but they aren't. Many of the decisions of our DFW are arbitrary. Take for example the weapons restriction added to the cougar season during archery deer/elk or ML. It was changed because a few bowhunters complained about rifle shots during their archery season. The fact that the bear season/weapon restrictions weren't changed for the same reason relates to the fact that there are more bear hunters than cougar hunters and the resistance from bear hunters would've been too much.


So where did you hear that the weapon restriction the WDFW came up with was because of bowhunters?  I have talked straight to the WDFW wildlife managers in regards to this, and that was not why they said they did it... hmmmm think about it... in the woods with a gun during elk archery season....

I talked to the cougar biologist at the season setting meeting in Chehalis. Straight from him.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Thanks for the info.. not what I was given by another, but I will corner Rocky at this weekends meeting and see if he tells me the same thing. 

[Wildsau]

It just makes sense for a new Archery Hunter to get lessons from someone who is, fully, qualified to give proper instruction.  The same goes for MR and ML.  To make it mandatory is not a good idea.

I went to the Nortwest Archery Club for professional lessons and was told to keep practicing what I was taught.  I am glad I did.  Now I feel confident in my bow and have no second thoughts about my release.

Also, the tips from this forum give me a wealth of information I can use when I go to Europe and start Bow Hunting there.  BTW, you have to pass an archery class there, as well, but the restrictions, evdn a novice like myself, can laugh at.  3 arrows in a 6" bull and 30 yards.

[popeshawnpaul]

It's a balance between more control over what you can do, when you can do it, and how you can do it VS issues associated with new (or old) bowhunters making bad decisions.  I'm open to the idea on this issue and find the thread rather fascinating because the issue is probably next on the archery forefront. 

[Special T]

What is more valuable than some mandatory class? Join a archery club, shoot 3d get to know people that have hunted and be mentored by them.  I learned more about archery hunting and good shooting from a couple of books and meeting new people at Silver Arrow Bowman.
I know we are going to try and offer up some kind of archery cert for hunters that travel... I want to take it not because i think i will get meaningful info, but because its mandatory a few places I'd like to hunt.