Hunters Ed !

I have always been interested in the outdoors and love the countryside . I also get bored easily without having an aim or purpose to my activities - be it to get to a specific point or to get photographs for instance . I have also been keen on shooting and guns from when I was a child - this was considered quite normal then !
I believe that the countryside is important and should be preserved and if possible improved for the benefit of both wildlife and future generations . I know that hunters in Britain have been at the forefront of protecting and enhancing the outside environment to maintain a good habitat for wildlife to flourish in - unlike some farming practices which are about profit from the land .However thankfully many farmers are hunters too or see a profit in conserving wildlife and the land for hunting to the benefit of all.
As a London born city boy I have no personal experience of hunting so I decided that now I am in Washington State USA I would learn more so I booked onto a free state and volunteer run Hunters Education course at my local gun club - The Central Whidbey Sportsman's Association ( CWSA ). Pictures here !

The first thing I learned was that hunting is a very well managed thing here - and that you must be licensed to participate . To buy a licence you have to have passed a hunters ed. course or be born before Jan 1st 1972 . Therefore I was the oldest person on the course !

I expected to learn about how to hunt but the course was mainly concerned about safety .

We were all given a copy of " Washington Hunter - a guide to hunting responsibility and safely "-available online here .. . This is produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ( WDFW) at http://wdfw.wa.gov .

The first chapter focused on preventing hunting accidents by safe firearm handling - muzzle control . The next seven chapters were a general introduction to Rifles , Shotguns , Handguns , muzzle-loaders and bows - stressing their safe handling again and again .

The instructors brought in many of their own firearms for the students to view and handle safely . There were computer animations projected onto a screen . Repeated questions were asked of the class to ensure an understanding of the key safety issues and how to be a safe hunter .
First aid was next briefly covered then Wildlife conservation .We learned that wildlife populations naturally increase in the spring due to a high birth rate and good habitat but decline rapidly as the winter approaches .We learned about the tagging system - hunting seasons and bag limits and how due to managed hunting the amount of wildlife in the USA is roughly ten times what it was in 1900 .
The biggest threat to wildlife is loss of habitat . The WDFW works to protect and conserve the natural habitat and is largely funded by the dues levied on hunters and hunting products . Each year they bring out the which gives information on what can be hunted when and with what .The modern firearm hunting season is short but bow-hunting and muzzle-loaders do have longer seasons- though the bag limit in total is the same .

The final chapters covered sportsmanship specific prey animals and hunting techniques .

On the last day after the exam there was a practical session on the range where each student was given a rifle and had five shots under control of the instructor who ensured they had learned and used the safe handling procedures .

I really enjoyed the course and am now on the database as a hunter and qualify for a hunting licence should I wish to by one and actually participate in a hunt .

The instructors who were volunteers were excellent and it was really good to see so many parents with young children there . The youngest was a girl of eight with her father and it was the first time she had ever fired a gun . I am not sure if she passed the course but she learned a lot and had good fun - which was the point .

Guns are very dangerous and empower the user . From first use they should be treated due care and respect . I believe that anyone who is going to handle firearms - even toys - should be first taught gun safety - especially muzzle control . The Hunters ed. course is a good start .

Like most shooters I am very uncomfortable with guns - even toys- being waved about without due muzzle control and I am especially disturbed to have them pointed directly at me or anyone else - so be warned !