justnorth posted on May 23, 2007 07:05 :: 1668 Views
Don't wait until it is too late! The cool, crisp days of autumn may seem far away as outdoor activities focus on lakes, rivers or easy access to shade. But it will only be just a few months before the paddles and skis are put away and thoughts once again turn to fall hunting seasons. Thousands of people – many of them first-time hunters – will take to the fields and forests in search of feathered or furry prey.
Wisconsin hunters have an outstanding record of safety during hunting seasons, says Tim Lawhern, hunter education administrator for the state Department of Natural Resources.
“They’re knowledgeable and safe thanks largely to the DNR Hunter Education Program and its dedicated group of volunteer instructors,” Lawhern says.
Because each year so many eager, new hunters plan to take to the woods to participate in the various hunting seasons, hunter education classes tend to fill up in a hurry, Lawhern says. By state law, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973 must have a hunter education certificate in order to purchase a hunting license in Wisconsin.
“By attending or signing up for a class now, you won’t have to worry about getting certified at the time that you should be planning your hunt,” Lawhern says. “Plan now to get enrolled into a hunter education course so you don’t get caught trying to scramble to find a course later.”
Wisconsin boasts more than 5,000 volunteer instructors – the largest corps of volunteer hunter education instructors in the country. Those volunteers held more than 1,200 courses around the state last year, teaching hunter education to nearly 30,000 students.
“Demand for hunter education courses increases as we approach the fall hunting seasons and because many of the volunteer instructors are also dedicated hunters, they are out enjoying the sport they love,” Lawhern says.
The basic hunter education course features a DNR-certified curriculum that covers the history of hunting and firearms, firearm safety, hunter responsibility, wildlife conservation, management and wildlife identification. Game care, introduction to bow hunting and other specialty hunting, survival and first aid and water safety also are covered in the curriculum.
Hunter education courses have helped to significantly cut the number of people injured or killed in hunting incidents in Wisconsin, Lawhern says. In 1966, the year before hunter education courses were offered, 44 of every 100,000 hunters were injured while hunting. Today, the rate is approximately four per 100,000 hunters.
To locate a hunter education course near you, call your local DNR service center or check out the hunter education section of the DNR Web site.
A new on-line version of hunter education is also available. Students who take the class on-line are also required to pre-register for and attend a hands-on field day to test their knowledge and skills before receiving their hunter education certificate. Because field days are limited across the state, prospective students should consult the DNR Web site for the dates and locations of available field days before taking the Internet course.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern - (608) 266-1317
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