Bowhunter safety ed classes are NOT mandatory here in Maryland. BUT, our class is accepted in all places where one is required. We have a lot of people who are traveling to places like Canada, Colorado, New York and the such that require it. If we didn't offer it they'd have to travel to some other place and take it. It's a service offered people for a nominal $5 fee. The fee is used for training aids, classroom rental etc. I've given the classes with a couple different groups. One group even goes so far as to make elaborate blood trails for students to follow for usually a couple hundred yards. They do seem to enjoy it.