ORIGINAL: davidmil
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.
We do charge more in Georgia, but it is also not mandatory here. We do the simulated blood trails, etc.
Now that you can take most of it online and only have to show up for a brief refresher to go with the treestand safety and blood trailing, I am not seeing how it is that hard for anyone to do it that wants to. Granted it is much harder in some states where the certification in not mandatory as there will be fewer classes offered, but if the effort is made everyone should be able to find a course.
People will get out of the classes what they put into it. Having taught for only 3 years now I can honestly say I have learned something at every single class I have taught.