Yes Jerry you are the ONLY bowhunter I know that has actually taken the class and disagrees with it, passed or failed.

I agree on the more area specific. We are teaching moose hunters, the basics on whitetails, a joke IMO but we have a "schedule" or forgive the spelling cerriculum to teach by and have to stay within those guidelines FOR NOW.....With 40 students we can only stress the factor of many of the lessons at hand, that they are at a "granduer" scale then they may seem. The shoot no shoot situations I am sure stress this. Its tough being as complex a state as we are, trying to teach as much as we can in 6 hours!

Also look at the basic hunters edu. Its becoming mandatory across the country, also special hunts with most weapons has some kind of proficecny testing. Alaska included (speaking of other then bows here). We may not agree with all of it, but the intent is worthy. Ask any instructor up here, you'll get as many different answers as there are instructors, but yet they are all the same in there own right.

The groups do have "days" where you can gain mucho knowledge, the 3d's on wed in summer on esro, the range wed and fridays in winter, any broadhead shoot, kings nook, books, mags, internet. Its a booming economy for bowhunters. Its called finding a mentor, in which you did in due time. Its a shame a new guy has to find one but I was in your shoes 11 yrs ago, I agree, one of the other reasons I jumped at trying to help you and many others and also find a new hunting pard at the same time.

Jason, You dont have to twist my arm to hard to come on up! Btw, from the pictures pard, I think you have me beat on this earth atleast by a few years <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Grim,
I would hate to have him head hunting me also. That said I agree more often with Jrw then not. He is one of the few I have seen around this place I have a great deal of respect for and it seems to show in many others responses. Yes we butt heads but take it all with a grain of salt, yes we cause head butts with others, its all about learning and hopefully fixing many flagerent errors among other peoples thinkings/doings and what not.

Its unfortunate we cant find common ground here but I am sure we will in the near future. It is nice for once we can atleast have a discussion and not be cussing eachother off the boards like many others did when this first started.