I beleive it was lilhunter that brought up the grandfathering of the profeciancy test, this is a reasonable thing to do, I am one of the oldtimers he spoke of in regards to that, in Va. when they started hunters safety, every one who had a prior years hunting license was grandfathered. When Va. started hunters safety most people who hunted prior to that time had mentors, fathers, uncles, cousins and or brothers, now there are a lot of new hunters that do not have the benefit of a mentor, this is sad, but true, I have often wondered if I would have thrown in the towel or made a lot of stupid mistakes without one.

ABM I agree with you that profeciency should be across the board for all weapons, all weapons have different dangers and quirks. Blackpowder is a prime example, I garauntee you that there are a lot of newbies to black powder that have no idea how to deal with a hangfire.

JRW I feel that the grandfathering of this will appease the people like your friend.

I would love to see some form of mentoring programs for all types of hunters, not mandantory, but a group of hunters willing to take a new hunter under thier wing.

Man I would hate to think what a mess I would have made field dressing my first deer if I had never seen it done before, little lone if I was trying to do it from a book! Do not get me wrong, I know there are videos and some of the write ups on field dressing will get you through it, but seeing and doing are quite different from reading.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club