Certainly more training and more education cannot hurt. Certainly many people could benefit from a bow hunting course. It should be an option to new hunters or anyone who wants to attend. But does it really need to be mandatory? Sounds like more of the State putting its nose in individuals' business...right where it doesn't belong.

Many states do not require training to get a driver's license. Some don't even require a field test for drivers. Just walk in the DMV, pass a simple 15 minute written test, and you got yourself a license. If that is deemed ok for public safety purposes, then certainly an inexperienced bowhunter is ok for public safety.

Someone mentioned a course for treestand safety. If someone wants to go climb a treestand without learning about the proper safety measures, then that's their business...it certainly is not the responsibility of the state to make sure he is qualified for treestand operation! In fact, you could argue that the state is OBLIGATED to NOT educate the moron who doesn't think treestands pose safety risks, because by educating an unwilling person you would reduce the possibility of Darwin's Mechanismdoing it's job....

Many have advocated a shooting proficiency test for bowhunters. Most states do not require a shooting proficiency test to hunt with a gun...so why should they for bow hunters? Unskilled rifle shooters are likely far more dangerous to other hunters and game animals than unskilled bow shooters. Call me a libertarian or whatever, butI think the fewer MANDATORY restrictions that our government places on us the better we all are.....obviously to a reasonable point somewhere short of anarchy.

Quality bowhunter courses are a great idea. They should be available for those who CHOOSE to take them. Another thing to consider is that making something MANDATORY usually reduces the quality by a significant margin....because the state then lowers it's standards to accomodate the lowest common denominator. Thus, the people who want the training would get a lower quality course, and the lowest common denominator (who would normally not elect to take the course if it were optional) would have a false sense of confidence in their knowledge and skills.

Just my opinion...I could easily be wrong.