One would think that somebody would have figured out a way to have an "online" bowhunter's ed class. It wouldn't be really hard to put together, and you could rake in a bloody ton of money. All you'd really have to have is a digital video of the lecture, followed by a secure online test. Successful testers would be mailed a signed and sealed certification card to present when they show up to buy their NR licenses.

Anyone would be willing to pay $30-50 to take the class at home, at their own convenience, as opposed to blowing a Saturday and commuting halfway around the globe to attend a day-long session.

That type of venture would probably be very profitable for a website frequented by a lot of hunters.... Ahem... Justin.... Ahem....

In NY you had to take your hunters and bowhunters course. I think they were like 2 or 3 evenings or sometimes part on a saturday. I don't know if they would help some of the PA people who live close to the border. It was a great course. I took it with my son. We had to shoot 20 yards i think and my son outshot most of the men!!

Here is a brief overview of the class for those of you who may be interested in it.

You will be sent a packet of info containing a workbook and a video, You are to fill out the workbook and watch the video before you come to the class. Then when at class we will go over topics such as, Parts of the bow and arrow, hunting ethics, map reading, distance estimation. Shoot/don't shoot situations, treestand safety, tracking, and we will go over proper shot selection. I'm sure i'm forgetting something but that is a quick overview. Trust me it is well worth the $18. Most guys take it because they are hunting out of state and need the certification to get their license. But they leave the class commenting on how helpfull the course was and how much they learned. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

The test is just a book test, covering such topics as map and compas reading, treestand safety, ethics, and parts of the bow and arrow. The test is actually very easy and is designed like the regular hunter safety test so that if you studied you will pass very easily. In fact when I took the test my self no one in my class got more than 1 wrong. There is no proficiency part to the test. You will not pass or fail because one is not a good shot.

The actual class has a lot of hands on activity's that can not be taught online, such as blood trailing, some shoot or don't shoot situations, and the ever popular treestand saftey portion where we have every person in the class get into a full body harness and step off the platforma few feet off the ground and hang there to see what it feels like. This to some people is a real eye opener. Us PA bowhunters can expect this course to become mandatory in the semi-near future. From what I have been told it will be implemented like the hunters safety course when it came into use. Basically all new bowhunters will be required to take the course, while the hunters who have had a bowhunting license within the past few years will be grandfathered in.

Trust me it is a good course. Right now most people have to drive a good ways to take the course. That is because there are not enough instructors. As soon as you pass the course you can apply to become an instructor, (The game Commission pays for this).

I offer this to all of you guys interested but think this course is too far to drive or in the future you see a bowhunters course posted for Centre County Pennsylvania. I am willing to put you up in my own house for the night and serve you a nice steak dinner cooked by myself. And if you wish kick back a few brewskie's to have you come to this course. Trust me guys give it a try I promise you will go away with a new appreciation for the sport we all love so dearly.

Lists of classes are posted on the game commission's website at: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/v...1&q=153107

You don't actually need the bowhunter course in PA. It says it's voluntary.

That is correct Davidmil. You don't need the course to bowhunt in PA but you may need it to hunt in other states outside of PA. But like I stated above in my post, I look to see some sort of bowhunter cetification mandatory in PA in the semi-near future.

I doubt it. The current BHE program isn't meeting the numbers to sustain federal grant funding. Combined with the current state of the PGC, if the federal grant funding for the BHE is lost the program will end.

Well T_in_PA3 as of my last Game Commission update meeting I had back in the end of April. Us instructors were informed that making the BHE course mandatory in PA is in the works, but we still need more instructors to cover all parts of the state. Yes the funding right now is tight, but with making the course mandatory that will solidify the Federal funding.

That's news to me. I've been tied up w/ other things so my involvment this year with BHE has been very low.

Hey that is what we were told. There had been talk of it for a few years. have you heard about the new online system to register for the classes? The demo seemed like it was very user friendly. But the problem is it is not up and running yet. It was to be working by June but guess what? Yep its not working yet.

you dont need them here in ma. but i took the class some i can hunt out of state or say new brunswick it was a very excellent class and you couldnt beat the price free, it was hard to finda class that wasnt bookedwe did the class in 1 long day