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RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

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ORIGINAL: Goodgrief

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ORIGINAL: westpointhunter

I'll give her this...she states her positions intelligently. :D

So does PETA's website.

It does? Most anyone that sees a PETA website or ad usually has the same reaction that they do to a street preacher in the city. You try to be considerate while completely ignoring what they are saying.

Back to the topic at hand. Bob makes a good point in that having a mandatory class only makes us look better. However, it would have to be worthwhile. If it was anything like the state run classes I have taken in the past it could be used as ammunition against us by PETA and other groups who would say, "Why do such common sense things need to be taught? These inbred idiots would shoot their own children they are so stupid." I am all for the educationof ourselves and fellow hunters, as long as that education has substance.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

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However, it would have to be worthwhile.

Worthwhile is subjective toan individuals understanding of the training. It's going to mean different things to different people.To people that have negative hunting views, it will probably have a negative connotation, to the people that have positive hunting view, it could be seen as a positive thing. But what about the people that do not take a stance either way. Would a person like this feel more confortable knowing that a bowhunter who is bowhunting legally 500 feet from their home has had 18 hours of state mandated training as opposed to a person who has none? There can always be casesmade to either side. And trust me, PETA will blast at anything hunting related.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

Iam for it....I took BHSC with my Daughter back in 95,I didnt need too but I did it with her and it was fun...

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

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ORIGINAL: ranger56528

Iam for it....I took BHSC with my Daughter back in 95,I didnt need too but I did it with her and it was fun...

Back over 12 years ago, some guy took the course with his daughter and thought it was fun. Therefore it should be a mandatory event for all who want to bowhunt. Sure, why not?Sounds like a pretty good reason to me...I guess I can buy that.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

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ORIGINAL: BobCo19-65

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However, it would have to be worthwhile.

Agreed. I guess what I'm getting at is that many of the state run courses I have attended (which were some years ago now) were just barely better than nothing. I would like to see something that is a real meat and potatoes course if it were to be required. Not just, "Don't shoot arrows at pets. Don't aim your bow toward a house." I would like to see something that covers the proper and safe way to use a treestand, including climbers, ladders, and hang ons. Safe and ethical ways of trimming shooting lanes (on one property I hunt a 6" dogwood was completely cut down).[:@] Proper game treatment in warm weather, and so on. A course such as this would instill confidence in a landowner that the individual that has taken itgot some real safety information. Why do you think landowners are more apt to give permission to a club withinsurance than an individual. It certainly isn't because clubs are more ethical (around here anyway). It's because the insurance give them confidence that they will be safe. A good course could do the same thing.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

Hey Chad , i voted yes . I think the game we hunt deserves to be hunted resposibly and cleanly , Bowhunting educational courses are a good way ofteaching inexperiencedhunters what is expected out in the field ..... I have to take a BEC before i can hunt Elkin Colarado in September .

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

Is a Bow Hunter Safety Course a good idea?...............you bet!

Does it make you a better hunter?.......In many cases yes!

Does it make you safer in the woods?....................it might.

Is it fun?.............................................. ........with the right instructor its probably a blast.

Does it genuinely help people?........... I would say in most cases yes.

Should it be mandatory?................Absolutely not.

Most of you are arguing the wrong points. As listed above there are MANY benefits to the course and most any hunter would be wise to take a course. However should the state spend time, money, manpower to insure your safety on an activity that the average person with common sense can do without injuring themselves or others? Not in my opinion. I think a 3d shoot is more dangerous than bow hunting. You have 100 guys shooting thier bows in close proximity to each other, which is WAY more dangerous than bow hunting where you will probably never see another hunter on any given day. Should we mandate a safety course for that?

What ever happened to rugged individualism in this country? If this question where posed 50 years ago it would be a laughing matter. Themorewe rely on "the state" for anything the less we rely on ourselves. This makes us less responsible and further supports the victim culture that grows in our society. This attitude is what makes our country weaker.The idea that the state should have one more thing to worry about because people are too lazy, foolish, or lack common sense enough to do on thier ownfurther illistrates how far our attitudes have shifted in 200 years.

If you need further reasons why its a bad idea, here in this excellent, better written post than mine, is exactly why it should not be mandatory.

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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.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

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What ever happened to rugged individualism in this country? If this question where posed 50 years ago it would be a laughing matter.

Really? Doesn't seem like much of a laughing matter since most all state mandated hunter safety courses were put in place in the 50's. That is approximately 50 years ago.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

As with most topics and debates. The myopic view with the loud voice is not the voice of reason.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education

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I would like to see a shooting proficiency test as well as an education course

I am pretty sure that up in Ny they have this..I think that they are and would be a great thing to have in PA. Safety is a priority, but the proficiency test is fair to the game and our image as hunters. How many of you have buddies that shoot a few practice arrows (like 3 or 4) before the season, hit paper and say "aw it will kill a deer"....I really would like to see this type of course/test.