RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

I never made the argument that a mandatory BE course would lead to communism. Where did I mention communism? I agree that such an argument would have been silly if I had made it.

This is not about right and wrong...it's about me having a different opinion than you...nothing more. The "line" I mentioned is not what you are talking about here, but the answer to your question is because you agree with the majority...that's why you are on the side of the "line" with the other 70%. That just makes you a member of the majority. That has nothing to do with who is right and wrong. There are many examples from American History where the majority consensus was later considered wrong.

Where do you get that I have a deep seated (seeded?) hatred for the govt. in general? I never said that...you are putting words into my mouth with yourfalse assumptions. I don't hate the govt. I just don't thinkit's roleought to include babysitting....that's all...jeez guys lighten up a little.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

Magic's comment was within the context of hunter education and more specifically bow hunter education. There's no need to take things out of context. Just trying to point that out

What do any of these have to do with killing "We the people's wildlife" and putting "We the people" in peril? When they do posess those two attributes, ask me that question again.

What wouldI do (besides volunteering to train people)? I would have you take a bow hunter'sproficiency class (and if it were to be part of a firarms session, I would make sure it had the meat and potatoesto assure a standard degree of proficiency). I would vote to keep you out of my state until you complete such training.

Me either...suggest an alternative. I'm all ears.

Your status quo isn't working...

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

Says who?

If it isn't working who is to say that your solution will fix it? Will a mandatory course really eliminate whatever problems there might be?

Has the current mandatory HE program eliminated firearms accidents and game wounded by firearms?

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

Says the photographs Wayne Pacelle is using to convince the 70-80% of non-hunters. Says the bowhunters who cannot hunt in their own countries. Say 70% of the members of this forum. Says me!

Who's to say it won't? It is a step in the right direction! It is better than saying stop meddling in my affairs! It certainly makes the statement that we as hunters are trying and we care!

It has in my state, not sure about yours. Have pilot's licenses and training eliminated plane crashs? Have manditory driver's licenses reduced car accidents? Come on Badger? You know the answer...

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

It has eliminated hunter accidents in your state? ELIMINATED?? wow, kudos to your state.

I know the answer to all of those....that's exactly my point. The training won't get rid of those pictures. And it won't eliminate futureaccidents.

Come on Huck?

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

http://www.hsus.org/about_us/board_and_staff/experts/experts/wayne_pacelle.html

Badger, know thy enemy. I think Wayne would like your stance on this issue.Were you and he talking about the issue to a group of non decided people, I shudder to think.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

Never said it would, but would you agree it is a step in the right direction to reduce them. Or, would you rather pilots jump into planes without training? How about drivers into car? Bowhunters into the woods. I know you're capable of connecting the dots. Why do you refuse to do so?

Sadly, we had one young, non-resident rookie, hunter (who lacked experience and a mentor) shoot a resident turkey hunter a few springs ago.The victim'sinjurywas non-fatal. We have not had a fatality resulting from gunshot or bow wounds, that I am aware of, since I have been hunting in the state. That would be exactly 33 years. I will see if I can dig up actual statistics... That span might be greater. OurHE programbegan in 1949.

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

Well, well, well. Lets stop with the hypotheticals and look at an acutal bowhunting case. An Audobon owned wildlife sanctuary in Conneticut is opened to bowhunting to control an exploding deer population. As you would guess it isheavily apposed by local and national animal rights groups.

The decision was made based on a thesis written by a graduate student at Yale University. The keys to this happening, they are in the article but I'll summarize. Statistics and figures gathered from the NBEF. Statistics that show that the 14 states that require the course have lower accident rates and also lower wounding rates than those where the course is not required. The point that CT is one of the 14 states with the requirement in place so the hunters there are highly trained and educated prior too going afield.

So keep belaboring the point that you sholdn't be told what to do. You want to keep arguing hypotheticals and mountain climbing go ahead. It works, and it is well received and amazingly enough in this case, expanded opportunities for bowhunting where none existed prior.

http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20031103/009705.html

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

I dont think you should have it, I learned everything on my own and how to shoot a bow by myself.. I've only been bowhunting for 4 years now and im one of the best in my town. I never killed or hurt anyone or myself!

RE: For or Against Mandatory Bowhunter Education
 

I'm in agreement with hunter education in general and it is certainly a plus that all hunters should probably take a course when they first start hunting. I don't think that "hunter education" is the "fix-all" solution. Testing is needed also. When I was stationed at Ft. Hood Tx, you had to pass a shooting test before bow hunting. Not just at paper targets at 20 yards. It was a ground level and elevated stands (hunting simulated) scenario test at 3d targets. You either pass or practice and test again before hunting. I think we owe it to the animals we so adamantly love and pursue!