I also would love to see a Proficiency portion added to the PA Course.

gplant, So why not make people have to take refresher courses every five years to keep their license?

NY you have to shoot your weapon don't think you can fail if your not accurate however.

Guess I'm not the average parent when it comes to teaching my kid about the responsibility that comes with hunting. So I guess it's a good thing for the state to give an introduction to these things.

Guess there is nothing bad that can come from this.

PA hardwoods, I see your an instructor thanks for getting involved.

Does your state have a mentoring program for kids that want to get into hunting and don't have someone to show them the ropes?

i guess i am on the fence about this.....I dont feel strongly for it one way or the other

am all for it. I had to do the class andhad to pass a proficiency test 5 arrows 15 yards 5 inch circle. To pass no arrowout side the circle. Tha Calss was 1 day. This was to be able to hunt in the city limits

Charlie, thank you, and from your post I can tell you are an excellent parent.

As far as PA having a mentoring program, Not really. We have a new Mentored Youth hunting program where an adult can take one youth small game, spring turkey and deer hunting if they are under the legal hunting age of 12 but there is no mentoring course to match up adults with youths who want to get into hunting. I wish there was something like that, I do not have children of my own, but when I was coaching basketball and baseball, I always made a point to try to intruduce some of the youngsters who wanted to into archery and the outdoors, or even volunteer to take them to their hunter ed courses if their parents did not want to or couldn't. They are the future of your sport and we need to do everything we can to keep them interested in it. My GF has 2 young daughters (6 and 8) who are already asking me all about hunting and archery and asking if I will take them hunting. And honestly I cannot wait to be able to do so. Actually this spring I think im gonna have 2 very excited young hunting buddies in the turkey blind with me.

Here is the link to FAQs about the PA Mentored Youth Hunting Program: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/v...a=460&q=168353

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.

Both firearms and bowhunting ed. We have mandatory bowhunter and muzzleloader ed classes here but not basic hunter ed for firearms. You have to have a class and pass a proficiency test to hunt with a bow or muzzleloader but not a high power rifle... now where's the sense in that?! I've seen some damn terrifying behavior with rifle safety up here and most of it has been from guides! Just because someone does it a lot or has done it since childhood, doesn't mean they do it right!!

Hardwoods I do that too. I'm president of our youth football league and it is a good access to find kids that want to start hunting.

I so far have started three other then my own in hunting. This spring if I'm able I will take my buddies son Turkey hunting.

I am oppossed to anything government mandated; too many rules and laws already.