buck59

Do you have to take an accuracy test for bowhunter education to prove that your a competent archer. just curious.

Lilhunter

yes but the test is only required for Archery Only Areas.

Phish-On!

Hi there Lilhunter. I don't use the stick and string method, but I wondered what happens if a person fails the accuracy test - do they get to take it again after a set period of time? What's the distance you are set-up at? This must be along the same lines as the muzzleloader's requirement for using them at (for instance) Ft. Rich? Thanks.

beej99

Phish-on,

yes, there is a written test and shooting test. for the shooting portion you do a walking shoot and must hit I believe 70 percent in teh kill zones (5 animal targets, 2 shots at each) and cannot miss two on the same target. Additionally, the state has set up test dates, but your instructor has a lot of leeway on offering more testing days for the shoots and how often you can do the shoots.
muzzleloader is the same way i think. I am going to take the course in feb.
I will let you know how it is.
beej

Lilhunter

yes, if you fail you can take it with fish and game up here the next time they have a class or go with one of the Master IBEP instructors as he has a ibep certified course at his house, you can shoot that everday but no more then once a day for qualification. The shots...well nothing is more then 30 yards. You have 4 targets, 2 arrows per target, in fairbanks we have 2 out of a treestand, and one kneeling shot. You must hit 5 of 8 (62.5% pretty poor for a minimum to hunt if ya ask me)! You also have a blood trail to find. The folks up here have a pretty realistic set up. I cant remember the chemicals to do it (one is dishsoap) but the one thing I do remember from making one is if you get the crap on your hands, plan on being red for a couple days LOL! I know nothing of the muzzl requirments as far as there classes go. just remember, there is no shot OVER 30 yards!!! Cant say that enough. Our longest shot is at an elk and I cant believe the amount of folks who ask me how far it is or tell me that it is well past 30 yards (35-40+!). The really wild thing is when some guy walks up to you and says oh that looks 40 yards and then sticks his 2 arras. We also have 2 different stakes at each target (minus the treestand shot for obvious reasons). Usually the difference in distance is only a couple yards but you also must take into account the angle of the shot. For a kill shot, think of a balloon where the vitals are at...if you pop that ballon you pass! Its as simple as that, if you dont, you dont pass! The scoring rings on the target are out! For a perfect broadside traget you can go off of them and be pretty safe but put any angle at all and forget it! Hope that helps some.

Phish-On!

Thanks for the info guys. When I was living up in Los Anchorage I signed up for the muzzleloader course, but since I've moved back down here its too long of a trip just to take the course (or to bother with signing up for the Ft. Rich hunt either).

I was just curious how they ran that bow qualification. Not being an expert - my opinion isn't worth much, but 5 out of 8 doesn't sound like a minimum to be proud of!
(But I also know it would take me a H*** of a long time to get good enough to make the minumum - I put away a recurve 50# back in the 60's when I was a teenager! I was making very little progress and went back to centerfire in many calibers.) Is our test up here the equivalent of those required down south? Thanks.

beej99

Sorry guys, I guess I was mistaken on the number of targets. Well, 5 of 8 is a different story. and I forgot the blood trail. Lil, y ou should know what you are talking about, you are the instructor!

Phish-on, do they not offer the muzzleloader course down by you? I am taking it to hopefully get the ft. rich hunt. we'll see.
that, and cross your fingers on a dall sheep in august!

Lilhunter

I hear ya there on the 5 of 8 issue but then again thats just my opinion!

np beej <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

As far as them being equal, they should be, however I have been recently finding out that some of the instructors/classes in the 'valley' are doing things a little different then we are in the interior....so who knows LOL! Best of luck, btw, I passed mine with a curve, in the rain, side by side with a wheelie man and he failed so give it some time on the range and a bit of confidence and you will do fine!

AK NIMROD

WHEN I WAS DOING THE CLASSES IN THE VALLEY WE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES PUT OUT BY F & G. WE ALSO REQUIRED THE SHOTS TO BE DONE WITH BROADHEAD TIPPED ARROWS. WE HAD ABOUT A 33% FAILURE RATE ON FIRST TIME SHOOTS IN THE PROFICENCY TEST. IT'S NOT A HARD TEST BUT THERE ALSO MUST BE ONE KILL ON EACH OF THE 4 TARGETS SO 6 KILLS OF 8 CAN FAIL. YOU CAN'T RESHOOT THE SAME DAY. USUALLY STUDENTS HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT CLASS OR SHOOTING DAY.EVEN IF IT IS NOT THAT TOUGH, ALASKA HAS THE ONLY REQUIRED SHOOTING PROFICENCY LAST I KNEW. SO IT WOULD BE TOUGHER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

Lilhunter

thats exactly what I mean AK...in the interior, specifically FBK's, we dont shoot broadheads! I havent figured that out being fish and game put it out you would think it would be the same across the board! I think our failure rate is pretty close if not a little more then that and thats WITHOUT bh's! I cant even imagine what it would be like with them up here LOL! I will have to do some diggn and ask why its not the same and maybe see about getting it that way....being an instructor and all <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!