Need some opinions from those that want to give them.

The Hunter Ed side of our Wildlife and Parks Dept. here in Kansas has been studying why the numbers are down of those experiencing sport hunting in Kansas. Much to my disappointment, Hunter Ed was discovered to be one of the 'problems'. Prior to this year, anyone born prior to July 1, 1957 that wanted to hunt had to pass Hunter Ed and possess a Hunter Ed card. Any one that wanted to hunt under the age of 16, the age that you have to purchase a license, also had to pass the course and possess the card.

Effective January 1, 2005, any one under the age of 16 can hunt without a Hunter Ed card as long as they are with someone over the age of 18 that has a proper license and has passed the Hunter Ed course. We can not certify anyone under the age of 11, and if someone between the ages of 12 and 16 want to hunt alone, they have to take and pass the course.

The study determined that most of the parents that had to sit through the course with their 9 or 10 year old were really upset when their child lost interest in hunting by the time they were 11 or 12. The excuse the Legislature had in changing the law is that 'We do not want to erect a barrier to sport hunting, and we want to get more people involved at any earlier age. If we raise the age to take Hunter Ed, we can allow them to determine if sport hunting will be a priority to them.'

I feel that if sport hunting is reinforced in the home, the young person can't help but think of it as 'something they can't live without'. Anyway, that's the way it was when I grew up, even though I played football, basketball, baseball, and was in 4-H.

I think part of the blame today lies with those mis-guided parents that want their child to fit in socially, and live vicariously through their kids by participating in every sports travelling team imaginable. Along with the sports and social activities, there just isn't time to 'fit' in hunting.

I am hoping that this new change does not increase the hunting accidents due to trying to appease what I feel is a small, but vocal minority.

I am interested to see what you all think about this, and see what it is like in other states. Maybe I am totally off base.
Tim

IMO there is a very definite, visible shift in recreational activities and life away from anything "outdoorsie". Here locally people used to like a big building lot for their home where they housed a horse or whatever, and spent alot of time in the outdoors. Lately people want the smallest lot possible, or a condo. They want to put in their 8 hours of work then come home and either watch TV or play computer games. They have no interest in yardwork, getting outside to hike, fish, hunt or boat.

That description fits perfectly almost every single person I work with. They think I'm absolutely freaking crazy when I come into work wearing hiking boots and a camo jacket because I got up at 4am and hunted until 8am when I returned to work at the normal time.

My boy I try to keep excited about the outdoors... he loves riding ATVs, loves to come along when I scout or hunt deer... but when I ask him if he wants to get a gun someday and hunt with me he says "no way". Hes only 5 so far so hope to change that in time but IMO, hunter numbers are diminishing.

The "relaxing" of the hunters ed restrictions you live above surprise me though. There is a age restriction here as well to hunt alone too.


-DallanC

Howdy. Interesting topic. I don't think a hunter ed course is a barrier it's more reinforcement (imo). People that deeply care about the sport of hunting have probably brought there children up respecting nature and firearms and understand the importance of a hunter ed course. The parents that are complaining are probably ( weekend warriors) who think they no all there is to no about hunting, the sad part is the children of people like this need the course the most. This is just my opinion i wish ya luck.
joe

Joe,
Couldn't agree with you more. I was teaching ethics a couple of years ago and asked the class the question, 'What is the first thing you do when you shoot your deer?' I was looking for tag the animal, field dress it, etc. One little 8 year old piped up and said, 'TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE PICKUP!'

His dad did the cartoon character bit and kind of slid under the table...
Tim

In this area the hunter #'s are faiding because the area farmers are more concerned(rightly so) with there bank accounts, and are leaseing to big fat rats from Detroit and Flint who take advantage of this, so the local folks have to pay to lease, or hunt state land or give up hunting . Its so crowded in our local state land that its like an ocean of orange on opening day, My brother was shot at one year...

I think (know) ex-lions Semple was a part of the hunt "leasing" advantage at one time, as well as a few from his....(or him being a guest in)....gun club.

I still from time to time hunt Macomb Co. public land with a 70% success rate so far, but then again land is growing smaller and smaller and it is beginning to get more orange out there.

If I can train and instruct my "blonde" daughter in the fine art of hunting and firearms safety (and believe me that was tough) and she can pass the Hunter Ed here in california (she ACED it) then it shouldn't be a barrier for anyone that wants to hunt. I don't know if it will make the city slickers better gun handlers, but...I used to teach the Boy Scouts hunter safety when I was in Washington (state). I hope I was able to impart some knowledge to them and the enjoyment of the hunt...I have no problem with Hunter Ed and can find no reason to discontinue it. I believe it niether stops people from hunting or creates a barrier for them. If it does...Then they didn't want to hunt in the first place. It's called "Commitment"...

I feel that the hunter's ed course is a viable part to teaching the children that hunting is a privledge. By passing this course it gives them the opportunity to reinforce the importance of safety and ethics.

My oldest son plays soccer, baseball, football ect., but he always want's to go hunting with me. Even if it means missing a game. Even though he is only seven, he's up at five to be able to go hunting. In my opinion this is what life's all about. Spending time with my son in god's country, what an opportunity. It's too bad that so many parent's won't take advantage of this. No TV, cell phones, computers, or any technology to interupt a good old fashion face to face conversation.

Being in a rural town with not very much to do. Hunting is the perfect opportunity to get the kids out of town, and give them a tool that they can use for the rest of their life. It gives them something to do, that is productive, other than run around town and get into trouble.

I am not one to really care about social status as long as my family is happy. I support my son in athletics, boy scouts what ever he wants to do. He loves to go hunting and learn about the outdoors, so that is my main focus with him.

I have to agree with Longwalker. If the commitment isn't there nothing will change it. My son took the Hunter Safety Class here in CA. at 10 and did not have a problem with it, but he started going with me Dove hunting and he was shagging birds at 5, then he started taking his Red Ryder with him to "Finish" the birds that I had not done in with the gauge. He did not hunt until he was eleven, (his B-day is on the opener so he had to wait). This year is his first year hunting deer with me and although he gets bored he is sticking it out and he has known for a while that it is not all shoot em up and go. It takes patience and dedication. As far as the Traveling sports, he plays on a B-Ball team which goes year round as well as Little League, with this year starting High School Ball so he keeps busy but every time I go out he is with me or hating life becuase he's not. If you do not think he enjoys it try getting a 14 year old up for school vs going hunting, I will take hunting anyday.

Amen Irskii. I have a 36 year old son that continuely calls me up and lets me know about his adventures in the field and woods. He, also started out as a "run and fetch" kid at age 5 or 6. Never had any problem getting him up for the hunt. He has been training a Black Lab to be a General Gun Dog...We are planing a upland bird hunt as soon as he is ready to show off his dog...IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THEN THIS...

To ammend my previous post and apologize, I should have said I agree with Bushmaster not Longwalker. 40 lashes, and I just picked up a Chocolate Lab at the pound, (Pure Bred). As soon as deer season is over, I am going to start working him with Quail and see what he's got. And again you are right, It don't get any better.

hunting is not a privledge its a RIGHT.

when i was young if it had not of been for hunting my whole family would have starved or became thiefs.

this is one reason why land owners do not need a hunting liscence to hunt on there own property.

we lived on squirrels, rabbits and beans. to this day i still cant eat beans.

RIGHT OR PRIVLEDGE, we are going to lose it if we dont stay on our toes. The fat rats are taking the "hunt" away from the little fellow, he leases all the property he can, and posts it, alot of the times does not hunt it.
That is happening here alot. Folks come in, lease property so no one can legaly hunt with out permmission that they will not get. Or they sell hunts to people from the big city's(Detroit, Toledo, Flint, Lansing) they in turn shoot up all the bucks and leave the meat to rot and take there trophy.

thats true but local hunters did it to us not city slickers.

a prime example.

a guy wants to poach on me which i wont allow his reasoning being i got 3 tags and i only eat three deer a year so why should it matter when i kill them {idiot}

local boys tresspassing and shooting everything moving including cows.

coon hunters cutting fenses

no one asking permission properly.

i only have 40 acres and am a lifetime hunter and im to the point myself if im not hunting with you then you cant hunt on me.

lack of respect or honor is a sad thing

I'm pretty fed up with "locals" that assume because they are "from the area" they can hunt wherever and whenever they what. I leave my land open to hunting for all, but it would be nice if some one were to ask me for permission once in a while. The other day I sneaked into one of my tree stands so as not to stink up the area. I found a hunter sitting in the stand and he had walked right down the deer trail to get to it. I only have 100 acres, but this stand was right in the middle of it. The land isn't posted or anything, but when a person comes to a permanent stand, he should assume it belongs to some one and not use it without permission.
Oh well, I'll get off my soap box......this subject just gets me going. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.....and don't forget who made all our blessings possible.

Blaine