Online hunting course

Hi,
I just completed the online Ontario hunting education course. It was very convenient to do it from home, and at only $60, was way below what I saw instructors charging for in-person classes.

It took me 6.5 hours, including a few breaks of a few minutes each. It was a bit of a long session for a single evening, but you can get it over and done with in one long sitting.

The best part of the test is that I was not asked detailed questions about identifying ducks. I was a little concerned about that when there were 3 fairly long segments on the topic. Almost everything else was for the most part common sense.

Cheers,
Neil

Congrats now get out and enjoy

Congrats. I did mine in high school.

Congrats, the in person course, depending on who ure instructor is, is worth it imho.

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Originally Posted by neilselden

Hi,
I just completed the online Ontario hunting education course. It was very convenient to do it from home, and at only $60, was way below what I saw instructors charging for in-person classes.

It took me 6.5 hours, including a few breaks of a few minutes each. It was a bit of a long session for a single evening, but you can get it over and done with in one long sitting.

The best part of the test is that I was not asked detailed questions about identifying ducks. I was a little concerned about that when there were 3 fairly long segments on the topic. Almost everything else was for the most part common sense.

Cheers,
Neil

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Is it required that the course is done in one sitting? That would be quite difficult in today's busy world.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

Is it required that the course is done in one sitting? That would be quite difficult in today's busy world.

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That sounds like an odd thing to say. If one can't find a day to qualify to hunt how are they going to find the time too hunt.
In any case sounds like the OP did an all nighter and crammed for the exam. Think we all done that for one reason or another.

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Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Congrats. I did mine in high school.

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Hi,
Was the course actually made available through your school? I know that these days, lots of folks would not like that.. but personally I would love to see something like that come to life.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

Is it required that the course is done in one sitting? That would be quite difficult in today's busy world.

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Hi,
Nope, not required. It's just that when I get a bug to do something, I want to go out and get 'er done.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Articcat

Congrats now get out and enjoy

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Hi,
I will! I'm planning to stick to rabbit, grouse, and squirrel - at least to start. I've done a tiny bit of scouting in Marlborough forest, although I haven't yet found good stands of oak or beech. I've just read about Carp Hills though and will start scouting there as well.

I had done a tiny bit of hunting when I was much younger, and I'm looking forward to geting into it again.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

That sounds like an odd thing to say. If one can't find a day to qualify to hunt how are they going to find the time too hunt.
In any case sounds like the OP did an all nighter and crammed for the exam. Think we all done that for one reason or another.

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Hi,
It was all evening after work - I managed to get it done by 11:30pm.

The test and quizzes themselves were really easy if you at least pay half attention during the instruction. Part of me thinks it ought to be more challenging, but I have to admit, I was happy for it to take only one evening.

Speaking of having stricter requirements: last month at the range, a guy muzzle swept the RO and a couple of other folks as he was packing up. The RO gave the guy the gears, but pretty gently. Afterwards. his partner (I presume) started taking the RO to task for "speaking to them rudely". I was really surprised at the nerve she had. I know basic safety is taught at the CFSC, but the lesson did not sink in for that pair!

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Ata83

Congrats, the in person course, depending on who ure instructor is, is worth it imho.

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Hi,
I get that. This time though, the convenience outweighed the drive to Lanark. That said, my CFSC instructor definitely made it worth the while to attend his in -person class.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by neilselden

. The RO gave the guy the gears, but pretty gently. Afterwards. his partner (I presume) started taking the RO to task for "speaking to them rudely". I was really surprised at the nerve she had. I know basic safety is taught at the CFSC, but the lesson did not sink in for that pair!

Cheers,
Neil

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Ya the one who makes others tow the line for their own good, always gets grief from those who can't bother to follow the rules.

not sure I'm on board with online hunting course. Way to easy to have people cheat. I have known people who took their boating course online and that was a big mistake. Someone just sit beside them and answer the questions for them. Not saying the OP did this, just never heard of this being done online before. Just hope it doesn't lead to more problems down the road.

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Originally Posted by neilselden

Hi,
Was the course actually made available through your school? I know that these days, lots of folks would not like that.. but personally I would love to see something like that come to life.

Cheers,
Neil

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Yes at school. Well it was a different world back then.
This would of been in the seventy’s. I think it was part of phys Ed?

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

not sure I'm on board with online hunting course. Way to easy to have people cheat. I have known people who took their boating course online and that was a big mistake. Someone just sit beside them and answer the questions for them. Not saying the OP did this, just never heard of this being done online before. Just hope it doesn't lead to more problems down the road.

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Don't see the hunting portion online being a problem. Back when I took the course the hunting/written test was easy. You'd have to purposefully answer wrong not to pass. Were they get you is in the practical firearms test. Pass on the first try but almost seemed determined to fail me, the guy I went in with was there for his third try and had to return for the forth.
Was sad though for what I saw he did as well as I but when the CO asked him what he did wrong he listed a bunch of stuff, thought to myself dude shut the heck up and simply say " If I did anything wrong I'm sure your about to tell what."

The exam is common sense my son fell asleep during the class and still got 100%

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

not sure I'm on board with online hunting course. Way to easy to have people cheat. I have known people who took their boating course online and that was a big mistake. Someone just sit beside them and answer the questions for them. Not saying the OP did this, just never heard of this being done online before. Just hope it doesn't lead to more problems down the road.

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Too bad that the firearms course is not online. Folks here have to travel out of town to take it.

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

not sure I'm on board with online hunting course. Way to easy to have people cheat. I have known people who took their boating course online and that was a big mistake. Someone just sit beside them and answer the questions for them. Not saying the OP did this, just never heard of this being done online before. Just hope it doesn't lead to more problems down the road.

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The solution to that is to require students to attend in person to do the practical and write the exam. Separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. If they fail,there's no refund and must wait until next season to retest.

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Originally Posted by Ata83

Congrats, the in person course, depending on who ure instructor is, is worth it imho.

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Exactly. Some instructors can be tools. But I learned they are always right...at least until the course was over.

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

not sure I'm on board with online hunting course. Way to easy to have people cheat. I have known people who took their boating course online and that was a big mistake. Someone just sit beside them and answer the questions for them. Not saying the OP did this, just never heard of this being done online before. Just hope it doesn't lead to more problems down the road.

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I hear you. It's not my own style to cheat though, for a couple of reasons: 1) I want to do my best to not get caught doing something foolish that could jeopardize my license - my assumption here is that the course gives enough info to stay out of trouble; and 2) I actually enjoyed the learning as I went through the material.

Someone else has mentioned testing in-person: I would also prefer that the test be done in-person, at least to test their use of and safety with a firearm. Then again, the current method is a damn sight better than when I lived in New York - I went into a shop, bought a .22 rifle and headed out hunting squirrel the next week. I knew jack-nothing about safety, other than knowing how to control the muzzle.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

The solution to that is to require students to attend in person to do the practical and write the exam. Separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. If they fail,there's no refund and must wait until next season to retest.

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I forget which European country (I think it's Switzerland - not sure though) requires hunters to pass a marksmanship test. I like that idea a lot. Except as implemented, a hunter gets to keep trying until (s)he passes the standard.

That said, I hope that the vast majority of hunters here are conscientious people who sharpen their shooting skills before heading out to hunt. Why anyone would hunt without knowing their effective rangs ie beyond me. And besides, the shooting practice is a lot of fun!

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Ya the one who makes others tow the line for their own good, always gets grief from those who can't bother to follow the rules.

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Honestly, I wish they were booted and banned at least temporarily from the range. It gets on my nerves when hunters or shooters do stupid stuff. The safety factor is top of my mind here, and I also don't like it when people give others a reason to think badly about hunters and shooters. We have to remember that like it or not, the public's perception is important.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Sam Menard

Too bad that the firearms course is not online. Folks here have to travel out of town to take it.

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The travel is definitely a pain - I did the hunter and PAL course over a weekend during COVID, so had to make the drive twice. But I will say having the firearms course in-person was a huge plus, as you actually get to handle the different style guns. It allowed me to get familiar with styles of guns that my father/family did not already own, and I can see how this would also be a huge advantage for a first generation hunter that may have never handled or even seen a gun in-person before.

Also congrats on passing your hunting course Neil!

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Originally Posted by neilselden

I forget which European country (I think it's Switzerland - not sure though) requires hunters to pass a marksmanship test. I like that idea a lot. Except as implemented, a hunter gets to keep trying until (s)he passes the standard.

That said, I hope that the vast majority of hunters here are conscientious people who sharpen their shooting skills before heading out to hunt. Why anyone would hunt without knowing their effective rangs ie beyond me. And besides, the shooting practice is a lot of fun!

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Good marksmanship is definitely important.
Back when I was growing up, most kids were great shooters before they even pass their hunting test.
First grouse I got was with a snare at the end of a long branch. lol I also shot them with a slingshot then I moved on to a pellet gun then a .22.
I spent lot of quality time with my Dad and brother.
I was lucky to hunt from my backyard or the farm across my house.
Great days in better times.

In NB to obtain your Moose Licence (assuming you win in the draw) you are still required to show good Marksmanship shooting at a target at 100 yards can't remember for sure but I think you get 3 shots and I think the target was 9x9 inches.

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Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Good marksmanship is definitely important.
Back when I was growing up, most kids were great shooters before they even pass their hunting test.
First grouse I got was with a snare at the end of a long branch. lol I also shot them with a slingshot then I moved on to a pellet gun then a .22.
I spent lot of quality time with my Dad and brother.
I was lucky to hunt from my backyard or the farm across my house.
Great days in better times.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

In NB to obtain your Moose Licence (assuming you win in the draw) you are still required to show good Marksmanship shooting at a target at 100 yards can't remember for sure but I think you get 3 shots and I think the target was 9x9 inches.

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That’s a good way to do it.
I seen a excellent target shooter empty a magazine on a Moose and not touch it. Buck fever does crazy things.

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Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Yes at school. Well it was a different world back then.
This would of been in the seventy’s. I think it was part of phys Ed?

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*SIGH* I also think that martial sports should be more available to young people. I'd advocate to make boxing, wresting, fencing and biathlon available to all students. I'd personally include marksmanship in that, but I suggested biathlon as I would expect too many people to oppose making marksmanship only classes more available - I am guessing that more people would be accepting of biathlon.

It seems to me that the only way we can try to persuade more people that target shooting is a legit pastime, is to introduce as many non-shooters to the sport as we can. Within my circle, most people are not interested, and some are quite against it. In my view, those against it are just being close-minded. Except for my one friend who escaped a war when he was in University - if I had escaped a war, I likely would not want to be around firearms either.

Cheers,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Good marksmanship is definitely important.
Back when I was growing up, most kids were great shooters before they even pass their hunting test.
First grouse I got was with a snare at the end of a long branch. lol I also shot them with a slingshot then I moved on to a pellet gun then a .22.
I spent lot of quality time with my Dad and brother.
I was lucky to hunt from my backyard or the farm across my house.
Great days in better times.

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You were lucky. Having grown up in a large city, my only exposure to shooting was in the Scouts. Once I was on my own, I decided to get into target shooting and small game hunting. Back then, it was easy to find places for target practice - I even remember setting up in the undeveloped edge of a suburb and we had no issues. Today, I'd expect to get busted for doing that!

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Originally Posted by Ryeguy

Also congrats on passing your hunting course Neil!

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Thanks. I'll file my cert with the province later this week, and buy my license. I'm as excited to be heading out to scout as I am to start hunting again. :-)

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Originally Posted by neilselden

Thanks. I'll file my cert with the province later this week, and buy my license. I'm as excited to be heading out to scout as I am to start hunting again. :-)

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Congrats and good luck!

Growing up it was almost a progression.

BB / pellet gun. Shhoting cans, paper targets, wandering around the woods near the cottage in Central ON shooting other things ( branches, old junk, etc.) refining shooting technique to the point where using iron sights you were able to hit a bottle cap at 40'.

Then .22, and shotgun.... same kind of drill, only now you had a thrower and a box of clays in the old pits, or junkyards....

By the time I challenged my FAC exam, and did my hinters safety, the ability to shoot wasn't in question. ( Army also helped immensely).

To this day, I refuse to hunt with anyone who hasn't re-zero'd their rifle. Typical drill, would be to re-zero, and then take a further 10 shots, from kneeling, off hand, sitting....

And I absolutely will not hunt birds with someone who hasn't burnt through at least a box of target loads busting clays. I will often set aside a day in late Aug, early Sept and invite a few guys to the club with me, for just that purpose.

Doing otherwise is irresponsible.

The days of bragging that you hunted deer with the same box of ammo 5+ years are gone.

When I got my first FAC there was no exam in 1985. Do you mean your PAL?
In NB the Hunters education was optional back them but most schools would put on the course as optional short course.

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Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

Growing up it was almost a progression.

BB / pellet gun. Shhoting cans, paper targets, wandering around the woods near the cottage in Central ON shooting other things ( branches, old junk, etc.) refining shooting technique to the point where using iron sights you were able to hit a bottle cap at 40'.

Then .22, and shotgun.... same kind of drill, only now you had a thrower and a box of clays in the old pits, or junkyards....

By the time I challenged my FAC exam, and did my hinters safety, the ability to shoot wasn't in question. ( Army also helped immensely).

To this day, I refuse to hunt with anyone who hasn't re-zero'd their rifle. Typical drill, would be to re-zero, and then take a further 10 shots, from kneeling, off hand, sitting....

And I absolutely will not hunt birds with someone who hasn't burnt through at least a box of target loads busting clays. I will often set aside a day in late Aug, early Sept and invite a few guys to the club with me, for just that purpose.

Doing otherwise is irresponsible.

The days of bragging that you hunted deer with the same box of ammo 5+ years are gone.

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Can youth take the hunter safety course and not the firearms course or how doesnut work?

If you don't take the firearms course you can not purchase or posses a firearm

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

When I got my first FAC there was no exam in 1985. Do you mean your PAL?
In NB the Hunters education was optional back them but most schools would put on the course as optional short course.

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FAC. 1994.

The PAL / POL system came in around 1998 or so if memory serves?

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

If you don't take the firearms course you can not purchase or posses a firearm

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Okay correct me if I am wrong, but your PAL isn't good until your 18 anyway? So long as you take the second part of the course between the ages of 15 and 18 you should good?

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Originally Posted by DonnieR

Okay correct me if I am wrong, but your PAL isn't good until your 18 anyway? So long as you take the second part of the course between the ages of 15 and 18 you should good?

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As far as I understand your question, yes. PAL is available from 18 years of age. What second part of the course are you talking about? If you are talking about the Hunter Education Course, it is available from 12. I remember writing an introductory letter to an appointment, wondering how it sounded from the outside. I found this text-to-speech tool https://phdessay.com/read-my-essay/, and after listening, I realized that edits were needed. Since then, I have been using it to write documents, so if you plan to submit an application, I recommend listening to it first.

"The days of bragging that you hunted deer with the same box of ammo 5+ years are gone."

I think you might have missed the old IMHO part.

You still have to have a PAL if your hunting as a minor. My son has had his since age 12 he's 17 now and will get a regular PAL next summer.

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Originally Posted by KyleBrns

As far as I understand your question, yes. PAL is available from 18 years of age. What second part of the course are you talking about?

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