Have the hunting course changed? Ran Into a New hunter

I ran into a guy this evening while I was out who just got his hunting license. He asked what I hunt as I guess my camo Remington hat gave it away. I told him and he said he just got his license and has been out hunting the past few days. I asked what he was hunting and his response was 'anything... hopefully i kill a deer'

I wasn't sure if he was joking or was actually Serious. I did mention that deer was out of season as of the end of Dec but reopens in October.

He said 'thankfully I didn't shoot a deer then and laughed.' I had to walk away.

Since its been a LONG time since i took the course My question is does the Hunters Ed course make sure people know that there are seasons for wild game? Or was this dufus just not listening and some how slipped through the cracks and passed?

kind of irritates me knowing these people are out there who managed to pass this course. I have heard from a few people that no one fails the hunters Ed course. The instructor "helps you out" if you did fail the first time around rather then tell you to retake the course.

any instructors on here??

Oh man I hope he was just yanking your chain....

Heavy emphasis on safety in the hunter safety course. The onus is on the hunter to then figure out the seasons in the area(s) that they hunt. The course is also taught across the province and it's meant to be somewhat generic and consistent.

Well I sat in on part of the course my son took a few months back and a couple of guys did fail. They were given the chance to go back two weeks later to rewrite the test. The instructor did give them the option of sitting in on all/part of the course again or just show up at the end and rewrite.... So I guess it all depends on the instructor, my sons happened to be a good one....

But ya.... too bad you have guys that think a hunting license is a license to kill ....

All instructors should be reinforcing the hunting seasons/regs for all applicants......and possibly reminding them that hunting is only one of the tools used to manage our wildlife and it isn't a license to just kill things.....
Guys like that will give us all a bad name..

Same thing here, I attend our local jr hockey for a few nights out and a young fellow that found out that I hunt, seems to search for me to tell me about his hunting adventures. At first I thought he was joking about his actions but then realized he was serious. I tried to explain to him my thoughts on his practises but he just laughed. He would tell me about all the ducks he would shoot not having a clue what they were before he shot them. His plan was just sort them after. During our local controlled hunt he hit a few but wasn't able to track them and the stories just kept coming. This young man in his early 20's has a learning disability and unfortunately comes across as one that would be scary with a gun. Not sure how he got thru the hunter exams but if he can pass them then they can't be much to them anymore.

I remember not to long ago someone had posted up some pictures, (may have been of the Turkey course) where the MNR made an appearance and did a presentation, etc. I think that would be a great addition to the hunters ed course.

When my buddy took the course they actually went over the whole regs book.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

When my buddy took the course they actually went over the whole regs book.

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Mine too...actually he spent a long time ensuring that we knew how to find our way thru the different sections and we were tested in the end by having to use the regs to find a couple of answers.

Some times I find talking to young guys what comes across is the false bravado when they are telling you their stories. I don't take too much of it to seriously.

When I did the course they pointed out the book and said to READ IT, yes they yelled it at us.

They do not test on regulations and they assume that you read the rules, no different than a fishing license for regulations.

Safety is the main concern of the firearms/hunter safety course but that as well needs to be practiced. I am glad that I had my father as a mentor for hunting, he is actually taking out a few youngsters in the area that are interested in hunting but do not have hunters in the family and I am passing along what he taught me to my fiancee.

I think this kid just wanted to go kill something and if there is nobody there to get him straight that is a big problem.

I did my courses almost a year ago. They do go through the reg book with you. And on the plus side you get one in your package when you show up for class. I really hope that guy was pulling your chain.

If hes that blatant about it he'll get caught. Show up with a deer at a butcher in march and he'll be asking some questions.

I just talked with a guy who did his HSC last weekend.

Exam was open book, but was heavily reliant on using the regulation book to answer questions.

I'm guessing the "new hunter" mentioned was being a clown.

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Originally Posted by TurkeyRookie

I remember not to long ago someone had posted up some pictures, (may have been of the Turkey course) where the MNR made an appearance and did a presentation, etc. I think that would be a great addition to the hunters ed course.

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That may have been me. When my son participated in the Heritage Day hunt down at Long Point. Part of the orientation evening was a presentation from a biologist from Long Point Waterfowl that taught the kids how to quickly ID the birds that they may see. After that a local CO who was there the whole evening taught them about the the rules and regs. This guy hunted himself when time permitted and was clearly passionate about the outdoors. It was good for the kids to meet a real live CO, interact with him and see that they are people also.

It would be great to have a CO attend the hunter ed courses but I seriously doubt they could justify the expense.

I took the course 10yrs ago in New Liskeard. We had CO's attend one night and also the instructor would go through the regulations booklet. No questions on exam about the regulations. It would be easy enough during the practical for the instructor to ask a couple questions about the regulations. You can't expect someone to memorize all the season in all MWU but simple questions that forced the student to show that he knows how to use and read the regs would work eg. What is the minimum calibre size for moose? When is the archery season for moose in WMU 28? etc. Simple question that the student would be forced to show that he can pick up the regs and use it to find the correct information.

My time as a hunter I have seen countless times of people misreading regulations or not picking up new regulations each year and just go off of what the regs were 5years ago. I like to pick up a couple copies to read up on, one for my house and another for the truck.

i just took the hunter course a few weeks back and our instructor did go over the regs
but its a very short course time wise
so they have to fit a lot of info into a short time
the test is open book ( regs )
but the biggest thing no one has mentioned
is you are allowed 12 wrong answers and its a multiple choice exam
in my class at least 4 people got between 10-12 wrong and got there passing mark

When j took my course we were told to turn to a specific page in the regs.. And the instructor said write these down.. #1 a... 2.. B... Etc...

I remember the regs being referenced but it was due to the bow draw weights.

It is scary if that guy was for real. Hopefully he was just trying to talk and wasn't for real.

I did have a colleague who just git his licence say to me that he wanted to go for grouse last week as he just bought a shotgun. I told him to research a farm and I would go with him for some birds. He told me he has them on his property up north. I told him instead of researching a farm maybe study the regs book.

My instructor has us do a mock hunt with licenses and game seals.

He had an off-duty CO attend and one person per group was 'arrested' for hunting the wrong WMU/season/etc. He also did shot inspection for the waterfowl hunter.

It was a good reinforcement.

Gotta say, I am super happy with the quality of the course offering I took here in Kingston. The instructor was an Ex-Co and had lots of first hand knowledge to share. Even did an "Ask the CO" talk where people can ask all the hard questions that they may not be clear on. Very informative and very well delivered.

Just a thought on the hunter in this threads story, Maybe the guy didn't even have a license and just said he did to avoid being reported? Sadly, there are lots of people out there who still who don't do things by the book or who think the rules don't apply to them.

I'm an instructor in Niagara, and I spend over 1 1/2 hours on the regulation booklet during the 2 day course.
There are around 24 questions on the exam that come directly from the regulations book.
And yes, it is an open book exam for the regulation booklet, since the idea is to teach new hunters that they should ALWAYs be checking the regs if they're not sure of any hunting rule.

Took the hunter safety course in 1982, back then, hunting/firearms were covered. A uniformed MNR CO's actually came in and gave the practical test on firearms. My Children recently took the safety course, informed of the hunting regulation book but not a lot of time spent on details.

10 hours for hunting and 10 hours for pal is not near enough "qualification" the hunting course has gone down hill fast in the last 15 years

When I originally starting hunting in 1985 the Hunters Safety course was not mandatory in NB and all you had to do was apply for an FAC if you wanted to purchase a Firearm. Fast forward to 1995 The Liberals changed everything and a Firearms course was created and now mandatory I had to take the course because I forgot to renew my FAC before the expiry date if I wanted to be Grandfathered in and of course even though I had been already hunting for 10 years Ontario wanted me to now take a Hunter's Safety course.

The course was 3 days even in 1996 but it also included the restricted license course (Handgun Course). We went very in depth on hunting and safe use of Firearms (Long Guns). Carefully went over the hunting regulations. Back then the Hunting Book as had pictures of various types of Animals. Ducks, grouse to Turkey's bears to Elk were covered. I noticed now the book doesn't contain as much information as it use to.

The Restricted Firearm portion really had no material we spent a total of 15 minutes on that section.

If I remember correctly I scored either 98 or 99% or the exams.

I think today it all depends on the instructor you get some put the time in to teach a good course and some don't. My best friend took his course last year in Pembrook he said the instructor actually went through all the rules and regulations in the Hunting regulations

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Originally Posted by Mattones

I have heard from a few people that no one fails the hunters Ed course. The instructor "helps you out" if you did fail the first time around rather then tell you to retake the course.

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I can tell you that my instructor would do no such thing. Everyone was quiet while writing the exam. You stood on your own merit - pass or fail.

I hope he was yanking your chain but who knows these days.

yes the hunter course informs people there are seasons for hunting.

yes there are dufus' everywhere. during my hunter's exam i heard lots of whispering.

I once had a "hunter" tell me to use a rifle for turkey as long as i'm on private land, i told him that's not legal, he said " trust me it is, i

know, i've been hunting for a long time"

you would not believe how many people tell me that I cannot shoot Canadian geese as thy are Canada national bird ,,,,D

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Originally Posted by sash

I once had a "hunter" tell me to use a rifle for turkey as long as i'm on private land, i told him that's not legal, he said " trust me it is, i know, i've been hunting for a long time"

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I am going to assume Ontario, in which case you are correct. However, some jurisdictions in North America allow rim fire rifles for turkey.

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Originally Posted by dutchhunter

you would not believe how many people tell me that I cannot shoot Canadian geese as thy are Canada national bird ,,,,D

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I have been told the same by people, then when I tell them that they are miss informed and that there is actually a season for them I am the one who knows nothing about hunting and should double check!! Lol

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Originally Posted by Mattones

I ran into a guy this evening while I was out who just got his hunting license. He asked what I hunt as I guess my camo Remington hat gave it away. I told him and he said he just got his license and has been out hunting the past few days. I asked what he was hunting and his response was 'anything... hopefully i kill a deer'

I wasn't sure if he was joking or was actually Serious. I did mention that deer was out of season as of the end of Dec but reopens in October.

He said 'thankfully I didn't shoot a deer then and laughed.' I had to walk away.

Since its been a LONG time since i took the course My question is does the Hunters Ed course make sure people know that there are seasons for wild game? Or was this dufus just not listening and some how slipped through the cracks and passed?

kind of irritates me knowing these people are out there who managed to pass this course. I have heard from a few people that no one fails the hunters Ed course. The instructor "helps you out" if you did fail the first time around rather then tell you to retake the course.

any instructors on here??

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Native?

Reminds of the know-it-all that sat next to me when I took my Federal firearms course. I got to hear all about how he was taking the course so that he could get a job with Brinks. When he wasn't talking BS about guns or complaining about the government, he passed the time by rolling his eyes and scoffing at things the instructor said, never bothering to take notes as he was too cool for that. Only one person in our class failed; can you guess who?