Online hunting course

[neilselden]

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.

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!

[neilselden]

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.

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

[Ryeguy]

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

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.

[Ryeguy]

Also congrats on passing your hunting course Neil!

[Deer Hunter]

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!

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.

[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.

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.

[Deer Hunter]

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.

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.

[neilselden]

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?

*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

[neilselden]

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.

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!

[neilselden]

Also congrats on passing your hunting course Neil!

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. :-)