Jumping through hoops to hunt

[Superfly]

Just thought I'd throw out something for discussion.

Gone are the days where you can just walk up to your neighborhood rod and gun store to buy your hunting license and tags. Here is what I have to go through to hunt in Southern Virginia:

1) Take a VA Dept Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) approved hunter's safety course.
2) Attend a class on region-specific hunting regulations, where they cover animals that are eligible for harvest.
3) Qualify with my hunting weapon of choice. Since I am bowhunting, I had to demonstrate the proper way of using a climbing tree stand and engage three targets at various ranges in order to qualify.
4) Attend a IBEP (Bowhunter Education) class that covers ethical and effective shot placement.

So, for those of you that think that any old person can walk in to a store and obtain a hunting license, those days are quickly going, if not gone already.

And, for the record, I do not mind, at all, all the hoops you have to jump through in order to hunt. It has the effect of ensuring that only safe, serious hunters can be found in the woods.

Brian

[MrBenchley]

1. Whereas in neighboring North Carolina

all you would have had to do was sound sober on the phone...

http://www.icw-net.com/nc/gov/hf-licph.htm

And in South Carolina, you could mail it in any old time....

http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/hunting.html

[Superfly]

3. Wrong....

South Carolina - "All hunters born after 1979 must take an approved DNR hunter safety course"

As for North Carolina "Regulations Require That You Take the Hunter Safety Course if You Have Not Previously Owned A Hunting License."

What were you talking about?

[MrBenchley]

9. I was 100% correct, fly

""All hunters born after 1979"
Which means that most don't....

"As for North Carolina "Regulations Require That You Take the Hunter Safety Course if You Have Not Previously Owned A Hunting License.""
Only for residents of the state, fly.

[Superfly]

10. Alrighty, and I can't believe you are actually

trying to argue this and not fly off the handle. Are you sure you are the real Benchley?

All hunters born after 1979. That's all hunters 24 and younger. That's stricter than the drinking age requirements, what else do you want?

I am sure that in the next few years, most states will follow suit and require hunter education of all hunters. Like I said in my original post, the days of just walking into a store and buying a license, if not already gone, will be gone soon.

As for North Carolina, it appears as if you may be correct. Hmmmm...that's kind of odd. But, it does say this about the hunter education program results:

Due to hunter education, hunting accidents have decreased by over 50% during the last twenty years making hunting one of the safest recreational activities.

[MrBenchley]

12. I'm always happy to show up an ehtusiast in public, fly

"All hunters born after 1979. That's all hunters 24 and younger. "
Yup. That's a small segment of the population....and the part least likely to hunt, according to the Field & Stream survey.

"As for North Carolina, it appears as if you may be correct. Hmmmm...that's kind of odd."
Par for the course, fly....I've been correct about stuff all along.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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[MrBenchley]

14. No, fly, that's just a side benefit

and lots of fun....

[Superfly]

15. It doesn't take long for you to turn a

civilized conversation into a string of emotional gibberish, particularly only on your side.

Face it, you have a lost cause and are too afraid to admit it.

[MrBenchley]

16. Gee, fly, I'm not the one bitching

because he has to sit rhough a safety class.

"Face it, you have a lost cause"
Yeah, surrrrrrrrre......

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[MrBenchley]

18. Hahahahahahahaha....

Yes, you started a whole thread titled "jumping through hoops" because you do not mind so much...

[Superfly]

19. Ah, now you can read my mind?

Jumping through hoops - To go through many steps to accomplish something

I don't mind at all. I don't mind because I know the hunters who go through all the steps to be properly licensed will be top notch, increasing my and their safety in the woods.

[MrBenchley]

20. Hahahahahahaha....

"I know the hunters who go through all the steps to be properly licensed will be top notch"
Except for the ones who get around them.

[Superfly]

21. Yeah, they're called "poachers"

and are in violation of the law. If apprehended, they will face stiff penalties.

[demsrule4life]

2. I received my license in Germany

after 18 months of class, and then had to double up with an experiance hunter for a year. And the real kicker is hunters in Germany have to pay for the meat. Now just go to the gas station, buy a license and go hunt.

[Superfly]

4. Did you have to show a

hunter education card?

I know in Alaska, first time hunters must be accompanied by a professional, commercial guide.

[demsrule4life]

5. After the class you received a diploma

had to take it to a government office and buy the license, can either buy one or three year license. If you let your license expire for 10 years have to go through the whole process again. Also it is just as hard to get a fishing license, but doesnt take as long.

[Superfly]

6. And what are your thoughts

as to the merit of such programs?

[demsrule4life]

7. I think they should be voluntary

Nothing that a father can't pass on to their sons and daughters.

[Superfly]

8. OK, but I have to ask you

what of that first time hunter without the benefit of a father wise in the ways of hunting?

Making it compulsory (and gratis) is an easy way for the state to raise the level and quality of hunters venturing into the woods.

[demsrule4life]

11. I agree

Ment to put that in my post. Learn game ID, ethics, safety and test for shooting ability. In Germany I dont remember the exact course of fire but had to shoot 100 meters rifle and 10 clay pigeons, had to get five out of the ten. Pistol and bow not legal for hunting there.

[Spoonman]

22. Fewer hoops and better hunting

All you need here in Texas is the hunter safety course if born after Sept 1, 1979, and a license of course!

Brian, I've got 165 acres in SOUTH TEXAS (home of the Muy Grande) with 4 blinds on it. If you get down this way, I'll have hot coffee for us at 5 am.

We will however have to stop by the local gun store the night before to pick up our "fully auto" deer slayer super magnum assault rifles and ten boxes of ammo the night before. It should only take about 10 minutes according to you know who!

[Superfly]

23. That sounds great!

can we buy those bullet hoses without background checks?

BTW, don't be surprised if I take you up on that offer....

[Spoonman]

24. Background check

hell you don't even need a drivers license!

Season starts Nov. 1