Would you support a mandatory hunting test?

[spectr17]

IMHO every hunter in this country should have to pass a mandatory proficiency test to show they have at least some knowledge on how to track a wounded animal, when to shoot and marksmanship. When I lived in Germany I went with a Colonel one time to watch his hunting test over there. They actually have rolling targets and all kinds of tests to see how tuned in you are.

Having a hunter test here would cut our hunter numbers but it would weed out the goofs and dangerous hunters.

I see way to many people in the field who never had a mentor teach them how to hunt or shoot, they just buy a license and hit the hills and start emptying their gun when they see something move.

We have months of driver training, and refresher courses at many companies but once you get hunting license you almost never have to take any training. This will get worse as our society continues to become more city-fied and the new hunters coming in to our sport have less and less mentoring.

The only problem would be the logistics of taking the tests. There are already many places to take the Bowhunter Education course. Maybe add a dollar to the license fee to cover the test?

I wonder how many people would back a mandatory hunter test?

 

[WinMag1]

As much as I hate the bumbling, idiot crackpots that I occasionally run into while afield and, the fact that I consider myself an ethical, courteous and safety conscious hunter who would not feel the least bit intimidated taking any kind of "hunting proficiency exam." I can't help but feel opposed to the idea of even more government regulation in our society.

Besides, the DMV is already proof that even with their best intentions for public safety and oversight via testing of many elderly drivers, there's still plenty of half blind 90 year olds out there doing 45 in the fast lane completely oblivious to their surroundings.

With that said, I am however, open minded and would also like to hear others opinions both pro and con on this subject.

 

[Speckmisser]

Most of the country already requires Hunter Safety completion. While I wouldn't support another test/certification on top of that one, I'd sure like to see the Hunter Safety beefed up and standardized across the U.S. Some marksmanship and woodscraft requirements would sure help a lot of the yo-yos out there.

Let's also keep in mind that a lot of the "bumbling idiots" that are in the field did NOT have the benefit of a traditional upbringing in the outdoor sports. Their dads, grandfathers, uncles, etc., did not take them into the field and teach them how to hunt, shoot, and track. They had to learn on their own, and there aren't many venues for that kind of education. For many of them, their first exposure to hunting was Jackie Bushman, and their only "training" was the Hunter Safety class.

Bottom line, yes, I support a mandatory testing process.. but it has to be equitable and accessible to ALL hunters and prospective hunters.

 

[dirtpoor]

The problem as I see it is that most hunter training is by volunteer's, I was a master instructor for 6 yr's in the hunter training program. Most instructor's are super dedicated people contributing their time to help other's out, but not all are competent to teach, thus you have inequity in the program plus their time is limited and they are confined to teach whatever seem's most important in that limited timeperiod. You can't create a hunter in 10 or so hour's. Those that are interested can't ever get enough info while many other's are just trying to get thru the class learning as little as it will take to pass the test . Sound's like when we were in school ! As you watch the driver's on the road you will see a testament to driver training, sometime's you feel like you are surrounded by idiot's, yet they all passed the test to drive. Human nature being what it is most will not do anymore than is absolutely nessesary to pass the test, and then go on to do it their way.I tried but didn't have any success getting state sponsorship for a volunteer, pay as you go , intensive hunting camp. Much like the basketball /golf etc program's available today.The program would help alliviate the problem with no mentor available for people who want to hunt but, can't get started along with financing available to minoritie's and low income qualified people.As I write this I'm thinking that this might be a good program for sporting good's people to sponsor, maybe someone that's connected could get the ball rolling. I would help in any way that I can.

 

[bobcatman04]

The key verbage in the poll is when you were in Germany. Who wants to be like them or any other euro. Eventually only the rich will be able to afford this sport, lets prolong the enevitable. Sorry, new to the site. Hope I haven't stepped on toes.