I volunteer for the FWC fish and wildlife conservation.
FWC has a free hunter safety course to introduce new to hunting an transplants.
We have totally online course and a half online and half in our classroom. We use to do a two day traditional class.
I would prefer they do half online course. This way we can see how safe they really are. Yes I have failed people.
If we can get the new to firearms to take hunter safety courses as an introduction. I have found a few converts that actually left the anti 2A.
The anti 2A people sign up just to take a seat away from someone that wants to learn. But you will get that anywhere.
Im not suggesting USCCA to be a sponsor or anything like that. USCCA has great courses and materials to help a slightly more advanced 2A person.
Tell me in a comment your thoughts good or bad. Thankyou for reading my ramblings.
I like the concept. We had to take Hunters Safety when we were kids. We had to take it to get our small game license. We were into pheasant hunting mostly but we would run across an occasional cotton tail.
My main thing is, I’m not a big fan of remote classes, especially for firearms, I’d rather see them in person with a qualified instructor walking through the basic safety rules. That gives the instructor a chance to actually see them in action to ensure they get it.
Not a fan of 100% online. The half class, atleast 2nd half is in class room and range day. Our range day is 20 ga with sporting clays, 22lr at 50 yard targets. We don’t teach marksmanship, we teach safe handling of firearms.
How can you teach safe handling of firearms without teaching some marksmanship skills I understand there are many folks who have CCWs that have only a basic idea how to target anything. Shouldn’t this go hand in hand. Shouldn’t be mandatory however knowledge is good. I’ve seen some really foolish things while hunting & at the range.
In Utah the CCW class is 100% in person class room. No firearms allowed. They talk a lot about training, they did in my class anyways, but it’s not required. It does give me pause, to know there are people out there with concealed firearms that may not have actually fire a gun, Ever.
In a previously common sense universe, the Right to bear arms was closely related to the knowledge of how to use them safely and accurately, handed down by our hunting ancestors and/or military training.
I taught Scouts shotgunning and I wonder how many remember anything they learned?
I wonder how many of them own their own shotgun now?
If they dont have a gun even though they paid, then maybe say, well this is for people who want to shoot. If you dont have a fun and ammo then your spot is being filled by someone who does. Thanks have a nice day…oh and thanks for the donation!!!
Yes , its up to the student to seek out an informed instructor.
All my classes are conducted with no live firearms. Dummy guns an dummy ammunition.
Good question we can ponder on that topic, contact some of your past student’s an talk with them.
In my hunter safety class, state of Florida provides shotgun and ruger American bolt action 22lr. As well as ammunition. But like I said we make sure they are safe with a firearm. Remember its a free class. Part of the class maintenance, scope alignment and proper ammunition. We teach the basics .Its up to the students to seek out instructors.
My biggest thing is getting converts from Anti 2A. So far I haven’t had any anti 2A disrupt class. For the most part they are the ones asking the most questions. The Anti 2A groups are loosing members because of the lies they spew to members. I would like to get more of these people in to a class room setting. Knowledge is key
Why do people have to take this course to begin with? Is it government mandated and if so what privilege do they earn upon completion?
With totally online courses, are there unlimited seats and thus the “anti takes a seat” thing goes away?
Preston, I taught hunter safety for decades. It’s a great class. Focus on the 4 safety rules and gun handling–I think the most important thing everyone needs to learn is how to make any gun unloaded–safe. Hunter safety is great for rifles and shotguns, but it’s not the best course for handguns. A lot of ranges provide a "basic handgun’ class that covers this, and given the prevalence of handguns, this might be the best course for what you’re looking for.
Preston, I agree that hunter safety courses may not be the best for handgun familiarization. Have you considered becoming a USCCA CCHDF (Concealed Carry Handgun Defensive Fundamentals) Instructor. That program allows instructors to teach a variety of courses, one of which is a perfect basic handgun class, essentially handgun 101.
NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting is another quality intro to handguns. As an instructor of both programs I think the USCCA program is a better, more complete one.
My problem with it , is there is a lot of people now adays that are hunting with pistols. It should be included in the content.
In Florida which is strange , hunter education certificate qualifies people to get a CCW. So I feel it should be in the coriculumn. If spelled wrong blame spell checked me lol.
But thats my opinion.
That i can answer, hunter safety is excepted in all the United States. Having a certificate hunting out of state an Canada you get a discount on a hunting lic. Certain states require it to hunt in their state as well.
Another thing that is in the US if you loose your hunting privileges in your home state chances are you lost it in all states.
I need more time with USCCA an get familiar with all it deals with. Still working on getting my masters certificate for hunters education. Currently im a Senior instructor.
I need more time with USCCA an get familiar with all it deals with. Still working on getting my masters certificate for hunters education.
That is fair, and a good plan to work forward in steps.
Just to let you know, the process of becoming a CCHDF Instructor is to find the Instuctor course with a USCCA Traning Counselor at a convenient time and place. Once you sign up and pay for the class, you first must complete a series of videos that give you the classroom portion of the program, then spend approximately two days in live, in-person instructor development with the Traning Counselor.
Those two days include review of key material from the videos, practice teaching from the CCHDF curriculum slides, and live fire at the range. At the range you will both practice teach the other instructor candidates, be taught by your classmates, and complete the instructor qualification range qualification.
Bay county range has a very nice class room to rent. Over head projector that plugs into computer. It would be a good place to teach from. I will ponder upon it for now.