Comment

Comment by Peter Emberley on December 20, 2012 at 5:23pm

I'm passionate Ken, bear with me. The shooting test was only a snapshot in time. It does not do anything towards a person's hunting ethics. If I see a moose at 400 yards while moose hunting. I will not take the shot, because I am not comfortable with that long of a shot. I don't know if I could make a clean kill shot at that distance. Lots of people are great marksmen and can do that shot very easily while some hunters couldn't hit a cow in the arse with a shovel and could care less. I guess that is what sets me aside from some hunters, if I'm not sure I don't pull the trigger. Some hunters, "if I can see it, I'll shoot it" who cares if it cripples away. I just shoot the next one.

Hunter ethics, do not come from a 2 out 3 at 50 yards. However you can teach it, but in the end.   "Hunter ehtics is like brains, either you have it or you don't".

Comment by kenneth Griffiths on December 20, 2012 at 1:37pm

Can we keep it clean plaese. Peter i did  say that any youth was stupid, nor did i disagree with ed when i understood what he was saying. I don't know where your son done the course, but my wife done hers last year and it was two 8 hr days. It's your own oppinion if you don't think that the shooting course is no good but some of do.

Comment by Peter Emberley on December 20, 2012 at 12:23pm

I completely disagree with you Ken. As far as I'm concerned the Hunter Education should be in junior high as a course. If you wait untill the age of 18 most if not all young people will have lost interest in hunting. All other provinces and in the US the hunting age is much lower. Thats ok but not our kids. Why, do you think our children are stupid or not capable? I find that highly offensive. I have been taking my son hunting, snaring and fishing with me since he was 4 years old. He is not stupid or incapable. He has a very good code of ethics and he has been shooting since he was 13. He was always within arms reach not eyesight but within reach of me!! I might add, he is very good with a rifle and a shotgun. If he had to wait untill 18 I don't think he would be interested in the outdoors like he is. I also think that is one of the reasons that he didn't get into trouble. He was and is always occupied and loves to hunt, lives for it like us all.

 The shooting test was absolutly useless. What did it prove? You are capable of loading a gun and pulling the trigger WOW the skill!! So you hit the target at 50 yards with a scope WOW another incredible feat!! How in the name of Jesus, will that stop moose from being crippled?

 

BY THE WAY

When I did the HE/FS course it took me 12 hours the first day and 12 hours the second day to complete the course. When my son did it. He spent 3.5 hours class time first day, 4.5 hours class time second day.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COURSE?

Comment by kenneth Griffiths on December 20, 2012 at 11:57am

ya it's fine that way, but i stillthink that the age should be to go alone 18.

 

I don't see what would be wrong in doing the shooting test as well. I have heard of alot of people failing it.

Comment by Edward Smith on December 20, 2012 at 10:15am

I Believe, Ken, you missed my point. I am not saying that we unleash 12-14 year olds into the woods alone, or with a group of like minded individuals. My point is that an experienced adult would mentor that hunter over a period of 4 years, they are able to hunt with the mentor, but they can not be on their own. Thus, when they are able to hunt on their own they will have a firm foundation of experience to draw from. Plus, if you as a parent are allowed to take you child hunting, and they are able to make positive memories early on, they will be more likely to stay with it, and with you. A family that shares the outdoors together stays together!

ED

Comment by kenneth Griffiths on December 20, 2012 at 10:05am

95% of the time a youth grows up hunting with his dad or mom. The ethical hunting is put in place all of there lives, right from catching there first bunny. So we are going to give him a gun at 16 and he goes hunting now with his buddy's at the age of 16. They go off in the woods and they forget all that has been though to them because one guy in the group want to shoot something. No adults around why not. That's how is all starts. Have you seen what is in our schools for teenagers today???? But there are guys and girls in school who do hunt ethical and good love them for that.

BUT, if they are going to lower the age, they should have a grace period of 2 years befor they can go on there own to carry a gun. EX... Like the permit, you get at 16 drive for a year and then go get your licence.

Comment by albert linegar on December 20, 2012 at 9:44am

Well said.

      Albert.

Comment by Edward Smith on December 20, 2012 at 8:21am

I think the answer lies with reducing hunter age. Sounds funny, but listen to my logic first, then let me know what you think.

Part 1: One of the reasons I think hunter age should be reduced, is so we can have a mentoring program, where youth and an experienced/ethical hunter are peered together. The youth, is taught hunter safety, firearm safety, and hunter ethics over a longer period of time. The Mentors, like the youth they will be teaching, must have gone through a course certifying they are responsible to be mentors. The younger we teach our children to be ethical, safety conscious, and responsible hunters the longer that this lesson will hold.

Part 2: YOU CANNOT CURE STUPID! People that are lazy, take unethical shots, do not practice with their firearm, are stupid! They make us all look bad! Through out this discussion, I have heard that we should have the firearm test be reintroduced. And, I have heard arguments as to why it should not be. My personal opinion is this... The idea that one moment in time, ie/ shooting a a stationary target, would indicate your ethical, responsible, and hunter capability is totally misleading and down right wrong. Think of it this way... when you went for your license, you did everything correct, made sure to check the mirrors, and followed the rules so you could pass and get your license. (correct?) That  was one moment in time. The moment you recieved your license, Did that mean from that time on you never went above the speed limit, ran a red light, or did something stupid like drink and drive? NO!! As Albert & Peter have put it what makes a hunter safe, responsible, and ethical has nothing to do with shooting at a fixed target, but what is between his/her ears. You can not fix stupid! No matter how many bullets he/she puts on target! it is our responsibility to be ethical, safety conscious, and accurate while hunting. It is something we should be teaching our children! If we allow, our youth to continue to get a license at 16 with no form of mentoring, then we have failed them. Our job is to teach them young, so when they are on their own, they will have a firm foundation from which to lean on.

Just My Two Cents,

ED

Comment by Peter Emberley on December 19, 2012 at 9:52pm

Gentlemen, lets try and keep it clean. We all get excited and I am no different. But you know humor me lol.

Comment by kenneth Griffiths on December 19, 2012 at 12:40pm

Oh ya mike i read what happenend to your dog and you got very lucky. I would do the same, it would be worth the wait. All i would see is red and that's not good for the one comming in to check his snares. All of us loves our dogs and don't want to see any of them get hurt for sure.

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