Hunter safety program working in Texas
Passing on shooting and hunting safety to a new generation has never been more important, and thanks to thousands of volunteers across the state, it has become easier than ever through the continuation of hunter education courses.
The courses taught by game wardens, professional educators and volunteers from other walks of life delve into a variety of subjects that ultimately all focus on safety and responsibility by hunters and shooters in the field or at the range.
Terry Erwin, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Hunter Education Coordinator, said that much like other aspects of life that get placed on the back burner, the biggest hurdles to completing a hunter education course ahead of fall seasons are time constraints and busy schedules. However, Erwin said that if hunters are going to take the time and pursue the activity, then they simply must prioritize their time to fit in the course.
"We offer a course in each of the 254 counties each year, but as you know, many more are held in metro areas," Erwin said. "We have about 4,000-plus courses each year, and have already certified over 38,000 students this fiscal year."
Erwin said that while the course could seem to be a burden to those with an already busy schedule, there is one benefit that stands out: It's a one-time deal.
"The biggest benefit once passed is the fact that it is a lifetime certification and one does not have to take it again, unless a refresher is desired," Erwin said.
The overarching tenants of hunter education are safety and responsibility, but Erwin also said that gaining knowledge, becoming involved and introducing Texans to the joys of shooting and hunting aren't far behind.
"We feel these are significant benefits, but each individual judges the course outcome separately," Erwin said. "Passing on a Texas heritage is significant because of changes in demographics and the fact that we do not live in or have a rural society as we did 40 years ago."
Accident reduction
The numbers don't lie: Hunter education programs are invaluable in reducing accidents. Last year's accident rate per 100,000 licenses sold fell to an all-time low of 2.6. That number doesn't mean anything unless you consider that in 1987 -- the year before hunter education became mandatory -- the accident rate was 6.8 per 100,000. Go back to 1966 -- the first year for which the TPWD has viable statistics -- and the accident rate was at an all-time high of 12.6.
More than 33,000 students on average have been certified each year in hunter education programs in the past decade, which also is a high mark for any 10-year period in the past four decades in Texas.
Accident figures
There were 26 documented hunting-related accidents in 2008, including six fatal occurrences. Dove-hunting accidents topped the list with seven incidents, while the six fatal accidents each involved hunters pursuing a different animal, including waterfowl, rabbit, quail, coyote, deer and feral hog. However, the common occurrence in each of the fatalities was careless handling of a loaded firearm, which led to three cases of self-inflicted mortal wounds.
Requirements
Anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, is required to pass a hunter education course to hunt in Texas, and hunter education certification is mandatory in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The minimum age a hunter may be certified in Texas is 9, which coincides with the need for youths to be certified to participate in the Texas Youth Hunting Program. However, it remains the responsibility of a parent or guardian to provide sound supervision and to know whether or not their child is mature enough to handle firearms in and out of hunting situations. Hunters who are at least 17 and who have not completed a hunter education course can obtain a one-time, one-year deferral for $10.
Hunter education courses cost $15 and students have two options, which include taking the free classroom study portion online in addition to a one-day field component or take the traditional two-day course that averages 14 hours of instruction.
For more information on Texas' hunter education program, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education.
Will Leschper's e-mail address is wleschper@yahoo.com.
Share this story:
Google
Yahoo
digg
del.icio.us
facebook
Slashdot
