Hunter Safety Course

[gotcoues]

Is it just me or does it seem like the Tucson classes for hunter safety are few and far between compared to other places? This will be my third and final youngster in need of the class, and it appears the waiting game is on again. The Tucson classes seem to be half full before there even posted? So, I wait with baited breath each week for a class to pop up and nothing. I was told the classes seem to run more frequent Aug/Sep, but that is pushing it for an Oct youth hunt (considering if might fill up without you) and/or my personal desire to archery hunt.

 

Seems to me summer would be an excellent time to pack in these classes.

 

Has anyone else had the same experience here in Tucson?

 

Better yet is there someone qualified to teach the class that could be swayed into a class in the near future?

 

I would prefer to put my youngster in the class setting over the internet class like his siblings before him.

 

I would be happy to pay a fee for the convenience of more classes than for the volunteer low fee or no fee classes, considering the lack there of.

 

Is it just me?

Justin

[Kilimanjaro]

I have... I've been wanting to take one for the last few years to get the HE point, but all of the classes have either been in Kingman or PHX..

[DUG]

You would think there would be more classes in Tucson. I just looked at the updated list and there are classes in a lot of towns but not Tucson. My daughter just did the on-line class and had her field day at Rio Salado in Mesa. There were 11 people there for her field day. Rio Salado does a field day the 3rd Sunday of every month. Might be something to consider if he needs it to be able to hunt in a jr. hunt in Oct.

[cohofishing]

Hi,

 

There is a way to do the hunter safety course online on your schedule. I believe you still have to do the field day though. Look on the Fish and game website.

 

Brent

[DUG]

The online course is kind of boring. I started out reading it to my daughter and she said she would read for herself. She spent about 3 weeks time on it. She took 3 practice tests and got 76%, 84% and 86%. On the on-line final she got 88%. You have to get 80% or better to get the certificate to go to field day. And you have to pay $15 just to take the on-line final exam. The field day was easy. They got to shoot rifles and do a simulated hunt. Then they took the 50 question test and got her patch and certificate.

[gotcoues]

I'm trying to avoid the online class, I feel my son would be better served with the actual classes. Two of my children have completed the traditional class, I also took the class with my daughter. I would like to take the class one more time with my son. The class would be a good experience for him and I would consider it quality one and one time if I took it with him. The internet course in nothing but homework IMO. Two down, one more to go! I can't break tradition now, my son has impatiently waited for "his" turn for the class for many years. My two oldest are hooked on hunting and I see them being involved with hunting for years to come. My youngest, I have a feeling with be the "hardcore" hunter of the three. Something about him tells me the obsession has already begun, with only a jack rabbit to his credit. LOL

 

Justin

[azpackhorse]

Have you checked with Sportsmans Wharehouse? My buddy sent his daughter through a class there this last spring.

[DUG]

I'm trying to avoid the online class, I feel my son would be better served with the actual classes. Two of my children have completed the traditional class, I also took the class with my daughter. I would like to take the class one more time with my son. The class would be a good experience for him and I would consider it quality one and one time if I took it with him. The internet course in nothing but homework IMO. Two down, one more to go! I can't break tradition now, my son has impatiently waited for "his" turn for the class for many years. My two oldest are hooked on hunting and I see them being involved with hunting for years to come. My youngest, I have a feeling with be the "hardcore" hunter of the three. Something about him tells me the obsession has already begun, with only a jack rabbit to his credit. LOL

 

Justin

I don't blame you for wanting to take the class with your son. It's definitely quality time as is the hunting you will be doing with him. I took the class with my son 7 years ago. A lot has changed since then. My daughter is playing lots of softball and there was no way we could take a real class. Hope you find a class to take soon.

 

[gotcoues]

I did check sportsmans, my other son's class was there two years ago. Same deal, they are volunteer classes usually by a Game Officer. I will talk to whoever is assigned to reserving the room, maybe they can write our name down so we get into the next available.

I can't believe the Game and Fish website doesn't have a sign up page/waiting list. This is the third time I've mentioned that I think that would be a good idea and they could see how many people are waiting in a specific area. I get very little response from the education department to that one, EVERY TIME.

 

With all the talk about bringing a child into outdoors and introducing them to hunting, you'd think there would be more emphasis on keeping up with the safety course classes. My experience has been 90%+ are young kids taking the class. Personally, I think the classes are great and Tucson needs to pick up the pace a bit. Phoenix offers so many more classes from week to week, it's a little frustrating.

 

Justin

[IHunt2live]

I've thought the same thing. I'm planning on taking the online course then just the one day feild day but they never have them, or they fill up before I can register for them.

[desertdog]

This is the reason my dad never put me through the course. With his job he was out of town a lot and te classes were so hard to come by. So I just hunted by his side until I was old enough to turn in with him. This is a huge problem for the youth in this part of the state and a lot of times it kills their excitement. My oldest is 9 and I will be looking to get her signed up within the next year and I also want to take the class with her. I am already not looking forward to the frustration of getting us signed up because the powers that be cant get their act together.

 

The thing that really makes me mad is for a child to hunt they have to take this course. But they make it very difficult to get your kids though the course. How many more handcuffs do we need on our youth.

[Apatkelley]

One of the best things you can do is contact the Game and Fish department and sign up to take the hunter safety instructor course. I did about two years ago and have been able to teach a few classes and it has been a great experience. I have a very busy schedule that prevents me from being able to teach the traditional class, so I have focused on the online course and field day. I have to agree that the traditional class is better for the kids, but when time shcedule or other factors make it impossible, the online course and field day is an option that didn't exist just a few years ago. The online course isn't easy and some younger kids can struggle with the amount of reading required, but with hard work most kids can make it through. Contact Dave Williams at the AZGFD and get certified to teach the class and help provide more opportunity in your community for hunter education.

[DEF110]

Try Second Amendment Sports

5146 E. Pima St.

Tucson, AZ 85712

(520) 325-3346

 

My son and I took HSC last year. It was a night class with the field day at 3 points gun range.

[gotcoues]

Thanks for the advice guys. I started another post to let people know there was a class available this morning when I checked the website. My complaint, there are just too many problems with the way things are run. I have voiced my opinion directly to G & F Education department, and get no interest responses every time. You are simply told to check the website Monday night or Tuesday morning. Again, I have a big complaint about that advice. The class I signed up for this morning was not even posted Monday night or Tuesday morning of this week. The weekly update was inplace though. I found this class added to the schedule this morning. Now, for all the people who check this coming Monday night, well they will certainly be out of luck. The class is almost full now and will most likely be full before Monday night when they check for updates on new classes.

 

I understand this is a voluteer taught, the instructors are fabulous and great with the kids. This will be my third class with my children. This problems lies with management, not with the instructors.

 

It's just frustrating they can't add a waiting list for parents. I have a feeling that a lot of the instructors have people signed up before the classes are even posted. If you don't personally know someone, you have a clear disadvantage for sign up.

 

Justin