Whats WRONG with Recruitment

I sure aint blaming instructors for the mess.....why have you taken it that way?

WHAT IF.......Our bureau of motor vehicles relied STRICTLY on VOLUNTEERS?........

You see my point?

They make it a LAW that those born after 1986 must take this class and test to BUY A LICENSE and hunt.

When that was made law, there should have been a LAW saying that the classes would have been readily accessable. Now all the folks who are 20 years of age (adults) and under (kids) CAN NOT take up hunting till the class is completed.

It was not all that big of a deal back in 96, 97, 98, and so on....because we were just talking kids back then.

NOW days you can't even introduce a 20 year old ADULT to the joys of squirrell hunting....unless he can find a class that relies on VOLUNTEERS.

About 20 years ago I moved to the community I now live (Decatur Twp., Marion County).

Back then, we had an ALL volunteer Fire Department serving this community....I joined up!

We were covering about 300 EMS and Fire calls a year.

Today, Decatur Township sees about 1800-2000 calls for EMS and Fire services a year. Do you think VOLUNTEERS could cover that kind of a call load?

At some point the demand for services exceedes what VOLUNTEERS are capable of providing.

How many Fish & Wildlife and Resevoir Property DNR employees are on Duty as I type this (10:30 Sunday Morning)?

WHY is there NOT a class put on by these folks EACH weekend of the year?

There should be a standard understanding.......

If you need the H.E. class.....all you should have to do is show up any Saturday or Sunday morning at ANY IDNR property!!!!!!!!!

You didn't answer my original question. Are you an instructor?

You bring up the BMV. Sure, lets model the Hunter Education program after that wonderful example of beauracy.

First you cant just go get a drivers license. IIRC, most people PAY to take DRIVERS ED.

Sure you can take a skills test. But I bet you are going to give up most of the day waiting to take the skills test, then, taking the written test.

That said, I am all for a one-time temporary license for those who just want to give hunting a try; with direct supervision.

Finally, I think there were around 500 classes offered in Indiana last year, that averages out to almost 10 per week.

I also overlooked one thing you mentioned in your first post.

Frankly, I'm not concerned about losing the privilege of driving. There aren't many people arguing to ban driving. However, there is a contingent of people arguing to ban hunting. That, is one of the biggest reasons I, and many others, teach.

What are you doing?

HOGWASH!!

That has to be one of the stupidist remarks I have ever heard on the net.

Try and put your mind in gear before you post garbage like that.

Hunter Education was put into place to properly instruct people for safe hunting.

It had NOTHING to do with the anti-hunters.

"Parents" or uncle Bob or cousin Jim will teach kids to hunt the way they DO and that is NOT always the best, nor safest way.

I think the new on line training & the youth weekend will go a long ways in recruiting.

We do need a "learner's license" for small game.

Access to land is very importnnat too.

Here y'all go again entertaining Camby and his BS .... doesn't matter how many numbers , examples and general knowledge you throw at him .... it doesn't sink in and you end up argueing with a mellonhead that knows it all ( in his own mind ) ....

Steve , got any updates from your meeting with Kyle and Larry ?

Sunday ? Same time , same place ....bring a lifejacket .....

PS... I'll be at the IHEA/ICOO booth Saturday from 10a -2p

NOPE....I never said that the firearms safety "refresher" in the course was NOT beneficial.....

It is...but there is a heck of ALOT more to hunting than could EVER be taught in the class.

I didn't know we (you and I) were in a contest......You took over 600 kids "hunting" in 2005???...My hats off to you.....do you have a "paying" job or are you retired?

The conversation that was posted is REAL!......Some folks are searching high and low for classes that meet their needs.....the SEARCH should not be that challenging.

You have completly missed the point.............

Each and every year MORE and MORE folks are REQUIRED to take the class....is supply meeting the DEMAND?

AGAIN.....IT'S NOT THE VOLUNTEERS FAULT.....they are doing everything they can.....but MOST volunteers have regular jobs, families and lives.

The system is getting an overhaul....THATS GOOD !

The conversation posted points to the need for that overhaul.

Woody,

I have read quite a bit about how hunter ed requirements came about.

IMAGE!!!!!..............

Some folks thought the IMAGE of hunters would improve if EVERYONE was H.E. certified. Just as jcceadotcom posted,

""Yep, the anti's bullied there way. However, pardon the pun, we gave them the ammunition. Slob hunters, hunting incidents, and generally being jerks didn't help our position.""

Hunter Ed requirements were a move to counter the threat to end hunting, because the antis were highlighting how UNSAFE it was.

REAL studies have been conducted....and it's shown that the more RESTRICTIVE the requirements are....FEWER hunters get recruited.

Studies have also shown that SUPERVISED youths are one of the SAFEST groups of hunters out there.....so the parents/mentors MUST be doing something right!

jcceadotcom,

Again, I am sorry that you took this thread as an ATTACK on the volunteers that sacrifice their time to help the cause....IT WAS IN NO WAY INTENDED THAT WAY.

The problem is NOT with the volunteers, the PROBLEM is with a UNDERFUNDED program were no foresight was used.

I FIRMLY BELEIVE THAT IF A PERSON DECIDES ON WEDNESDAY THAT THEY WANT TO TRY HUNTING, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CLASS/TEST BY NO LATER THAN THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND!

I think thats a reasonable expectation....considering it's the LAW that they must take the class prior to purchasing a hunting license.

Think about this......

We are REQUIRING 21 year old folks to take this class so they can partisapate in the hunting tradition..........What class are these 21 year olds REQUIRED to take prior to becomming a PARENT?

Nope again,

I wasn't arguing with anyone.....

I just posted some of a conversation I read on another site.....It was REAL and it IS what folks are expierencing. One fella asked for a location near his home, and the reccomendation was *June*!............This is January!


jcceadotcom,

Really, don't you beleive that there are some current IDNR employees at F&W Properties and Resevoir Properties and State Parks on so on and so on.....That the state should allocate some of their time to put on classes.....AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH!

I know for a fact that the IDNR has folks on staff that give talks or I think they call them interptive sessions at state properties.....I've seen it at places like Brown County State Park.....And I've seen the one down at Potaka on the Eagles.

Most of these State facilities already have buildings big enough for the classes and or big heated garages....and they have folks that are drawing an hourly wage....Why are they not teaching and or offering the classes at these sites, on a regular schedule.

Raising the cost of license would be an easy answer, as long as the increase was sent to a dedicated fund.....I know thats a dream.

I think the current administration is a little more in tune to this issue because it didn't take them long to address some of the recruitment issues.

One thing to remember.....when we talk about hunter education requirements, we are no longer just talking about children. The recdruitment of the non-hunting 18 to 21 year olds is also very important. These folks are at the age to make their own decisions, I myself never deer hunted untill I was 21....seeing my neighbor shooting his bow caught my eye, and thats what got me started....at 21.

If the good lord is willing I will be hunting my 24th deer season this fall,...... Thinking back to when I was 21......there is no way I would be talking about hunting today if I had to meet those requirements back then.