Shaurette: Be sure to be safe as hunting season gets underway
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By PAUL SHAURETTE
Special to the Herald
Saturday, September 13, 2008 9:21 PM CDT
This weekend marks the start to the hunting season for many of us who love to hunt small game as well as whitetail deer with a bow here in Wisconsin.
Ruffed grouse, rabbit and squirrel season is now open along with the much anticipated archery season, meaning thousands of people all over the state are heading back to the forests and fields with friends and family looking to enjoy the great outdoors.
Over the past several years, more and more families have gotten involved in the fall hunt. Many have found it to be a super way to get outside during a fantastic time of the year while still having time together. Family time can be tough to come by during these busy times in our lives and being able to bring our kids to the experience of hunting and fishing or any type of outdoor adventure is a plus.
Living here in Wisconsin, we are very fortunate to have a great series of recreational safety education programs in place to help educate not only young people, but anyone who is looking to learn and spend more time safely in the outdoors.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers safety classes pertaining to ATVs, boating, fishing, bow hunting, trapping, snowmobiling and of course, general hunter safety. The latter has helped to make Wisconsin one of the safest places to hunt in the nation. Most, if not all, of these programs are staffed and taught by dedicated volunteers who see the need to help others learn more and be safe in the outdoors.
Just last month I had the chance to once again take the Wisconsin hunter education course with my 12-year-old daughter Mariah, who was very excited to take part in something where just her and Dad could share the experience. It was her chance to shine and she was very eager to learn and see what it was all about.
This particular class was headed up by Marty Brill along with his group of dedicated helpers who included Lisa Klukas, Randy Mattson, Jess Dineen, Greg Hughes and Lenny Mondeau, all of whom brought their own special touches to the course.
In Wisconsin, young people are allowed to hunt at the age of 12, providing they take and complete the hunter education course. Once they have graduated, they receive a certificate which is needed to purchase a hunting license in Wisconsin.
I was impressed to see so many other young girls and their parents involved in the class and I feel it is very important not only for the future of hunting, but for how it is perceived by those who do not hunt. Mariah’s friends Katie Passint, Makenzie Beaudette and Megan Nyhus also took the course and they were just as impressive at many of the outdoor skills as the boys.
The hunter education course instills in students the knowledge and skill to be a responsible and safe hunter. Students learn how hunting accidents are caused and how they can be prevented through knowledge and respect of the firearm. Both the girls and the boys involved in the class were excellent students and all of them showed great maturity in going through the process.
Marty and his team did an outstanding job of taking the students through many hands-on scenarios which helped them see firsthand how to handle themselves in different situations. The scenarios ranged from crossing fences safely to the very important safety aspects of hunting as a group.
Hunter responsibility and safety was stressed throughout the classes and students learned many other important insights into the hunt such as hunter ethics issues and landowner appreciation.
Other important features touched on in the course included:
n Understanding firearms and how they work, how hunting accidents are caused and how they can be prevented, learning about the different types of hunting equipment, marksmanship fundamentals,
n Responsibility to our environment, wildlife identification, handling outdoor emergencies, wildlife management, field care of harvested animals and the importance of our hunting heritage.
For me, and I hope for so many others who take these courses, hunter education goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of shooting and the taking of game. It cuts to the core of being responsible and being respectful of not only the animals and outdoors we love, but of being responsible to each other. That is indeed what it is all about.
It was great to see Mariah learning and being enthusiastic about the something that means so much to her dad. I know she felt it was important stuff and it is information she can use for a lifetime whether she decides to hunt seriously or not. She will certainly spend many outdoor moments with me and the family and I hope she brings many of the things she learned to our experiences. It was a step I will always cherish taking together with her.
I would like to once again thank Marty and his entire team for the job they do and for giving their own time and resources to make sure our outdoor heritage stays alive and well. Their patience and knowledge are priceless and it is a great gift from them to pass along to our young people. There are so many young people around the state and the country enjoying the outdoors in a much safer environment thanks to these type of folks. We owe them our sincere gratitude.
Those of you who may be interested in future hunter education classes can contact Marty Brill at 271-7343 to find out the dates of future classes.
Good luck and safe hunting to everyone heading out into the wonderful Wisconsin outdoors this fall.
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