This LEO needs a hunter's safety course....

[gigag04]

Never got around to getting one, and I figure I probably should.

Any instructors here wanna point me towards a quick course. Looking to get it done before stuff opens up this winter. Probably drag the gf/soon-to-be-fiance along too. I'm in the Brazos Valley area but we're in the Humble/Atascocita area alot too as that is where she lives currently.

THANKS.


Also - couldn't find one but is there an LEO exemption for a HSC like with CHL? Wishful thinking?

[A-R]

I took mine last year at the local Academy in Cedar Park. The instructor (Randy something - forget last name) was very knowledgeable, but he may be the exception. I don't have anything to base that on other than he's considerably more knowledgeable on hunting/fishing questions than any other Academy store clerk I've ever encountered.

I was mildly disappointed in the course. About maybe 1/5th of it was worthwhile HUNTING information. The rest was basic gun safety etc. that - while great to have for the true beginners - gets very redundant very quickly for someone who's been around guns a long time and knows the four rules instinctively. In fact, I was actually able to catch the instructor in a "gotcha" moment when he pointed the muzzle of an unloaded pistol at himself while instructing us on various types of weapons

[chabouk]

I was mildly disappointed in the course. About maybe 1/5th of it was worthwhile HUNTING information. The rest was basic gun safety etc. that - while great to have for the true beginners - gets very redundant very quickly for someone who's been around guns a long time and knows the four rules instinctively.

That's why it's called the Hunter SAFETY Course. It's not to teach you about hunting, it's to help make sure you don't shoot yourself or someone else while hunting.

There are plenty of people who've grown up hunting, know where and how to get a deer, dress it and butcher it and make steaks and sausage, but are clueless when it comes to gun safety.

"Shooters", like yourself and me, tend to be just the opposite.

[kbarrick]

If you look far enough on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, there is a listing of at least some of the scheduled classes and where they are held. Of course there are some that you can take on the internet and then go to a short (4 hour, I think) class to get the certificate. There is also some that take 2 days to complete.

Keith

[budroux2w]

I did mine at my local police station about 15 years ago, good class and if I remember correctly it was a 3 day class and cost all of $5.

[VViper]

For experienced hunters and shooters, the online course combined with the one-day field course is often a good way to go.

You can get all the information you need at the TPWD web site: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hu ... line.phtml

[A-R]

I was mildly disappointed in the course. About maybe 1/5th of it was worthwhile HUNTING information. The rest was basic gun safety etc. that - while great to have for the true beginners - gets very redundant very quickly for someone who's been around guns a long time and knows the four rules instinctively.

That's why it's called the Hunter SAFETY Course. It's not to teach you about hunting, it's to help make sure you don't shoot yourself or someone else while hunting.

There are plenty of people who've grown up hunting, know where and how to get a deer, dress it and butcher it and make steaks and sausage, but are clueless when it comes to gun safety.

"Shooters", like yourself and me, tend to be just the opposite.

Actually, it's called the "Hunter Education Course" . And they did spend some time discussing things like where to aim on a deer in different positions, how to properly field dress and store a kill before taking it to a processor. How to properly "tag" an animal. Hunting ethics, etc. I just thought they spent an inordinant amount of time on safety, to the point where everyone was just losing focus. The information actually relevant to someone who's never hunted before but already knows gun safety was sparse and reviewed quickly with little detail.

[Griz44]

The content of the course is mandated by the State. Specific information and a base curiculum is mandated. If there is time after\during the mandated stuff (safety) then the instructors are free to fill it with what they want to share. It's a good course. I did not have to take it (old age showing) but my sons did, so I sat through it with them. I am glad I did. I have been hunting for decades, and still found it interesting, especially the section on species identification. There are a lot of birds here we can hunt that I did not even know lived in Texas!

[A-R]

yes it is a good course. as i wrote in my original posted I was "mildly" disappointed. maybe they just need to change it from a 70/30 safety/hunting time split to 60/40 or something.

[jbirds1210]

Also - couldn't find one but is there an LEO exemption for a HSC like with CHL? Wishful thinking?

Ah, my dear friend. Have you ever seen the guys at your station handle a rifle? Many of us need the course!

Jason

[GOP]

This was by far the most useless course I've ever been required to take. I'm not saying I didn't learn anything, but it is way too long, and way too boring. By the way, how long does it take to get the darn card? I took my mine in October last year.

[VViper]

This was by far the most useless course I've ever been required to take. I'm not saying I didn't learn anything, but it is way too long, and way too boring. By the way, how long does it take to get the darn card? I took my mine in October last year.

If you haven't received a card from a course you completed last October, you should call TPWD at 800-792-1112 and inquire about it. Kathy Powell, at extension 8142, is always very helpful.

Sorry you didn't enjoy the class. Like the Texas CHL training, there is a mandated length of time that the course must be, and a mandated course outline. Nearly all of us Hunter Ed instructors are volunteers, just trying to do the best we can. We are trying to teach a class that can be understood and appreciated by a classroom filled with students possessing vastly differing levels of hunting and firearms experience, ranging in age from 9 years and up. The online home-study course is often a good way to go, particularly for mature students who already have extensive hunting and firearms skills.

[gigag04]

Looks like all the one-and-one deal is what I'll end up doing.

Anyone know if the field days are ONLY in major cities? I can go to houston, but id rather knock it out here by the house.

[hirundo82]

For experienced hunters and shooters, the online course combined with the one-day field course is often a good way to go.

You can get all the information you need at the TPWD web site: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hu ... line.phtml

So for someone like me who is familiar with firearms and gun safety but is completely clueless about hunting and wants to take hunter safety as a first step, would the online class plus one-day course be a good option, or would the two-day classroom course be better?

[gigag04]

For experienced hunters and shooters, the online course combined with the one-day field course is often a good way to go.

You can get all the information you need at the TPWD web site: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hu ... line.phtml

So for someone like me who is familiar with firearms and gun safety but is completely clueless about hunting and wants to take hunter safety as a first step, would the online class plus one-day course be a good option, or would the two-day classroom course be better?

Take a trip with an experienced outdoorsman if they'll let ya. I'm sure you could find a handful on here :)