Hunter education courses slated to run August 5, 6, 9 in Fort Scott Armory

By Jason E. Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

Prospective hunters in the area will soon be setting their sights on passing an upcoming education course sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

The three-day course, which tests each student's ability to master rules and regulations regarding safe hunting practices, is scheduled to take place Aug. 5, 7, and 9 in Fort Scott. Hunting enthusiasts who are at least 11 years of age may participate in the course, which consists of classroom and field work, as well as a final written and practical examination on proper gun handling.

The classroom portion of the course will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, and Thursday, Aug. 7, at the National Guard Armory, 2301 S. Horton St. The final portion of the course, which includes testing and a 10 to 12-station trail walk designed to test participants' skills in different hunting scenarios, will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 9, at Gunn Park, 1010 Park Ave. All needed course supplies are provided by program instructors.

Local resident Darrell Bloomfield, a master hunting safety instructor who has been involved with the KDWP-sponsored program for more than 20 years, said that the pass rate for students who participate in the hunter education course is high every year.

"We haven't flunked one in as far back as I can remember," Bloomfield said. "The academics are good."

Bloomfield said the hunter education courses begin in early August each year in order to allow interested hunting enthusiasts the opportunity to participate in the course and pass the hunting certification test before the start of the school year later in the month, and the hunting season that begins in the fall.

Students must pass the required testing, and must also be present all three days of the course in order to receive hunting certification. Participants will take part in class discussion, and watch films and presentations on a variety of hunting topics, including gun law, wildlife management, ethics, first aid and survival, alcohol and drugs, black powder weapons, and proper gun handling.

Students will also learn about accuracy and timing when using a weapon to hunt several different types of animals.

The trail walk will consist of several stations, including a firearms training area, an archery training area, a boating training area, and a training area where participants will be able to practice their firing skills through the use of targets. Participants will use live ammunition and black powder during the trail walk.

Parents of hunters who are younger than 11 years of age may participate in the trail walk with the child, but they must be in a group that doesn't include their child. Instructors in the course organize the groups this way to promote independent thinking among younger hunters, Bloomfield said.

Students will receive a combined score for all course activities at the end of the three-day session. Students who pass all tests will receive a certificate noting his or her weapons qualifications and understanding of hunting rules and regulations.

Other upcoming hunting education classes are scheduled to take place on Sept. 2, 4, and 6, and Oct. 7, 9, and 11 in Fort Scott. A three-day program is also scheduled to take place sometime in November in Uniontown, Bloomfield said.

Call Bloomfield at (620) 223-5418 for more information.