tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post7081152503534766173..comments2023-10-31T03:09:13.694-07:00Comments on Hunt, Eat, Live!: Adding Hunters to the RanksJon Rothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15517639796366064724noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-26893318688474312542009-02-26T09:17:00.000-08:002009-02-26T09:17:00.000-08:00Hi all - This is The Wife here. I've enjoyed ...Hi all - This is The Wife here. I've enjoyed reading all of your comments, and feel compelled to make one myself, specifically to Sporting Days.<BR/><BR/>I was born and raised a "Valley Girl" from So. Cal, so this whole hunting thing is very foreign to me. I didn't know a thing about hunter safety, firearms, shooting/hunting skills & techniques or hunting laws until I started studying the hunter safety guide with The Boy. <BR/><BR/>We took practice tests online and in the beginning, I was clueless. For the experienced hunter, the test may seem too easy, but coming from a perspective of someone who has never hunted a day in her life, it wasn't a cake walk. <BR/><BR/>The fact that The Boy passed with 90% isn't because the test was easy, it was because he, his father and I took a vested interest in him respecting the reason for the test, the process of studying for the test and taking the test.<BR/><BR/>He and his dad studied for months before he took the test for the first time in December. The instructor made The Boy feel intimidated, uncomfortable and rushed. Ultimately, he did not pass and our hearts we broken. Not because of the result, but because the instructor seemed to want him to fail. Maybe he held the perspective that if a 9 year old boy could pass it, the test is too easy, therefore lowering the barriers.<BR/> <BR/>However, it strengthened our resolve and both Jon and I worked with The Boy to help him prepare for the next test in a few months. He passed with 90% because he put hours of his time into it. I can say that because I was viewing it through a novices eyes. I think it is easy to take for granted the skills, ethics, common sense and safety practices seasoned hunters have learned over the years.<BR/><BR/>There are two ways for the new hunter to learn those 1) study the guide and continue to use as a resource and 2) have an incredible mentor to teach them in the field. Unfortunately, you can't really do #2 without number #1.<BR/><BR/>Forgive me if I'm on a soapbox, but I don't want anyone, for one minute, to think any 9 year old could pass that test with 90%. The Boy EARNED that score. <BR/><BR/>The Wife and proud mom of The BoyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585300762228005776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-40377682810665574342009-02-25T21:45:00.000-08:002009-02-25T21:45:00.000-08:00Thanks to everyone for their comments and well wis...Thanks to everyone for their comments and well wishes for The Boy. He is excited each time I let him read these comments.Jon Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15517639796366064724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-48722301720511596212009-02-25T08:30:00.000-08:002009-02-25T08:30:00.000-08:00That is great on your son passing the hunters ed c...That is great on your son passing the hunters ed class. I grew up in the midwest also and it was taught in school as part of our shop class and then in high school again as part of our ag class. Is there a site where I can find out where and when the exams are being held around me? I thought it was just taught in school but with school now I doubt they teach anything like that.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01443571805253127413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-32369111079275398592009-02-24T04:43:00.000-08:002009-02-24T04:43:00.000-08:00I remember my hunter's safety course like it was y...I remember my hunter's safety course like it was yesterday. It definitely is a right-of-passage of sorts for a young boy...or girl!<BR/><BR/>I can't wait for the day that my daughter utters similar words as your son after completing her hunter safety course.<BR/><BR/>And I think recruiting your kid's friends into hunting is an excellent idea, and one that a lot of us would not think about.<BR/><BR/>Great post.SimplyOutdoorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074585345161430068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-91259083072022617242009-02-22T19:32:00.000-08:002009-02-22T19:32:00.000-08:00Jon,Thanks for coming by sorry for the delayed res...Jon,<BR/>Thanks for coming by sorry for the delayed response in getting over to check you out. Great post and cuddos to being a great dad. With you all the way..."if grown men don't cry". Tears come along everytime one of the kids show me all the love I received from my father. Also, added your site to the "Good Folks" and will on Field Dress as well.<BR/><BR/>Chad "Rod"<BR/><A HREF="http://www.fielddressed.com/" REL="nofollow">Field Dress</A><BR/><A HREF="http://huntingblogger.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">The Wild Side Blog</A>Rod McBellanichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06007910125462308019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-13672276388299360312009-02-22T17:07:00.000-08:002009-02-22T17:07:00.000-08:00sorry "their" instead of "there"...sorry "their" instead of "there"...Downeast Duck Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06445000557200149121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-21692664704764779942009-02-22T17:05:00.000-08:002009-02-22T17:05:00.000-08:00I still have my hunter safety manual kicking aroun...I still have my hunter safety manual kicking around somewhere and that dates back to 1986.<BR/><BR/>I have to sort of disagree with Sportingdays perspective about the hunter safety program for several reasons. First, it's the first step to help get a youngster better prepared for safe hunting. In Maine, this goes along with junior hunting days where youngster may participate in there own special days with an adult who does not carry a firearm. The idea behind this is to help these aspiring sportsmen apply there learning. Secondly, I feel that we as adults should be responsible for continual hunter safety especially with our children. This attitude derives from the idea that government has just a little too much swing in my life and let me bear the responsibility of having a safe hunter, not some tax supported "safety expert" or "test". <BR/><BR/>However, I do agree with his statement about complying to the mainstream world of go baby go and if we don't start making paying attention to these issues then change will continue to draw our kids away from the outdoors. What stinks is that I saw a kid lose playing time because he went to a traditional father/son hunting camp. Apparently, his commitment to the team was more important than his commitment to his family. <BR/><BR/>So here's my question, how do I balance the run and gun world of soccer, basketball, gymnastics, softball, karate, etc. against the other world of camping, hunting, fishing, and hiking? This is where it's going to get hard, because I know both are going to be powerful influences on my girls.<BR/><BR/>Great post, tell your son congrats on my behalf, we're all proud of him and look forward to seeing his hunts ahead!!!<BR/><BR/>DEDHDowneast Duck Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06445000557200149121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-1150395956598540902009-02-19T22:25:00.000-08:002009-02-19T22:25:00.000-08:00Great post. And congratulations to your Boy - I re...Great post. And congratulations to your Boy - I remember taking my Hunter's Safety Test too, as an adult - I can't wait until our little ones are big enough to want and need to do this!Blessedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00029860506890356566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-43735315894161187732009-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:002009-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:00Hunter Safety Certificate. No metaphor needed the...Hunter Safety Certificate. No metaphor needed there. <BR/><BR/>After reading your post, I wish I had kept mine.<BR/><BR/>Additionally, "Love to Hunt, Love to Eat, and Enjoy Life?"<BR/><BR/>You mean there is something else. Congrats to you and yours.<BR/><BR/>TTFNmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387226895914069178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-33758610630478145432009-02-18T05:34:00.000-08:002009-02-18T05:34:00.000-08:00My husband too, has fond memories of taking hunter...My husband too, has fond memories of taking hunter's safety with his dad and I know he looks forward to the day that we will be able to take our son to hunter's safety. I love reading about passing the tradition on. Congratulations to both you and your son!Jamie Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10846781625385719313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-22560308901064336892009-02-17T16:27:00.000-08:002009-02-17T16:27:00.000-08:00Sporting - great comments, thank you for your thou...Sporting - great comments, thank you for your thoughtful responses. Funny thing - I was thinking about my next post being related to the hunter education process that The Boy endured (and of which I was an observer). I share some of your sentiments, the current CA system is archaic and outdated (they showed videos from the 70's!). Although I don't know if I could so far as continued comptency exams as you suggest. <BR/><BR/>You've inspired me to write that next post. Thanks!Jon Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15517639796366064724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-68607058986669315422009-02-17T16:18:00.000-08:002009-02-17T16:18:00.000-08:00Great story--and congrats to your son! What's next...Great story--and congrats to your son! What's next for the boy?Langdon Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13824455892396013221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-12470386108020476722009-02-17T11:26:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:26:00.000-08:00A lot to chew on from this post.First, let me offe...A lot to chew on from this post.<BR/><BR/>First, let me offer my congratulations on passing the hunting tradition onto your kids. Just from reading your blog, it's clear to me that your kids have some wonderful hunting role models. They are lucky.<BR/><BR/>** Field & Stream had an interesting article a few months back on the "Disappearing Hunter" and made the argument that hunters were largely to blame for the dropoff in recruitment: Hunters weren't getting their own children involved in hunting -- never mind introducing nonhunters or other kids into the sport. Given all the financial pressures, time commitments and other demands of modern life, it was just easier for hunting parents to go with the flow -- get their kids into youth soccer, ballet, and a million other youth activities today -- than buck the cultural mainstream and carve out time, resources and the emotional and intellectual energy needed to pass the hunting tradition onto their kids.<BR/><BR/>** As a father of two young boys, I, too, look forward to the time when they can get their hunter's safety certificate. However, I do think we have a serious problem with hunter education today. I think it needs to be an ongoing and more rigorous process. <BR/><BR/>Think about it: What does it say about our hunter education system when an 8- or 9-year old child can score 90 percent on a hunter education test?<BR/><BR/>What are they really learning? What will they remember when they're 14 or 18? Think about the message that sends to the nonhunting public when almost any child can earn a hunting certificate before they're done with 4th grade. It's ludicrous.<BR/><BR/>I'd like to see a system where hunters have to retake the exam every five years or so -- and the test could get more difficult accordingly to require some ongoing education. The test for adults should be different than the one a 9-year-old can pass. The safety scenarios and exam questions should be more complex and demanding as should questions about wildlife biology, conservation, the philosophy of hunting, heritage, etc.<BR/><BR/>I don't see this ever happening when everybody is trying to lower barriers and get more folks into hunting. As a hunting community, however, I think we suffer from such minimal hunter education standards.sportingdayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01871216533973980940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-50654001960264626392009-02-17T09:39:00.000-08:002009-02-17T09:39:00.000-08:00Congratulations to your son! Sounds like Dad was ...Congratulations to your son! Sounds like Dad was really proud and should be.The Hunter's Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719001540972130011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-63093732122760055572009-02-16T07:07:00.000-08:002009-02-16T07:07:00.000-08:00Congratulations to your son, and how great that yo...Congratulations to your son, and how great that you are passing on your love of the outdoors and hunting to the next generation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-65337458018273626242009-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:002009-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00Congratulations to your son - and you! And I'm rea...Congratulations to your son - and you! And I'm really glad you're thinking about your kids inviting <I>their</I> friends along - I've met some hunters who got started that way, and it's a brilliant way to extend your reach as a hunting parent.Holly Heyserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03134909592916671876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643961435804058616.post-26584051969280819562009-02-15T20:00:00.000-08:002009-02-15T20:00:00.000-08:00Really nice post Jon, brought a tear to my eye too...Really nice post Jon, brought a tear to my eye too. I remember much the same as to passing my hunter's safety class. You are eloquent in pointing out the challenges that face even us "die hard" hunters and to carrying on tradition. Inclusiveness is what it is all about, well said Jon.Terry Scovillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03921175577588776380noreply@blogger.com