FWIW with over 350 million people in the U.S. today there are 28.9 million beef cows in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2023,

How many people were even in KS NE N and SD MT WY UT NM and TX to do the killing?

That's how it started Hunter safety to address people getting shot. Then it morphed in to hunter education. Not only can you not teach your children gun safety, obviously you can't teach them to hunt. It takes a village.

Google it. . . . interesting.

i googled with 60 million buffalo how many need to be killed a year to lower the population. no answer i did find a website that said 35-60 million alive at the end of the civil war. that hunters killed 5 million a year for several years. in what world does that reduce the number to 1500 or whatever it was?

Between 1830 and 1885, an estimated 40 million buffalo were killed.

40 million killed plus natural attrition would be a factor.
Danny - what the alternative theory for their demise? I’m not trolling, honestly curious.

Here in Michigan Hunter safety is a state sponsored and mandated program. All instructional materials are prepared and distributed by the state. We give the kids a booklet and then teach what is in the booklet. We are always glad to see parents involved.
Nothing is perfect, but overall it is a good class and I and happy to be part of it.

"Hunter safety " classes should teach how to handle a firearm, not a history lesson.

I believe the demise was more the result of disease brought by domestic cattle.

40 million over 55 years going by SJA's numbers would not wipe out 35-60 million

bucksnbears, he was trying to illustrate that killing the surplus of carrying capacity was positive and over hunting detrtrimental

we probably need more govt mandated programs/certifications...to enjoy the outdoors.

after all they are here to help.

Apparently he was being taught how not to shoot your buffalo skinners, if they open up market hunting again.

Back to hunter safety it does appear to be working. accidental shootings are way down.

I thought the same way before teaching the hunters/trappers training. Some of the kids are more intelligent than the parents. We encourage the parents to attend and some as real winners. You feel bad for the kids.

As you are probably aware most hunter education classes are provided by volunteer instructors and while they follow a specific curriculum of what is taught, there is sometimes room for improvement.

If anyone is interested in teaching hunter or trapper education, I encourage you to reach out to your local hunter education section and ask about volunteering.

And, to those of you who are instructors, thank you, we couldn't do it without you.

But, Hunter Education administrators are always open to hearing from the public and class participants so that the class is provided in the best way possible. Send Kent Barrett an email and let him know about your concerns and he will likely address it for future classes.



For others interested, it is Chapter nine of the Today's Hunter book.

Yes, most states offer an online course that is completed at the students pace and then they get a completion certificate after finishing the online course that gets them into the field day portion that is usually around 4 or so hours of addition instruction in firearm handling and safety. Not all states require an in-person field day to complete hunter education.

In WI as I understand it hunters Ed was started in 1973 by a Biologist.

yes it to most people was hey don't shoot each other , safe gun handling but it went a lot further toward not littering , respecting the land ,respecting land owners, and other issues that were going to harm hunting .

much like WI trappers Ed is less about how to set a trap. it is covered but it is more about how not to have illegal sets or things that will disgrace trapping. like non targets.
you aren't training new trappers to trap quite as much as you are getting them some resources in the trapping community and education them on how to stay out of the news.

funny that is what we are doing in so many things , educating them how to stay out of the news.

not that many people got shot but it did lower it even further.

like anything education or government everyone wants to get their segment of the book to plug their issue.

mostly they do a very good job with basic ecology , carrying capacity of the land and such.

I have seen a few kids pass hunters ed that I thought demonstrated so so firearms handling , I get they are young and I get I am bordering on fanatical about muzzle discipline, but high expectations make for disciplined kids who become adults.
and the field test is a minimal competency not a mastery of the skill.

we could use more gun safety taught in schools and every where , the powers that be do not want that kind of education universal. it is a shame and it costs lives.

many schools want to tell all your kids how to use a condom at 11-12 but think they will not touch a gun if they see one it is just foolish. if the logic exists for the one it exist for the other.

as for parents teaching gun safety great teach them but understand there are a lot of people >50% of the population or more who haven't even got a clue how to teach that and don't know themselves.

so a resource for those who want to learn to protect you rights , sport and heritage of hunting and trapping is not a bad thing.
now with mentored hunting in many states you can take your kid anytime they are ready and not just when the state says they are at some nominal age.
you just have to stay with them.
WI trappers ed has no minimum age my son took it at 10 it does help if your old enough to read.

T.A.B.K should be something every 2nd grader can tell you what it is and what each letter means.

I agree with Green County. Automatic safe gun practices require constant negative reinforcement in the field. ie dad's backhand and or restrictions, or the drill sergeant wackin you in the helmet and up in your face screaming at you.

X2

Many youngsters have NO parental hunting/gun safety or education. It is sad, but the gov sponsored programs are all we have to fill in that big gap.

Marty,
Are you a volunteer hunter ed instructor??